Award Winning Excellence
HTG Design
Jewelers offers our clients exceptional value in high quality, one-of-a kind
jewelry creations. We will work together with you to design a personalized piece
that reflects personality, creativity and individuality. We offer our
clients:
- Excellent Ideal-Cut Hearts of Passion
Diamonds
- Unique, Fine Quality Gemstones
- Life-time Workmanship Guarantee
- Expert Jewelry Repair
Our family owned business, founded in 1984, has
strived to offer our clients uncompromising quality and unsurpassed service at
exceptional value. Located in historical Downtown West Bend, HTG Design
Jewelers represents the niche between art and ordinary retail jewelry.
Jim Gugg
Artist, Jeweler
In college, Jim Gugg
switched majors from veterinary medicine to metalsmithing. And he hasn't looked
back since. Jim graduated from Kansas State University in 1980 with a Bachelors
of Fine Arts and a major in Metalsmithing. His work was featured in art shows
across the country and awards were won for many of his two-dimensional
pieces. After settling in Milwaukee, he began working in the jewelry
industry and 3 years later started HTG Design Jewelers. When asked what the HTG
stands for, Jim quips, Hope To God (this business will survive). The initials
actually represent family names.
Most people have goals. When I graduated from
college, my goal was to live off the land given to me by my landlord, located in
the Montana wilderness. I took classes that would help me to be self-reliant:
metalsmithing to make tools and cooking utensils, and textile classes to use
wool to make clothing. Two and three-dimensional artwork to be able to purchase
supplies I couldn't make myself.
The Good Lord had other plans for me. Three years and
two children later, HTG Design Jewelers was born. I originally started out doing
repair and design for other jewelers, and at one point was single-handedly
working for 13 stores. It was then I decided to open my own retail store. My
mission was to make jewelry that didn't have to be repaired because of poor
quality workmanship and materials. Also, to repair jewelry that only had to be
repaired once. And I guaranteed that.
Twenty-three years and eight kids later, that is
still my guarantee. I now can offer my clients some of the most unusual
gemstones cut by world class award winning cutters; fine, excellent ideal cut
diamonds, called Hearts of Passion, sent directly from the highly
skilled cutters in Israel. I work with my clients to come up with designs
that are as personal and unique as the person receiving the piece. I can use the
gold and stones from existing pieces or supply whatever is needed to create the
ultimate piece of jewelry that people have come to expect from my workbench. And
all goldsmithing, gold and silver casting, including all repairs, are done here,
on our benches.
Jim Gugg
Awards
- Four time 1st Place winner in WJA Design
Competition
- Numerous design achievement
awards
Joanne Gugg, Co-Owner and General Office
Manager
Janet Augustine, Sales
Associate
Lynn Camin, Sales Associate
