The owner of Northeastern Fine Jewelry, a destination for fine jewelry for more than four decades, has purchased Olde Saratoga Coin and upgraded his new stores.
Olde Saratoga Coin has storefronts at 1593 Central Ave. in Colonie and 385 Broadway in Saratoga Springs.
“Coins have always been one of my passions and how we got our start in business back in 1980,” said Ray Bleser, owner of Northeastern Fine Jewelry. “Our original store was Northeastern Coin Gallery in Schenectady. For me, returning to my roots is deeply nostalgic, intensely gratifying and truly exciting.”
In its heyday, Northeastern Coin Gallery carried an inventory of hard-to-find currency, jewelry and estate pieces. In 1985, the business was reincorporated as Northeastern Fine Jewelry, which has evolved into one of the Capital Region’s leading, independently owned jewelers, featuring an extensive selection of world-renowned brands, diamonds, engagement rings, wedding bands, watches and estate items.
Northeastern Fine Jewelry will continue to operate under its own banner with three locations in Albany, Schenectady and Glens Falls, according to Bleser.
Olde Saratoga Coin & Jewelry has been rebranded and updated to reflect the addition of a wide selection of estate pieces and jewelry to supplement its expansive inventory of coins, precious metals, sterling silver, paper money, pocket watches and fine Swiss watches at its two locations, Bleser said.
In 2022, Olde Saratoga Coin & Jewelry in Colonie underwent extensive upgrades and renovations while its sister store in Saratoga Springs was relocated from 219 Broadway to an all-new storefront at 385 Broadway in the heart of downtown Saratoga Springs.
Bleser said the enhanced storefronts offer an upgraded experience for guests to sell their precious metals, watches and estate jewelry for their highest market value, and to explore the substantial collection of gold, silver, silver dollars, coins, bullion, watches, diamonds and estate jewelry available for purchase.
The synergies between the two businesses also means that Northeastern Fine Jewelry is able to feature an expanded estate jewelry collection while Olde Saratoga Coin & Jewelry can showcase a larger selection of jewelry.
Olde Saratoga Coin & Jewelry was founded in 1988, only three years after Bleser changed the focus and name of his original coin store to Northeastern Fine Jewelry. Nearly four decades later, Bleser has come full circle with the addition of two well-established Capital Region coin stores that, much like Northeastern Fine Jewelry, are known for quality, expertise, fair prices and an extensive selection of inventory.
“When we initially turned our focus to fine jewelry back in 1985 it was to meet the growing demand of the times. But my love for coins has never waned,” Bleser said. “Coin collecting will never go out of style, nor will buying or selling vintage and estate jewelry, gold and silver jewelry or diamonds and gemstones from any era.”
The three Northeastern Fine Jewelry locations are at 1575 Western Ave. in Albany; 1607 Union St. in Schenectady; 167 Glen St. in Glens Falls; and online at NEFJ.com.
Olde Saratoga Coin & Jewelry is online at www.oldesaratogacoinandjewelry.com.