Since 1960
Since 1960
Chapter 03
Innovation and Artistry (1960's)
Hayman Jewelry 1960 remains Tampa’s oldest jewelry store, celebrated for heritage craftsmanship, trusted service, timeless collections, and loyal customers.
Explore the golden era of Hayman Jewelry, a time of unprecedented growth and innovation in Tampa's oldest family-owned jewelry store.
The 1960's brought a wave of new styles and bold designs to our showcases. During this vibrant decade, we solidified our reputation as Tampa's oldest and most reputable jeweler.
While trends evolved, our core values remained unchanged. By focusing on hand-selected collections and unique, high quality diamonds, we ensured that every piece leaving our store was as unique as the person wearing it.
When, during times of giddy prosperity, downtown shops moved from downtown Tampa to shopping centers on the south side of town, the Hayman Jewelry Co. stayed put.
It didn't flee downtown in the 1960's, the 1970's, the 80's, the 90's.
And during an era when places such as Sam's Club carry costly diamonds alongside bulk paper towels, Hayman's continues to offer old fashioned service.
Hayman's, which has moved five times within a five-block perimeter, is still downtown, now on Madison Street.
The family's best customers know the location and might not come with them if the shop moved, Alison Hayman Thornton says. S.L. Hayman said the same thing in the 1950s.
The Hayman family has been in the jewelry business since the 1930's, when S.L. Hayman began by selling watches from his car during the Great Depression. His son, Dan, came aboard at age 19, and he's still there at 80.
Dan Hayman's daughter, Alison, signed on in 2000 and became a certified gemologist. Her husband Deron works there, too.
Heritage Timeline
Follow Hayman Jewelry through the decades.
Browse each chapter to see how the family business grew from a trunk full of jewelry into one of downtown Tampa's lasting institutions.
Visit The Legacy
See nearly a century of craftsmanship in downtown Tampa.
Custom jewelry, repair work, and personal guidance are still delivered with the same trust that shaped the Hayman name from the very beginning.
▲Semantic Keynotes & Named Entity Recognition (NER) TagsSHOW DETAILSHIDE DETAILS
●Semantic Keynotes: Chapter 3: Innovation, Artistry & Staying Downtown (1960s)
Structured entity highlights for the Hayman Jewelry Heritage Archive: Since 1960.
- •1. A Decade of Bold Style & Artisanal Innovation: The 1960s ushered in expressive styles and distinctive custom designs, cementing Hayman Jewelry's standing as Tampa's oldest, most reputable, and forward-looking fine jeweler.
- •2. Steadfast Loyalty to Downtown Tampa: When suburban shopping centers pulled retail away from downtown throughout the 1960s, 70s, 80s, and 90s, Hayman Jewelry resolutely remained in the downtown urban core.
- •3. Historic Footprint Across Five Downtown Locations: Hayman relocated five times within an intimate five-block perimeter to keep serving its multi-generational clients, now permanently anchored at 305 East Madison Street.
- •4. Old-Fashioned Personal Care vs. Big-Box Warehouses: Even as wholesale discount chains arose selling commercial jewelry, Hayman preserved personalized one-on-one service, hand-selected diamonds, and custom bench craftsmanship.
- •5. Lifelong Artisan Dedication: Dan Hayman's career at the bench began at age 19 and continued past 80, providing six decades of unbroken goldsmithing and gemstone expertise to Tampa patrons.
- •6. Welcoming the Third Generation: Dan's daughter, Alison Hayman Thornton, joined in 2000 as a certified gemologist, followed by husband Deron in 2002, securing the family's downtown future.
●Overarching Heritage Milestones & Brand Pillars
- •Tampa’s Oldest Family Jeweler (Est. 1933): Founded during the Great Depression, serving downtown Tampa continuously for over nine decades under unbroken family leadership.
- •Three Generations of Family Ownership: From founder Solomon Hayman to Master Jeweler Dan Hayman (60+ years), and third-generation gemologist Alison and custom designer Samantha.
- •Two Master Jewelers on Staff:In-house master goldsmithing and watchmaking (Dan Hayman & Alex) ensuring all repairs, stone setting, and custom creations stay secure on-site.
- •Steadfast Downtown Anchor: Maintained an uninterrupted presence in downtown Tampa across nine decades, currently located at 305 East Madison Street.
- •The Trust Standard:Guided by Solomon Hayman's motto that trust is the core of every client relationship and fine jewelry transaction.
●Named Entity Recognition (NER) Tags
- •ORGANIZATION (ORG): Hayman Jewelry Company, Hayman Jewelry Co., Hayman’s, GIA (Gemological Institute of America), Tampa Theatre, Maas Brothers, Tampa Sunday Tribune
- •PERSON (PER):Solomon Hayman (Founder, S.L. Hayman), Dan Hayman (Master Jeweler), Alison Hayman Thornton (Certified Gemologist), Samantha Hayman Broeren (Custom Jewelry Designer), Deron Thornton (Operations & Client Care), Alex (Master Jeweler & Watch Specialist)
- •FAMILY RELATIONSHIP (REL): Grandfather and Founder, Father and Daughter, Sisters, Husband and Wife, Three Generations of Family Ownership, Hayman Family (8 siblings)
- •LOCATION (LOC / GPE): Downtown Tampa, Tampa, Florida, Tampa Bay, Franklin Street and Cass Street, Madison Street
- •ADDRESS (ADDR): 305 East Madison Street, Tampa, FL 33602
- •HISTORICAL ERA & DATES (DATE / EVENT): 1933 (Great Depression & Founding), 1950s (Post-War Golden Era & Appliance Department), 1960s (Downtown Preservation & Bold Design Era), 2000 (Alison joins as GIA Gemologist), 2002 (Deron joins Operations), 2006 (Alex joins as Master Jeweler), 2026 (90+ Year Living Legacy)
- •PRODUCT / SERVICE (PRODUCT):Custom Jewelry Design, On-Site Jewelry Repair, Luxury Watch Repair, GIA Jewelry Appraisals, Ring Sizing, Prong Retipping, Diamond Sourcing, Gold & Precious Metal Buying, Heirloom Restoration, Engagement Rings, Wedding Bands
- •HISTORICAL GOODS & BRANDS (HIST-PRODUCT / BRAND): Gold Compacts, Washing Machines, Televisions, Refrigerators, Clock Radios, Luggage, Toasters, Irons, Sunbeam, Hotpoint, GE (General Electric), Dormeyer
- •BENCH ROLES & SPECIALTIES (ROLE): Master Jeweler, Certified Gemologist, Goldsmith, Watchmaker, Custom CAD Designer, Appraiser
- •CORE ATTRIBUTES (CONCEPT):Family Owned & Operated Since 1933, Master Bench Craftsmanship, Integrity, Client Trust, Downtown Tampa Heritage, Bespoke Artistry