Meet Bill Bray, Co-Owner of Bray Jewelers

I went to at 971 Main St. a few years ago when my Dad asked me to get a new battery for his watch. He has been a customer since the 1950s, and told me what a great jeweler they are. Watch repair and watch batteries are usually done while you wait. I spent a few minutes chatting with Bill Bray who agreed to talk about the family business for Manchester Patch.

Bill Bray and his brother Wayne are owners of Bray Jewelers that has been in business on Main Street since 1915. Their Great Uncle Francis started the business and their father William F. Bray joined the business in the late 1940s and became sole owner in 1963. William is retired, but comes to work every day. According to Bill, his dad, who is in his 80s, handles all the repairs, and has the patience to spend several days repairing just one watch.

Timothy Becker: Bill, when did you and Wayne get involved in the family business?

Bill Bray: Wayne started at age 18 in 1981 and I started in 1989.

Timothy Becker: What are the main items that you sell here?

Bill Bray: We sell high-end jewelry such as precious stone rings with rubies, emeralds, sapphires and we sell many engagements rings and wedding band sets.

Timothy Becker: You must have a loyal customer base after being on Main Street for almost 100 years.

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Bill Bray: We have multiple generations of families as our customers. Grandparents, parents and their children all become our customers. Many people who no longer live in Manchester make it a point to drive to Manchester to support us. We also have quite a few customers that call us from out of state and need a gift for an anniversary or birthday and ask us to pick something out for them. They have complete trust in our judgment and fair pricing. No one who has asked us to ship them an item of jewelry has ever returned it. In fact, often their friends see the gift and ask where they got such a good deal, and call us to order for themselves.

Timothy Becker: What repair services are offered at Bray’s?

Bill Bray: We offer watch repair, jewelry repair and custom jewelry. If a customer has loose diamonds, we will custom design a ring, pendant or earrings.

Timothy Becker: Has the price increase of gold over the past few years had an impact on your sales?

Bill Bray: It has affected the sale of gold jewelry. We now carry two high-end lines of silver jewelry. We offer high quality jewelry in all price ranges.

Timothy Becker: Did your dad bring you to work when you were a young child?

Bill Bray: When the store was next to the State Theater, which is now the Full Gospel Interdenominational Church, dad would bring my brother and I to work on Saturday at 8 a.m. We got to go into the movies for free because the theater owner was the landlord. One of our current customers used to work at the State Theater. My Dad worked six days a week for his whole life until about 15 years ago.

Timothy Becker: How do you like being on Main Street in downtown Manchester?

Bill Bray: It’s good here. There are lots of great restaurants and specialty shops. We know the whole family of about 90 percent of our customers. That is why we are successful.

Timothy Becker: Would you ever move to the mall?

Bill Bray: Absolutely not! We have no interest in doing that. We are very comfortable here.