Frank & Company Jewelers, Orange Beach

Five years ago, Jack and Bevelyn Wallace teamed up with Frank Trainor to create Frank & Company Jewelers in Orange Beach. They recently opened a second store at The Wharf. Their story is one of hard work, customer service, and a loyal following of clients from all over the Southeast.

Jack and Bevelyn are both from North Louisiana, and Frank is from Birmingham. After college in Natchitoches, Louisiana (the oldest city in Louisiana), Jack needed a job and started working for a watch company in Houston, Texas. This led to him becoming a watch and jewelry repair subcontractor. Along the way, Jack became enamored with estate jewelry, and after two years set out on his own.  

For 40 years Jack was an independent jewelry salesman traveling to antique and jewelry stores throughout the South to purchase inventory for resale. He and Bevelyn lived in Shreveport, LA  at the time and 22 years ago decided to move to Fairhope, where they live today. Ten years ago, Jack met Frank, who has been living in Orange Beach for more than twenty years and operated a small jewelry business.  

Tired of traveling and “getting old,” Jack decided to get off the road and mentioned to Frank if he ever wanted to go in together and open a jewelry store in Orange Beach, he would be interested. Two years later, Frank was ready, and Frank & Company Jewelers was born. That was 5 years ago.

Frank and Company is a full-service jeweler. They do everything from changing out watch batteries to custom jewelry design. Jack still loves estate jewelry, and that is a big part of their business. In addition to antique jewelry and custom jewelry, Frank & Company sells new Rolex watches, and engagement rings and Jack says, “Our service business is huge.” This includes watch and jewelry repair, stone replacement, recutting, and reconstruction of jewelry pieces.

“Everyone who comes through our door is different. We have a lot of people that have family heirlooms and need appraisals for insurance and estates.” Jack considers himself an advisor of sorts. “A lot of people don’t really know what they have. We pride ourselves on personal service, and I try to access the meaning behind each piece for the customer.”

Frank has 40 years of experience in the jewelry business as well. With the growth of Orange Beach and Gulf Shores, and especially the boom in tourism, they decided last year that a second location was warranted. They have been able to attract a great team of colleagues at both stores. CC Crowson specializes in custom design and redesign work and is an expert on the Spanish treasure discovered off the coast of Florida from the shipwreck, Atocha.  

It’s a fascinating story. In 1622, King Philip the 5^th sent 28 ships laden with a treasure of emeralds, gold, and silver to pay off debts. The Atocha was the rear guard ship of the “Treasure Fleet,” which left Havana several weeks late, causing them to run into the jaws of a hurricane on September 8, 1622. Eight ships were lost and wrecked on the reefs between the Dry Tortugas and present-day Key West.

Mel Fisher searched for 16 years for the wreckage. When he finally found the Atocha, it was one of the richest galleons ever to sail. After an eight-year court battle with the State of Florida over ownership, Fisher finally was able to claim the treasure as his own. You may have heard the term, “pieces of eight.” This is an 8 Reale and was a form of currency in Spain at the time One 8 Reale was worth a month’s wages. Frank & Company is the only jewelry store in the area that carries the Atocha's main cargo of 8 Reales silver coins for sale.

Frank & Company buys and sells gold and silver bullion as well as estate jewelry. “Jewelry came in yesterday from Arkansas,” says Jack. Silver and gold bullion are  sold in sleeves of 1oz, 10oz, 50oz, 100oz, and even 1000oz, and “often has never been touched by human hands.”  

At The Wharf, Nathan Smilie is a Horologist, an expert in making and repairing watches. A member of the American Watch and Clock Institute, he studied at Bishop State which at the time was one of the few programs outside of Switzerland and Germany to offer a program. He was inspired to go to watch school after seeing his grandfather’s collection of pocket watches. “There are only about 25 people in the world that can make a watch start to finish,” he says.

We also spoke to Nina Davis, who is from London and works in sales at The Wharf location with Nathan and Megan Barnes. “My favorite part working here is when someone brings in a family heirloom and wants to make something updated that you want to wear and show it off.” Megan says, “I love being here at The Wharf. It’s a fun place to work.”

Bevelyn is the “controller” of inventory overseeing almost 3000 skews of merchandise. They both love the personal side of the business. “I love making people happy,” says Jack. “I love the art aspect of jewelry and the wearable, durable, and beautiful aspect of fine watches and jewelry.”

Jack and Bevelyn both love the Scenic 98 Coastal area. Speaking of Orange Beach and Gulf Shores, Jack says “On this island, it is the most peaceful area I’ve ever lived. The business climate is positive with lots of opportunities. We’ve picked up a lot of loyal customers that have moved to the area and we are now their jeweler of choice.”

Stop by either location of Frank & Company. They are wonderful people to know, and their selection of fine jewelry and watches is terrific. You will enjoy their personal service and expertise. You might even consider having a rare 8 Reale made into a stunning necklace!