Grader Jewelers "Plants Its Roots" In Waterford

Grader Jewelers has finally “planted its roots” in Waterford.

On March 6, Grader Jewelers opened its new Waterford store at 217 Boston Post Road. Despite having a space in Waterford for more than 25 years, this is the first time Grader Jewelers is in spot it owns, owner Mark Grader said.

“It has always been our goal (to own a spot in Waterford),” said Grader, who also has locations in Norwich and Groton. “We have really planted our roots in Waterford.”

The jewelery store was previously located in Wynding Hills Plaza, near , since 1994 and had a spot in the Crystal Mall before that from 1984 to 1994. The new store has a much more contemporary, open look with far more natural light coming through three walls of windows, Grader said.

“It’s a real opportunity to freshen everything up,” said Grader, who also bought all new display cases. “We are really excited about it.”

The Move

The Graders that run the business, which includes Mark Grader and his parents, have been looking for a new place for three years, Mark’s father Peter Grader said. They used Pequot Commercial Real Estate to find a spot, stumbling across a dentist office at 217 Boston Post Road owned by Dr. Bruce Elloitt, Mark Grader said.

“We knew we wanted to be close by, we knew we wanted to be on Boston Post Road, we knew we wanted to be in Waterford,” he said. “Finally we found a place.”

The Graders bought the building about a year ago, and spent the last 12 months designing and renovating the building, Mark Grader said. There are still some things left to do, including some landscaping, he said.

The new place is far more visible, being right on Boston Post Road, Mark Grader said. Larry Dahl, who has been working at Grader Jewelers for more than 25 years, manages the store.

“It is exciting to move into some place new,” Dahl said. “We are still getting comfortable, finding out where everything is and all that. No different than moving into a new house.”

There is also an upstairs office space in the building that the company is looking to rent, Mark Grader said.

The Grader Story

In 1953, Peter Grader came to the United States from Germany with his wife. His wife was an accountant, and he was a watchmaker, and when they moved to America they decided they would open a retail store.

First Peter Grader owned a watch company, and then fifty years ago, he started Grader Jewelers in Groton. The family has since opened two more stores, in Waterford and Norwich.

The couple had two children, a daughter and a son, Mark. Mark Grader began in the business as just a 10-year-old, when he went to his first trade show.

“The best part was they never pressured me into the business,” Mark Grader said. “It was just something I wanted to do.”

Mark Grader was both ambitious and had a love for jewelry early in his life. He started working at Grader Jeweler’s as a teenager, and he would save up his money to buy diamonds.

At first he bought a small diamond, saved some money, and then traded in the smaller diamond for a bigger one. That process continued, and when he was married, he had the eventual diamond put on his wedding ring.

“It is great to be able to see the progress,” Grader said. “And now I see it everyday.”

Peter Grader had gone throughout the world, seeing gem mines in Brazil and diamond mines in Africa. There is nothing like the retail business, where the satisfaction of customers is so tangible, he said.

“You feel great when fulfill somebody’s expectations, hopes and dreams,” Peter Grader said. “There is nothing like it.”