In 1956, Walt Odom Sr. founded Walt's Jewelers in Mammoth, Arizona; a small mining town, founded in 1872, in southern Arizona. Originally, the store was called Walt's Jewel Box. In 1962, Walt Odom relocated to Kearny, Arizona using the name Walt's Jewelers. He had both locations in operation, but eventually closed the Mammoth location and focused all of his energy on the Kearny store.
Second Generation
Samuel, Walt Odom's eldest son, had been working in the store off and on as a young man, as well as working as an automotive mechanic at a local station. In 1973 Samuel started managing the Kearny store, and would later go on to purchase the business from his father. Mining in the Copper Basin area, which includes Kearny and the surrounding towns, during this time was booming, and Walt's Jewelers established itself as a trustworthy jeweler for the community.
Phoenix Metropolitan Area
In 1984, Samuel and his wife, Melissa, made the decision to move the store to Chandler, Arizona, a city then on the outskirts of Phoenix, Arizona. Walt's Jewelers, was located on the southwest corner of Ray and Alma School Roads, in Chandler, Arizona, for approximately 16 years. At that time, Ray Road was still a dirt road there, and what are now homes and businesses were fields and sheep, but that corner also held a Bashas' that drew most of Chandler and Sun Lakes citizens allowing Walt's Jewelers to grow with the city. Then, with the new millennium came time for another move in 2000, this time to the northwest corner of Ray and Alma School Roads, just across the street. We stayed at that corner for seven years and at the end of 2007, Samuel and Melissa moved Walt's Jewelers to our current location in Gilbert, Arizona, on the southeast corner of Gilbert and Germann Roads.
Third Generation
In a business where trust and integrity are fundamental, Walt's Jewelers has become the benchmark. On 16 October 2014, Walt's Jewelers entered it's next phase as it became a third generation business with the partnering of Samuel & Melissa and their son and his wife Javier & Stephanie. Javier & Stephanie were carrying on a tradition begun by his grandfather 58 years earlier, in 1956.
Diamond Jubilee
2016 was a milestone year for us. This was the year we celebrated our Diamond Jubilee Anniversary, our 60th year of taking care of our Clients! We are so grateful for the opportunity to serve You, and to be such a part of your lives and the milestones in your families history. Thank you!
Today
With 2024 in motion, Walt's Jewelers has established itself during the past 68 years as Arizona's Jeweler. This tradition of providing great service, and beautiful jewelry has been passed down from generation to generation. We look forward to extending this tradition to you and your family.
A Tradition for Generations
Our Clients are repeat customers who continue to trust Walt's Jewelers for generations. We have Clients who first visited us the year we opened, in 1956! We have several Clients who came to Walt's Jewelers for their engagement and wedding rings, then their children came to us, and their grand children, and it seems the tradition will continue. Visit the most trusted independent Arizona jeweler.
The Oldest Jewelers in America and the World
For any of you interested in history, visit our list of the oldest Jewelers in America. This is one of the most thorough lists of Jewelers available online, and it includes the oldest Jewelers in the World as well.