Askew Jewelers was founded by Dave Askew in 2009. After years of working for both small and large jewelry companies, and following the closure of his last employer due to the 2008 recession, Dave decided to open his own small store in Saint Cloud, FL. Located at the corner of Pennsylvania and 12th Street, the store initially operated without an inventory, focusing on repair work, and buying and scraping gold to make ends meet.
Dave's journey into the jewelry trade began over a decade earlier in Bloomington, Indiana, where he trained under the Master Jewelers at Settle Jewelers. Dave, who had married into the Settle extended family, was taught valuable skills by the Master Jewelers there, who recognized the demand for passionate, quality bench jewelers. His passion for jewelry design dates back to 1984 when he designed by hand his high school class ring as class president.
In 2005, after leaving Settle Jewelers and moving back to Florida, Dave started exploring computer-assisted design (CAD) software, pushing his jewelry designs to new heights. The use of 3D modeling and prototyping, which was cutting-edge at the time, opened up new possibilities for him in the jewelry world.
Upon opening his own store, Dave spent the slow days doodling and designing jewelry via CAD, driven by his lifelong passion for art and equipped with multiple art-related degrees. His creative hunger soon extended to learning about the casting and manufacturing processes. Dave’s ambitious designs and hand-crafted perfection soon attracted consumer attention, making custom design a core part of his business.
Dave’s commitment to continuous learning has been a hallmark of his career. He has trained under masters like Robert Wooding, Master Diamond Setter, and Sam Alfano, Master Engraver. He also attended the Gemological Institute of America, earning several accreditations.
With a growing reputation for quality jewelry repair, Askew Jewelers—sometimes known then as Jewelers Studio—began receiving local acclaim. Dave's expertise ensured that there was no piece of jewelry he could not repair, no crazy jewelry dream he could not create.
A few years after opening, Dave moved Askew Jewelers to our current location at 1121 New York Ave, Saint Cloud, FL. This new property, much larger than the previous hole-in-the-wall, allowed for significant expansion. It features a welcoming showroom with a wide array of fine jewelry, thanks to Cyndi, our expert and long-time Sales Manager, and a spacious backroom for several bench jewelers and their tools.
Over the past decade, Dave has risen to become a prominent figure in the community, elected twice to Saint Cloud’s city council and serving on the boards of numerous local non-profits. His wife retired from teaching to join the family business, and his children now assist with the business side, allowing Dave to focus on his passion of designing fine jewelry for our customers.
We are proud to be a small-town, family-run, mom-and-pop shop with a meaningful legacy and a cherished place in our community.
So stop in today, we would love to see you!