Cortlandt Jeweler to Unveil Bridal Suite

Myron Ruales might have owned his jewelry store in Yorktown for the last three three years, but he has been around jewelry his whole life. 

His parents immigrated from Ecuador to the United States in pursuit of the American dream, he said. His mother Theresa worked at a factory, at the lowest level possible, but quickly rose to an executive position as a diamond buyer, he said. She also designed her own jewelry and Ruales helped her with it on the weekends.

As a single parent of four children, she taught him there was nothing he couldn't do, Ruales said of his mother. He now owns his own business, the  located in the Roma building. 

"Having the opportunity to have your own business is a dream and a lot of responsibility," he said. "But you can do it here."

This Friday, he is having a grand re-opening after expanding his store to add a bridal suite, which he describes as warm and beautiful at the same time. When someone wants to buy an engagement ring, he said, that person looks for the atmosphere, the overall feel of the store and the look of the store, to make them feel comfortable to shop there.

"It will give them that special shopping experience as opposed to shopping on the Internet or down in the city," he said. "They'll have everything is one space."

A few months ago, a Yorktown soldier returned from war and bought an engagement ring from the jeweler to propose to his girlfriend. Myron said every couple brings their own love story, dreams and goals and everyone is special to him.

"It's tough being a business these days because the economy has taken a hit on big spendings but at the same time, people do want to celebrate their important life moments with jewelry," he said. 

Myron is involved from the beginning to the end in the creation of custom made jewelry. He makes wedding bands, engagement rings, restores antique watches and family jewelries, as well as any other special requests. In a small store, he said, you can get personal with the customers and remember a style or a trend they liked. 

To expand and add a bridal suite has been on his mind for some time, he said. When the store next door was vacated, he took the opportunity to expand because he needed the additional room. 

Although it was a big risk to start his own business after having worked for 27 years in the high-end jeweler distributor business, he said having the support of his customers is what has helped him succeed. 

"I took a risk opening the store, so now taking on an additional risk, doesn't seem so bad," Ruales said.

He has sold jewelry to local celebrities, news anchors and successful business owners, but he wished not to reveal any names. 

After graduating from high school, the Westchester native who now lives in Cortlandt, went on to study at the Gemological Institute of America where he got training for the diamonds and gems trade. He studied anything from their formation to the chemical composition. 

On Nov. 25, Black Friday, Ruales will be celebrating his grand re-opening with a ribbon cutting ceremony at 3 p.m. Between 8:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. customers can enjoy a complimentary breakfast, afternoon hors d'oevres with Mimosas, wine, chair massages and hourly give-aways. 

Twenty percent of the proceeds will go to Stephanie’s Mission, an organization established after Stephanie Crispinelli was tragically killed by the Haiti Earthquake while traveling on a the “Journey of Hope” mission, working and caring for the poor. Stephanie’s Mission is dedicated to raising money to continue her passion for helping the poor by supporting non-profit, US-based charities and humanitarian missions. The proceeds from purchases at Yorktown Jewelers on Black Friday will help build an elementary school in a poverty-stricken Jamaican town that Stephanie had visited multiple times.

Yorktown Jewelers is located at 2008 Crompond Road, Yorktown Heights.