Last year, in need of a jewelry shop to replace my watch battery, I stumbled upon DiLustro Jewelers at 280 Main St. in East Haven; a modest, almost inconspicuous shop, which is a real gem. John DiLustro is a master craftsman at working with gold, setting stones, making new jewelry castings and repair work. His repair work is so outstanding that he often works for seven or eight other jewelers, as well.
John has enlarged several rings for me, replaced an impossible-to-manipulate clasp on a pearl necklace with an easy-to-do one, and re-strung a gold and coral necklace which had broken ... all skillfully done at an extremely reasonable price.
The DiLustro family saga started when John’s mother was on a boat going to Italy to visit her family. His father was on the same boat on his way home to Ischia (a beautiful island off the coast of Italy). He was immediately smitten and asked her family for permission to court her. A short time later, they were married and returned to America, living in New Haven, then Hamden and finally settling at 414 Main St. in East Haven.
They were blessed with three children, Lisa, Anna and young John who was born in 1963, which was also the same year that the family decided to return to Ischia for a few years so the children could experience life in this peaceful place. They needed, however, a way to make a living and since Mr. DiLustro had experience in the making and repairing of jewelry in America, the family opened their own jewelry store, “Gioleria DiLustro,” which became very successful.
After six years, they sold the store to Mr. DiLustro’s brother and wife and in 1970, returned to the United States. In 1974, they opened their present store where John, from the time he was a small boy, barely big enough to see over the counter, learned the old-school, time-honored craftsmanship of jewelry-making and repair. His mother dealt with salesmen and customers and John and his father grew the business with their skill and hard work.
Today, John and his charming wife, Donna, not only continue the tradition, they will be welcoming the next generation, represented by John Jr. into the business this June.
Their story typifies the histories of immigrants from Italy who came and settled in this area, bringing Old World skills and values with them. Remember to visit and shop all your local merchants this Christmas and when you are in need of jewelry or jewelry repair, pay a visit to DiLustro’s.
Last-Minute Bulletin: Presence, a holiday co-op of local artists and merchants on the Branford Green, will host a special shopping night Thursday to benefit the Soundview Family YMCA.
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