For more than 130 years, Necker’s Jewelers has been operating in the Quad Cities area as a locally owned family jeweler. Currently, the store has two locations, one in Davenport, IA and the other in DeWitt, IA. Though Necker’s Jewelers has undergone many changes and expansions, our company is committed to providing the Quad Cities and surrounding areas with a huge selection of fine jewelry that you can’t find anywhere else. Also constant is our commitment to giving back to the community through our Gift of Giving program, charitable donations, and involvement in local organizations.
Necker’s Jewelers Timeline
1893
Necker’s Jewelers originally began in DeWitt, IA as Brumer’s Jewelry, which opened in 1893 and operated for nearly 60 years. Brumer’s Jewelry was owned by U.S. Brumer, a German immigrant.
1949
Don Necker began working in the jewelry industry just three years before founding Necker’s Jewelers. He worked at jewelry stores in Maquoketa and Dubuque, IA before finally deciding to attend Bradley University Watch Making and Jewelry School in Peoria, IL.
1952
U.S. Brumer decided to sell Brumer’s Jewelry. Don and Dorothy Necker heard about Brumer’s Jewelry being up for sale and were determined to buy the business, despite having no money to buy it with. After being turned down when asking the bank for a loan, Don and Dorothy gathered enough money to buy the business by borrowing from family members. The two bought the store and changed the business’ name to Necker’s Jewelers.
Dorothy and Don eventually had five children, and the family lived in a two-bedroom apartment above the store.
1982
Dave Necker, Don’s son, began working with Don at Necker’s Jewelers after attending the University of Iowa and the Gemological Institute of America, Inc. in California.
1989
DJ Necker began working for the business in 1989 after graduating from the University of Iowa. The same year, Don Necker passed away after owning Necker’s Jewelers for 37 years.
1990
In 1990, Dave and DJ Necker bought Necker’s Jewelers from their mother, Dorothy. Then, they opened the Southpark Mall Necker’s Jewelers location in Moline, IL.
1997
Necker’s Jewelers opened a third location in Duck Creek Mall in Bettendorf, IA.
1999
The Necker’s Jewelers store in DeWitt moved to its current location at 721 6th Avenue.
2002
Dave and DJ closed the Necker’s Jewelers store located in Duck Creek Mall in Bettendorf, IA. The same year, they opened a Necker’s Jewelers location in Davenport, IA.
2003
The Southpark Mall Necker’s Jewelers location in Moline, IL was closed.
2018
Sadly, in 2018 Dorothy (Ungs) Necker passed away.
Necker’s Jewelers Today
There are still two Necker’s Jewelers locations in operation: one in DeWitt, IA and the other in Davenport, IA. At the beginning of 2024, our Davenport store expanded and moved one door down to 4009 E. 53rd Street, making the Necker’s Jewelers Davenport location the largest jewelry store in the state of Iowa. We also launched our new website in early 2024, allowing our local and nonlocal customers to explore some of the jewelry available in our stores and to purchase our products online.
Since its doors opened more than a century ago, Necker’s Jewelers has offered great customer service and competitive prices, as well as gave back to the communities we call home. It’s because of the continued support of this community, and the hard work of our incredible staff, that Necker’s Jewelers has held this strong, long-standing place in the Quad Cities area, and we look forward to many more years to come.
