Gallery • 6 Photos

Sophia Tzvetanov

Tina Shull has been the manager of James McHone Jewelry for 29 years. “The one thing that I love about estate jewelry is that it’s not cookie cutter,” Shull says. “It’s individual, it’s unusual.”

An eye-catching emerald green sign hangs over the entrance of James McHone Jewelry, overlooking Court Square in downtown Harrisonburg. The window display showcases  green shrubs and stone bunnies, giving the appearance of a fairy garden. At the counter, you may be greeted by one of three different people: Tina, Hunter or James. 

Unlike other jewelry stores, James McHone specializes in estate jewelry, pieces that have had a previous owner. Customers come into the store with their own jewelry and McHone can take these pieces to be restored to their former beauty, or create a new piece entirely.

“I get [the customer] to look at things on the internet, and then we try to put together something […] then I send all the information with their stones to the jeweler,” store manager Tina Shull said. 

She explained how they put the design for the piece into a computer process which creates a 3D model. Once they confirm the design with the client, the jewelry is ready to be made.

“The one thing I love about estate jewelry is that it’s not cookie cutter,” Shull said. “It’s individual. It’s unusual … It’s great to see pieces that are old, used and reused passed down in families.”

Although not an official family business, James McHone prides itself on having a strong sense of community. 

“It is not [a family-owned business], but it feels like it is,” Shull said. “James (the store owner) has been here 40 years. He’s a wonderful, wonderful character. He’s great, he’s fun [and] people come in just to see him.”