BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT:

The history of 1928 Jewelry can be traced back to not 1928, but 1968, when Melvyn Bernie sold his wares from the trunk of a car to family-owned and -operated stores.

That endeavor has expanded to include two stores and four brands. The newest store opened Aug. 6 in Burbank, at 3412 W. Magnolia Blvd.

“We make a romantic product that women seem to enjoy wearing,” Bernie said. “Our prices are average prices. Our jewelry is well-priced.”

1928 Jewelry offers four collections that “are designed to respect the details of period pieces while offering fresh design interpretations to fit today’s styles and fashions,” according to its website.

The 2028 line was developed for Macy’s, and offers higher-end jewelry.

The Vatican Library Collection is a collection inspired by the works found in the vast and rarely seen Vatican Library. The collection is faith-inspired and features crosses, engraved crucifixes, hand-strung rosaries, bookmarks and key chains.

The Antiquities Couture line carries jewelry inspired by the Renaissance, Victorian and Grecian eras, and includes necklaces, brooches, earrings and bracelets. The 1928 Boutique offers limited-edition pieces, including earrings, necklaces and bracelets with a “vintage flair,” according to the company.

The biggest change Bernie has seen since he started selling is the disappearance of most retail department stores, including many of the specialty stores.

“I don’t feel good about that,” Bernie said. “The Internet has kind of replaced it.”

The Internet itself has been the biggest challenge for his business, Bernie said, but he added that his business has compensated by offering catalogs and pictures of wares online.

“The economy has changed a lot of things,” Bernie said. “But we are still doing well.”

The goal of 1928 Jewelry is to combine the old with the new, said Marketing Director Sonia White.

“1928 is more of a value-driven price point,” she said. “It’s geared more toward the Kohl’s and the Dillards and the JC Penneys of the world. That collection is drawn not only on that vintage-inspired influence, but is fused with that modern feel.”