In an industry where heritage carries special meaning, few achievements speak louder than seven decades of serving generations of clients.

In 2025, Calgary Jewellery celebrated its 70th anniversary — an extraordinary milestone for one of Alberta's longstanding family-owned watch and jewellery destinations.

For seventy years, watches and jewellery have passed across its counters to mark engagements, weddings, anniversaries, birthdays, professional achievements and countless other moments worth remembering.

A Calgary Story Since 1955

The story began in 1955, when Les and Dora Florence opened the doors of Calgary Jewellery.

What started as a family business would evolve over the following seven decades while remaining deeply connected to the values upon which it was founded: personal service, craftsmanship, trust and lasting relationships.

In 1982, Calgary Jewellery expanded to a new location on Calgary's 17th Avenue.

During the 1990s, the business entered another chapter under the leadership of the second generation, Bernard Florence, while continuing to grow its presence within Calgary's watch and jewellery community.

A major renovation followed in 2004, creating a more contemporary retail environment and supporting the introduction of additional prestigious watch and jewellery houses.

Today, the legacy created by Les and Dora continues across three generations.

More Than a Jewellery Store

Seventy years in business represents much more than simply keeping the doors open.

It represents thousands of relationships.

Engagements. Weddings. Anniversaries. Birthdays. Career milestones. First luxury watches. Family heirlooms passed from one generation to another.

Independent jewellers often become part of these moments, building relationships with clients that can continue for decades — and sometimes across generations.

That human connection is something technology can complement, but never fully replace.

For watch enthusiasts in particular, visiting an Authorized Dealer provides the opportunity to speak with knowledgeable professionals, experience a timepiece on the wrist, compare different manufacturers and understand the story and craftsmanship behind the watch before making a personal decision.

A Legacy Built Around People

Behind every longstanding independent retailer are the people who built it.

Calgary Jewellery's story began with Les and Dora Florence and continued through Bernard Florence and the generations that followed.

Over the decades, the business has evolved alongside the city it calls home while maintaining the personal relationships that remain at the heart of independent retail.

Perhaps the greatest measure of a family business isn't an anniversary, a building or even the brands displayed inside it.

It is earning enough trust that customers return — and eventually bring their children and grandchildren with them.

That is how a retailer becomes part of its community.

A Personal Connection

For WatchDNA founder Thomas J. Sandrin, MBA, Calgary Jewellery's 70th anniversary also carries a personal meaning.

Before founding WatchDNA and Northern Watch Services, Thomas spent more than 12 years working with Hamilton watches in Canada.

During those years, he had the opportunity to work alongside independent Authorized Dealers across the country, including Calgary Jewellery, and to experience firsthand the role these businesses play within their local communities.

Those experiences would later help reinforce one of the ideas behind WatchDNA: independent retailers remain an essential connection between enthusiasts, brands, products and the knowledge and experiences surrounding them.

“Congratulations to Bernard and the entire Calgary Jewellery team on this incredible milestone. It is truly an honour to have played even a small part in your journey during my 12 years with Hamilton. Seventy years is an extraordinary achievement and a testament to the relationships, trust and passion your family and team have built within the Calgary community.”

Thomas J. Sandrin, MBA
Founder · WatchDNA

Celebrating 70 Years — and Looking Ahead

From a family business established in 1955 to a modern luxury destination representing respected names in watches and jewellery, Calgary Jewellery's story demonstrates what can happen when a company continues to evolve without forgetting where it came from.

For WatchDNA, celebrating businesses such as Calgary Jewellery is also part of a much larger story.

The watch industry isn't built solely by manufacturers and the timepieces they create. It is also built by retailers, watchmakers, designers, sales professionals, craftspeople, collectors and families who create the experiences surrounding them.

After 70 years, Calgary Jewellery remains part of that story.

Here's to the Next Generation

Congratulations to Bernard Florence, the Florence family and the entire Calgary Jewellery team on 70 remarkable years.

Here's to the next generation — and the next chapter.