A business staying in the same location for three decades is a rare achievement in retail and speaks volumes about Khamis Fine Jewelers’ reputation in the Geist community.
Entering its 30th year on Fall Creek Road, the jewelry store has built trust with generations of clients through credibility and consistent customer service — something proprietor Mary Khamis-Rowe says is the key to maintaining a longstanding business.
“The only thing that separates one jewelry store from another is the service,” Khamis-Rowe says. “Anybody can sell you a chain or design a custom piece, but how you treat people is what matters.”
That philosophy has guided her through 30 years at the shop on Fall Creek Road but started as a part-time job while she was in school.
Khamis-Rowe’s career began in 1978 when she took a job at Zales in Washington Square while still in high school. From there she worked at Gordon Jewelers, then Goodman Jewelers at Glendale. After years of experience, she decided she didn’t want to spend her career behind a counter at the mall — if she was going to do this, she wanted to have her own business. With the support of her father and brothers, who she says are her mentors, that’s what she did.
Khamis-Rowe opened Khamis Fine Jewelers in November 1995, bringing to life a vision shaped by a lifelong passion for jewelry and professional credentials. She holds a degree in business from IUPUI and is a graduate gemologist from the Gemological Institute of America. She has also been certified as an appraiser specializing in gems, jewelry and watches.
“Education was important to me,” she says. “I wanted to be able to stand behind the pieces we sell and the appraisals we do.”
With her career in the industry now spanning more than four decades, she has worked with both large corporations and independent jewelers, building deep expertise in buying, selling and appraising fine jewelry, loose diamonds and gemstones. Her deep experience set the foundation for a successful career built on knowledge, trust and a personal touch. Khamis-Rowe loves seeing second-generation customers visiting her store to buy special pieces and is often invited to her customers’ weddings.
Khamis Fine Jewelers has built a reputation not just for classic jewelry but for unique pieces customers won’t find elsewhere.
“We’re known for having things you don’t see in every store,” Khamis-Rowe says. “Customers love finding something special here.”
Each fall, the shop hosts its annual opal show, now in its 17th year, drawing collectors and casual buyers alike.
Even with her expertise and long history, Khamis-Rowe says the heart of the business is still customer service.
“We treat every piece of jewelry as if it were our own,” she says. “People are looking for good service, and that’s what we’ve always stressed. My favorite part of this business is putting smiles on people’s faces. Knowing you helped create a memory for someone and their family — that never gets old.”
Being tied to the customers and the community — and community involvement — has always been part of the Khamis reputation. Khamis Fine Jewelers has sponsored local Little League teams and the Lawrence Township Basketball League, while Khamis-Rowe also supports Conquer Paralysis Now, a global project of the Sam Schmidt Foundation. With the foundation, Khamis-Rowe has played a role in helping raise more than $1M.
The store has also earned recognition as a trusted partner in statewide celebrations. Khamis Fine Jewelers is the official jeweler for the 500 Festival Princess Program, creating custom pendants for each of the 33 princesses every year. They also serve as the official jeweler of the Indiana State Fair Queen’s Program, designing the queen’s ring that represents her title.
For Khamis-Rowe, the work is about more than jewelry.
It is about creating pieces that carry meaning, supporting the community she calls home and continuing the tradition of craftsmanship and care that has guided her career.
“Thirty years have just flown by,” she says.
Yet her advice for others considering business ownership is straightforward. “Do it if it’s your passion. Be prepared and go for it,” she says.
To learn more about Khamis Fine Jewelers, call 317-841-8440 or visit the store at 9763 Fall Creek Road in Indianapolis. You can also email the store at khamiskfj2@sbcglobal.net or visit khamisjewelers.com.
The store is open Tuesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Khamis Fine Jewelers is closed Sundays and Mondays.
