To Kevin and Natalie Ballard, owning jewelry is an experience: It celebrates love,
commemorates milestones, is a living history of a family’s legacy. When you look at a beloved piece of jewelry, it recalls the person who gave it to you or the feeling you had when you purchased it.
When the Ballards were conceptualizing Golden Hour Jewelers, which opened this past June, emphasizing this experience was foremost in their minds. And it shows: When you enter the store, you feel at home. The name echoes this sentiment. “When people buy jewelry, they are celebrating a golden hour in their lives: an engagement, anniversary, birth of a child, an achievement,” Natalie explains.
The Ballards have over two decades of industry experience in the United States and
internationally, primarily in luxury retail. Both are Graduate Gemologists certified by the
Gemological Institute of America. Kevin, a second-generation jeweler, holds a Level IV training with luxury watch brand Patek Philippe and was hand selected to go to Geneva, Switzerland. He has level III training with Vacheron Constantin. He got his start in Springfield in 1996, when he joined his father, Dennis Ballard, an executive at Justice Jewelers, as the gemologist and appraiser. “I was there during what was considered the heyday of Justice Jewelers. Then, I went on to blaze my own trail,” he says. That trail included working for some of the best luxury jewelry retailers in the United States and Caribbean.
Natalie, who started working at a local jewelry store when she was 16, furthered her studies in London, Antwerp and New York, where she gained a deep understanding of fine jewelry and gemstones. “I worked in the Brussels office of Boghossian, the Swiss jeweler known for
exceptionally rare and high-end jewelry. The contact I had with many one-of-a-kind pieces is
the basis for my design inspiration.”
The couple employs their experience and curated eye in their design of pieces such as custom engagement rings and wedding sets that blend artistry, elegance, clean lines and understated luxury. Their connections in the global luxury jewelry industry afford them the ability to procure rare and exclusive items for their customers. “For example, we are the exclusive carrier of Crisscut diamonds in Southwest Missouri and the first retail store in the United States that carries Bobbies Paris designer handbags,” says Natalie.
“We work closely with our designers to ensure the highest level of craftsmanship because we
do not compromise on quality,” says Kevin. “We listen to our clients to learn about their wants, needs and desires and then facilitate that through our connections.”
The Ballards prioritize education for all customers, whether they are young, first-time buyers on a budget or those who are more affluent and purchase jewelry regularly. They encourage
customers to make appointments to ensure individualized attention. “When people are
investing their money, they also appreciate the privacy of a private consultation,” Natalie notes.
The store was designed to facilitate this personalized experience. Jewelry parties, like the
popular Sip and Sparkle, turn jewelry buying into special occasions in which a small group of
brides-to-be come to the showroom in the evening to sip Champagne and nibble on canapés as they get their fingers sized, try on rings, ask questions and discuss what they desire in terms of style and price.
This sense of community is one of the many reasons the Ballards became enamored with
Springfield—and relocated here in January from their home in France. “We came here to stay
with family for four months while we were doing renovations on our 400-year-old house in
France. As we immersed ourselves in the community, we fell in love with the culture, the
diversity, the arts, the natural beauty, the people. So, when we decided to open a jewelry store, we knew we wanted to open it in Springfield,” Kevin says.
The Ballards understand the importance of being in the moment and savoring experiences in
their own lives as well. In their off hours, they enjoy exploring local parks or take fun excursions to places like the Butterfly Palace with their children Tristan, 2, and Juliette, 7. “We follow the LoveSpringfield Instagram account and when we see a great park, we’re like: Let’s do this!” Natalie says. “We love nature—biking, walking, taking the kids wading in creeks, exploring parks, gardening and discovering new restaurants.”
This sense of being in the moment, of sharing experiences, of educating people—whether it’s
their kids or their clients—is what drives the couple. “In any experience, people will remember
how you made them feel,” Natalie says. “For us, it's about creating a beautiful, immersive
experience for people that they will remember for a lifetime.”
Learn more at www.goldenhourjewelers.com and follow the Ballards @goldenhourjewelers417 on Instagram and Facebook.
Custom engagement rings & wedding sets
Concierge consultations & jewelry education
Exclusive retailer of Crisscut diamonds in Southwest Missouri
First U.S. retailer to carry Bobbies Paris handbags
“Sip and Sparkle” private shopping events
Certified appraisals for estate and insurance
Golden Hour Jewelers
Springfield, MO
goldenhourjewelers.com
“In any experience, people will remember how you made them feel. For us, it's about creating a beautiful, immersive experience people will remember for a lifetime.”
— Natalie Ballard