Our History
Over 80 Years in Jewelry DesignSince 1935
The Sholdt history dates all the way back to 1935. Seattle was a different place back then – The Pike Place Market still allowed livestock, Boeing’s newest aircraft was the prop-driven 247, Bill Gates and Howard Schultz wouldn’t even be born for another twenty years. A young man named Milton Sholdt purchased a fledgling jewelry repair business and set up shop. He spent those early years doing trade-work for the local jewelry retailers. He was an outgoing and friendly man that loved to travel. A true firecracker. Milton was also an enthusiastic drinker and playful lady’s man. “My dad would tell me stories from his childhood,” says Kalee, “of watching Great Granddad taking sips off of a glass of Old Rocking Chair Whiskey. I doubt Milton ever envisioned the business going this far.”
Milton’s original safe, with the words “Milton H. Sholdt” hand-painted in gilded lettering, still stands in the shop today. Inside of the safe’s heavy door lies a smaller combination lock-box that hasn’t been opened in 60 years. “I have no idea what’s in there!” Kalee says. “Somewhere along the way the combination got lost. We can’t get into it without ruining the safe, so everyone just let it be. Why spoil the mystery now? This safe is a part of my family’s story.”Best of Show
1963
The Family Business
In 1963 Milton Sholdt’s oldest son, Milton Jr., gave up his first career as a carpenter and turned to the more alluring family business. Together, Milton Jr. and his wife Patricia, cared for the business for two decades. Through his kind demeanor and patient outlook on life, Milton Jr. grew to be known for outstanding customer service. Behind the scenes, he housed a dogged determination to provide the utmost quality. Therefore, he and Patricia hired only the most talented jewel-smiths. By the time he sold the company to his sons, Brian and Dusty, Sholdt had become known throughout the trade as the preeminent repair shop in Seattle.
1980’s
Handmade
Throughout the ’80s, advancements in the trade allowed jewelry retailers to host repairs in-house instead of employing trade shops. Sholdt took notice to this changing trend and quickly adapted to the times. Brian and Dusty began augmenting their repair work with a small custom line known as “Rain City Rings”. Brian took the reins with design work and Dusty stepped up from the workbench to oversee operations. To give their line a more personal feel, the name was soon changed to “Sholdt”.
Because Sholdt employed its own shop – a rare thing in the trade – the designs were conceptualized with the unique input of the craftsmen that would create them. As a result, the wedding rings embodied a perfect blend of artistry, beauty, and emotion. Customers and critics embraced them wholeheartedly.
In the years that followed, Sholdt was honored with several important design awards, including the AGTA Spectrum Award and the MJSA Vision Award.
2007
Where the Heart is.
As sales of the line grew and orders kept coming in, Brian and Dusty were often pressed to expand their operations overseas to keep up with the growing demand. However, they always remained true to the Sholdt way of business and vowed to keep production in Seattle. They continued to employ the most gifted craftsmen available and took on new work only when they felt readily able. As a long-term result of their dedication to the company and its people, many of Sholdt’s employees have been with the company for 25 years or more and each piece from the line is created with the utmost of care by the hands of those dedicated to Sholdt.
“I truly believe that our biggest strength is the talented team that we work with,” says Kalee. “Together, we have the ability to create anything a client wants or needs. We have a vast amount of accumulated knowledge that it allows us to do and try what others won’t touch. This is without a doubt – our niche.”
2014
The Next Generation
In early 2014, Brian and Dusty’s career goals were fulfilled and the time came to hang up their hats. Kalee, the fourth generation Sholdt, took over ownership on the eve of Sholdt’s 80th year in business. Having been immersed in the jewelry world since childhood, Kalee felt at ease and confident in committing herself to the business that her family had created.
“I remember coming into the shop when I was a little girl,” says Kalee. “My grandpa would give my siblings and I pennies to roll out in the mill. We would pump up waxes from the old molds to find the coolest ones. It’s something I remember so vividly. Never in a million years did I expect the honor of running the family business. Now here I am!”
An avid lover of people, Kalee’s workday is gratified by her interactions with those who knock on Sholdt’s door. It has been through her work in the office and with the craftsmen, that she has come into her own. Her boisterous laugh, ready smile and lifelong knowledge of the trade, blurs the line between business and genuine friendship. On any given day, you will find the sweet face of Pearl – the shop dog and door greeter sitting next to Kalee. Pearl keeps Kalee smiling as she owns and operates the business that bears her last name.
2019 – Present
Family Traditions
Together, Kalee and Pearl ensure that everyone who comes through these doors feels welcome. Kalee grins, “I love what I do. I get to play with pretty things and help make people happy. Not many people get to say that about their profession.”
With more jewelers carrying the line each year, Sholdt has carved a distinct presence in the trade; Influencing future markets with new forms and motifs, their jewelry speaks for itself through its craftsmanship and heart. The wonders of their jewelry creations – all actualized in-house, bring people back time and time again. As for Kalee and the Sholdt family, this business will always be about more than “just” jewelry – it’s about family, friends and the journey of life.