Owner, Steve Davidian, Shares His Passion for Jewelry and Music
by Peter Conway
Jazz music hums through the airwaves, deflecting off of the glass counters that display a tantalizing array of gold, silver, and seashell trinkets. The facets of colored gemstones catch the shine of sunlight gleaming in off the harbor. The Dockside Jewelers located at the Dockside Marketplace in
Oak Bluffs calls for anyone looking to browse or buy.
Opened in 1986 by Master Jeweler and owner, Steve Davidian, Dockside Jewelers offers a wide variety of handcrafted gemstones and precious metals.
Davidian has the tendency to shop around at antique shows to find jewelry worth selling in his store, especially in New York and Boston. He believes that his search for quality jewelry has helped him see more of the world.
“I used to go Mexico and the Dominican Republic every winter… actually most of the jewelry in that case over there is from Taxco [Mexico]… I just can’t justify the trip anymore.”
Davidian got his first gig working for a jeweler in the late 70s and hasn’t strayed far from the scene. Starting in New Bedford, where he grew up just a ferry trip away, he moved to the Vineyard because he loves how relaxed and safe it is. He knew he could start his jewelry business here.
“At the time [Martha’s Vineyard] was a real artist colony,” Davidian said.
Besides the Jewelry industry, Davidian knows another industry better than most – the music business. Davidian used to tour with rock bands and is disappointed with the direction that music has taken.
“When I was growing up you couldn’t throw a dead cat without hitting a good rock band… Nowadays it’s all boy bands” Davidian said.
The shelf that runs along the corner of his store holds a long stack of CDs ranging from Janis Joplin to Billy Joel to some artists to unknown for a young man to recognize. Davidian feels he has made the right decisions to get where he is today, being the owner of Dockside Jewelers.
“I’ve never done a job I really hated… I have worked real hard. And I’ve made what I’d consider to be smart choices, but tough choices too…” Davidian said.
Davidian feels that making the the move away from New Bedford has helped him keep his focus on jewelry, but it wasn’t necessarily the easiest decision. After over thirty years Dockside Jewelers still sits in Circuit Avenue with the pure intent to help customers find their desired piece. Before you step back on the ferry, Davidian’s store is a decent place to scour for an accessory you might wear forever.
Visits Dockside Jewelers’ website at marthasvineyardjewelry.com
