By Colin McEwen

Record-Courier staff writer

In 1948, brothers Vincent and Joseph Piccione began a jewelry business with their savings in a tomato jar and some ambition.

Starting with $150, they may not have ever guessed how successful their little jewelry store would have become.

The family legacy is carried on today by Vincent's children, David and Jill Piccione, and this week Piccione's Jewelers is celebrating its 60 years in business.

Vince Piccione started with the Kreinberg's Jewelry on West Main Street in high school sweeping floors and stocking shelves; he later learned to become an expert watchmaker. Joe Piccione received a degree from Bohecker's Business College and with his fine business acumen, handled the business' finances.

With the pair's new partnership, they opened for business in a 20-foot wide storefront on West Main Street in the old Skorman building, next door to where the store is currently located -- using candy cases to showcase jewelry. After that building suffered structural damage, the brothers opened up in their current location at Meridian and Main streets in 1959 with 15,000 attending the grand opening.

Business was booming.

"They were a team," said David Piccione, who also started in the jewelry business sweeping floors and stocking shelves for his father. "They were a full-blown team. Now, we're on second and third generations."

He said the brothers' trustworthiness and customer service is what helped launch the business into success, and made it Ravenna's longest-running retail store.

"The business grew at a good pace," said David. "There were quite a few growth periods. Business was a lot different then, than it is today. There have been a lot of fine stores in Ravenna at one time or another and they all seem to dwindle away -- I think it has to do with bigger shopping plazas."

Joseph died in 1994 and Vincent died in 2002, but their service to the community lives on.

This week, as a way to thank and reward customers, Piccione's Jewelers is hosting a sale with all merchandise at 25 percent off. There will also be a private party at the store Saturday night for friends and family. David said for Saturday's sale, he plans to bring some rare timepieces for display at the Ravenna store.

Piccione's Jewelers expanded its operations north last year, opening a store in Lyndhurst at Legacy Village, where high-end timepieces are sold -- some for as much as $500,000.

He said before his father passed away, David began selling Ulysee Nardin watches, as the only authorized dealer in the state.

"He thought I was out of my mind," said David. "Just before he died, I showed him a watch (selling) for $75,000. He was floored, he couldn't believe we had a watch like that."