Roberts Jeweler closes its doors after 60 years in business.

Dot Roberts didn’t even like jewelry.

Neither did she like the gleaming of headlights in her windshield as she drove home to the island each night from the Montgomery Ward store she owned in Poulsbo.

That was more than three decades ago, before she traded pair after pair of highway diamonds for the kind that nestle in necklines and draw the ire of envious earlobes everywhere.

“There was too much traffic,” Roberts said, of her 1970s commute to and from work. “My husband said, ‘how would you like a jewelry store?’”

She wasn’t so sure. Still, despite her tepid response, a jewelry store was exactly what Roberts got. That store, Roberts Jeweler, closed Saturday after 31 years under her ownership. The prior owner – same name, different bloodline – opened the store 60 years ago.

Throughout the final months of the store and the liquidation of its inventory – a process that took about three weeks – Roberts has had time to reflect on her store’s past and the mark it left on the Winslow Way and the lives of her customers.

The lessons, she said, were many. Steer clear of high-pressure sales tactics. Treat people right. Give back to the community.

And pay attention to your products, which ranged from, of course, jewelry – like engagement rings, bracelets and necklaces – to china and flatware. But not so much silver flatware.

“People don’t by silver anymore,” she said. “Jewelry is a lot more flashy than it used to be. It used to be more conservative.”

The key to the store’s longevity, she said, was repeat business. The key to repeat business, said long-time employee Gail Yette, was good service.

“Dot taught us how to give more personalized service,” said Yette, who worked at Roberts Jewelry for 24 years. “Customers were treated as individuals, not numbers.”

That meant anything from fixing a necklace clasp to cutting rings off swollen fingers. Many times, those services were offered gratis.

“That’s one of the sad things,” Roberts said. “People have been coming in saying, ‘where am I going to get my watch battery changed, or where am I going to buy my wedding gifts or my linen?’”

For both women, it was humbling to receive so many positive comments over the store’s final weeks.

Many stopped by to thank the staff. Some signed the guest book. Others wanted souvenirs. In particular Roberts Jewelry shopping bags were highly coveted by collectors.

Roberts said she and Yette have collected more than their share of memories from the store’s customers, many of whom they’ve watched grow through the years. Toddlers turned into teens and then into hand-wringing ring-shoppers, poised for the marriage leap.

Roberts said her staff tried to offer advice about such vital purchases. She and Yette even have similar taste in jewelry.

Over the years, Roberts even began to enjoy going to gift shows. But it was time to walk away.

On the way out, she donated all of the proceeds from her last day of sales – about $1,500 – to the Helpline House. On Monday, she and Yette gathered the last items remaining on the mostly bare shelves.

“As you can see, there isn’t much left,” Yette said.

The store’s closure came during the same month as Roberts’ 80th birthday.

With more time on her hands, she plans to play more golf at Wing Point, and volunteer.

Like her former boss, Yette will call it a career. She hopes to do more quilting and spend more time with her grandchildren. Both said they’ll be meeting up regularly for lunch.

Only now, instead of talking about jewelry, the women will shift their conversations toward family and friends, a distinction granted by each woman to the other. Customers, too, became friends.

“You don’t realize a store like this has so much impact,” Yette said.

“Just looking at each of our faces you can tell we had fun. Dot is a good teacher, a good boss and a good friend. What else do you need?”