The necklace is featured in the brand’s “Rebel Heart” campaign starring Adam Levine and Behati Prinsloo.
Florida Jeweler Bob Dubose Dies at 90
He was the third of five generations to work at his family’s jewelry store in Vero Beach.
Vero Beach, Fla.--Jeweler Robert “Bob” Dubose of Vero Beach, Florida jewelry store Dubose & Sons Jewelers died May 3 at the age of 90.
He was part of a long familial legacy in the jewelry industry, representing the third of five generations to work at the family store.
DuBose joined the business in 1946 after serving in the U.S. Navy, his son Mike Dubose told National Jeweler.
He attended Bradley University in Illinois to study jewelry and watch repairs, hand-engraving and business.
“Dad just enjoyed the business,” Mike said. “He went to school to do the watch repair and jewelry repair but he looked at it like he was more of a businessman (who) wanted to learn the whole business so he could manage his employees.”
The elder Dubose was involved in his community beyond just being the local jeweler.
Mike explained, “He also was on the city council, school board and fire department for 40 years. He was very community active.”
A strong and diverse work ethic seems to run in the family.
Mike’s grandfather, JC Dubose, founded the store in 1911 in Fort Pierce, Florida, which neighbors Vero Beach.
“He was doing watch repair prior to 1907 in Lake City,” said Mike Dubose. “His wife got sick and from that point on, he wanted to become a preacher. He did the jewelry and watch repair while he was going to school to be a preacher and that’s when he ran across Fort Pierce, which needed a preacher.
“In 1911 he did watch repair out of a dry goods store in Fort Pierce and did the preaching on the weekends.”
The preacher/jeweler’s interests didn’t end there. When his son Oscar (Bob’s father) finished serving in the Navy, he took over the store at age 24 or 25 so JC Dubose could work as an eye doctor.
“JC still worked in the store but he was one of the first eye doctors here in Florida,” Mike said.
Through the years, Dubose & Sons Jewelers, which has had slight variations to the store name over its century-plus in business, boasted as many as seven store locations in Florida.
When Bob decided to retire in the 1990s he shut down the stores, but Mike reopened one location in Vero Beach.
Bob ended up coming back to work for his son.
“He was in the jewelry store up until
Mike said his father used to enjoy watching the L.A. Dodgers play baseball when they were spring training in the area, taking a charter bus to watch all their games.
Today, Mike is operating the family business with his son Todd, who represents the fifth generation in the family business.
JC Dubose was one of the pioneers of Vero Beach, living there when the city only had 40 inhabitants.
In a full-circle moment, the Duboses were honored for their long-standing contributions to the city earlier this year.
“We were voted as pioneer family for the county,” said Mike. “My father passed away about a week after we had the pioneer day.”
Bob Dubose’s obituary can be found on TCPalm.com.
The Latest
The two organizations will host a joint event, “Converge,” in September 2025.
Big changes appear to be on the horizon for the diamond miner and its parent company, Anglo American.
With Ho Brothers, you can unlock your brand's true potential and offer customers the personalized jewelry experiences they desire.
Padis succeeds Lisa Bridge, marking the first time the organization has had two women board presidents in a row.
Jesse Cole, founder of Fans First Entertainment, shared the “five Es” of building a fan base during his AGS Conclave keynote.
The Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar "John Mayer" was celebrated at a star-studded party in LA last week.
For over 30 years, JA has advocated for the industry, fought against harmful legislation and backed measures that help jewelry businesses.
The announcement came as the company reported a 23 percent drop in production in Q1.
The three-time Pro Bowler continues to partner with the retailer, donating to a Detroit nonprofit and giving watches to fans.
A double-digit drop in the number of in-store crimes was offset by a jump in off-premises attacks, JSA’s 2023 crime report shows.
Inspired by the Roman goddess of love, the designer looked to the sea for her new collection.
The luxury titan posted declining sales, weighed down by Gucci’s poor performance.
The selected nine organizations have outlined their plans for the funds.
The mining company’s Diavik Diamond Mine lost four employees in a plane crash in January.
The crown introduced a dozen timepieces in Geneva, including a heavy metal version of its deep-sea divers’ watch.
Emmanuel Raheb recommends digging into demographic data, customizing your store’s communications, and retargeting ahead of May 12.
A 203-carat diamond from the alluvial mine in Angola achieved the highest price.
Ruser was known for his figural jewelry with freshwater pearls and for his celebrity clientele.
The “Rebel Heart” campaign embodies rebellion, romance, and sensuality, the brand said.
Editor-in-Chief Michelle Graff shares the standout moments from the education sessions she attended in Austin last week.
The overhaul includes a new logo and enhanced digital marketplace.
The money will go toward supporting ongoing research and aftercare programs for childhood cancer survivors.
A new addition to the “Heirloom” collection, this one-of-a-kind piece features 32 custom-cut gemstones.
Last month in Dallas, David Walton pushed another jeweler, David Ettinger, who later died.
The move will allow the manufacturing company to offer a more “diverse and comprehensive” range of products.
From now through mid-May, GIA will be offering the reports at a 50 percent discount.