James Robert Dunn began his career in 1967 as a sales representative for IBM. There, he had the good fortune to meet Ann Marie Pelliccia, who was working as the senior secretary. The couple was married in 1969. That same year, with a savings of $10,000.00, they purchased a small house in Hanover, Massachusetts, and converted it into their first jewelry store, The House of Gems.

The House of Gems was robbed during the first year and every piece of jewelry was taken, including customers' repairs. Ann Marie and Jim went from door to door informing clients and reassuring them that their prized possessions would be replaced. The Dunns paid for the stolen jewelry out of their own pockets to preserve their reputation for integrity and trust.

Business began to grow by leaps and bounds, and The House of Gems soon outgrew its tiny location. Jim and Ann Marie relocated the store to a mall in South Weymouth, changing the name to J. R. Dunn Jewelers to emphasize the importance of a family-owned and operated business.

In 1977, they moved to South Florida with intentions of semi-retirement. Jim and Ann Marie opened a small jewelry boutique, which served a select clientele by appointment only. But word spread and J. R. Dunn Jewelers outgrew its' location once again. Their next decision was a big one: to purchase a 6000-square-foot freestanding building on Federal Highway in Lighthouse Point.

Today J. R. Dunn Jewelers has grown to an 8000-square-foot showroom featuring the world's most renowned Swiss watches and designer jewelry as well as custom designs by Ann Marie's brother Robert Pelliccia. Robert is a three-time DeBeers Award Winning Designer (1993, 1995 and 2000), a Spectrum Award winner (1999, 2000 and 2001) and Modern Jewelers Buyers Choice Award winner. J. R. Dunn Jewelers’ staff has more than 300 years’ of combined experience in the jewelry industry, as well as three certified gemologists including their son, Sean. Sean earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Management from the University of Florida and has a graduate gemologist degree from The Gemological Institute of America in California (GIA). He now continues the legacy of excellence his parents, Jim and Ann Marie, built. Together, they are eager to give clients "The Ultimate Jewelry Experience" and will continue to treat their clientele with the same standards of excellence established all those years ago in a tiny house in Massachusetts.

The Dunn Family

Jim and Ann Marie Dunn

Jim is not very interested in many of the hobbies that help others relax. He does not play golf or tennis, nor does he hit the beach. He relaxes by working. "I probably don't know anything other than work," he said. "Work is my job and work is my hobby.”

”We've done business the old-fashioned way," Ann Marie said. "Nothing was handed to us. We've had to work very hard for everything that we've done. We knew that businesses lacked ethics at times, or the personal touch of the owners. We knew we could have something unique here in South Florida."

Ann Marie's role as buyer serves to ensure a constant flow of unusual, high-quality items. The wide, unique selection of jewelry at the store has played a significant role in the success of the business.

All of the time together over the years has lead to a rather unusual situation in Jim and Ann Marie's marriage. "We all get along great as a family," Jim said. "We all have a common goal and we are all working hard to achieve the goal that we are going after.

”We work together, go home together and we have been together 24 hours a day," he joked. "That should be a record!"

Sean Dunn

Sean, the son of Jim and Ann Marie, is one of the three certified gemologists on staff at J. R. Dunn Jewelers. He is also the soothing voice of J. R. Dunn Jewelers who is heard on radio advertisements throughout South Florida.

Sean joined the J. R. Dunn team in 1996 after graduating from the University of Florida with a Bachelor's Degree in Business Management. His father convinced him to give the jewelry business a try and Sean enrolled in an intensive six-month program at the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) in Santa Monica, California. His interest in jewelry piqued almost immediately.

"After about a week, we started getting into the scientific aspects and I thought, 'Hey, this is really interesting,'" Sean said. "That just captivated my attention and I just loved all of the technical stuff."

That was the beginning of Sean's intense admiration of diamonds and gemstones. "I just fell in love with it and graduated in the top of my class," he said. "I like anything that's rare. It intrigues me enormously."

Sean now looks forward to helping the business grow while continuing the high standards of product quality and superior customer service set by his parents many years ago.

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