Who is Nancy Brown?

A native of New York, Nancy held a degree in Elementary Education and taught in the San Francisco Bay area fresh out of college. She returned to New York for graduate study in English History and began jewelry lessons. Her natural artistic ability led her to excel at jewelry fabrication and her calling to become a custom jeweler was born.

Nancy arrived in Santa Fe in 1973 with very modest means. To make ends meet, she waited tables at one downtown restaurant during the day and was a hostess at another at night. She would often sell her pieces right off her arm while engaging with customers. She also sewed costumes for the Santa Fe Opera in what spare time she had. She acquired a job as a bench jeweler at a small store called Sunrise Jewelry. Never afraid to dream the grand dream, she aspired to own her own business and was eventually able to purchase the store.

Nancy Brown Custom Jeweler has been in operation since 1985 and is considered the biggest little jewelry store in Santa Fe with a nationwide reputation for quality and exceptional customer service. The success of the store is solely due to Nancy’s determination, “can-do” attitude, sparkling personality, leadership and dedication to her employees and customers. Those who knew her, loved her. Her spirit lives on through her store and the Nancy Brown Memorial Endowment.