"The primary thing we do is repairs, and we offer repairs while the customer waits. We do anything in jewelry that has to be done. We provide ring sizing, stone setting, appraisals, engraving and specialize in gold and rhodium plating. We also carry vintage costume jewelry and we will redesign estate jewelry."

"Both of us are jewelers -- not just salesmen -- who own the store, so we don't have to send anything out that needs to be repaired. We repair it ourselves and the customer can stay to watch us as we work.

"Most people when they come into a jewelry store will be told it will take one or two weeks until the repair is made. Sometimes they might have a jeweler who is only part-time. Many jewelry stores, the owners are really jewelry salespeople not jewelers -- they can do appraisals and might be a gemologist but they don't do repairs."

"We want the public to know the difference between good jewelers and bad jewelers. There are definitely bad jewelers out there. You hear a lot of stories and people are afraid to leave their pieces because they are concerned they may not take back the same jewelry as they brought in.

"The way we have the store set up there is an open window into the shop and people can watch as we repair their jewelry. They see we aren't doing anything hokey. We provide service.

"Many jewelry stores don't provide this service. Many bigger stores will service only the items that they sell and won't repair something from another store. We've here to service the public. And we figure if we do that, they will eventually buy from us -- we do a decent line of jewelry in the store. We have a regular inventory of jewelry.

"Our big thing is custom orders. You bring us a picture and we will either design it from the picture or take some of their old jewelry and make a new item from the stones. We just made a pendent, earrings and a ring from a big cocktail ring. We broke all the stones out."

"When we started we were in a small store on Route 1 making repairs for the big retail chains like Macy's, etc. that sold jewelry. We were a wholesale repair business then. We did this for 10 years.

"When that business faded away, we opened our retail store. We still do wholesale repair work for some of the jewelry stores. When they say they are sending out their work to a jeweler, we are the guys they send it to."

"Moving to move to this location in Metuchen 11 years ago was our most important deal. Before we were located on the highway. Being in downtown Metuchen, we find it is a nicer environment and many of our customers followed us here. Even to this day, some of our customers, from Route 1, will come in and tell us 'I'm so glad we found you.' We were never lost."

"Every customer is an important deal. We really do cater to the customer's need with the repairs. We repair some costume jewelry that some have been told can't be fixed. We can salvage the piece either with different soldering or other techniques to preserve the piece. The piece usually has sentimental value -- so we try to preserve it so it can be worn."

"I guess just to improve on the retail business -- to offer better service and better merchandise."

"Patience. That's why we're called the Jewelry Doctor -- we have to have patients. Really, the most important thing in any business is to listen to the client. If you listen and pay attention, you work it out."

"If they wanted to go into the service-end of this business, I would recommend that they do strictly one aspect of the business. For instance, if they were a diamond setter they would do better than try to do everything. It's difficult to do everything and do it well.

"In today's economy it seems that specific needs are better. It's more difficult for a jeweler to break into the business unless they specialize. In this business, you used to be able to 'make money' -- now you 'make a living' because there are so many people who sell jewelry.

"The internet hurt Mom and Pop stores and the big jewelry exchanges. That's why you have to find some sort of niche. You have to make yourself different in some sort of specialty."

"Yes. I'd rather be performing as a magician! I did perform for several years traveling on the road to colleges and in Las Vegas and at the Tropicanna in Atlantic City. I've performed as 'Mark Spade' as the opening act for Chris Rock, Regis Philbin and others. Then it was called the Magical Comedy of Mike and Mike. My partner died at a young age.

"My wife suggested I go into the jewelry business because the entertainment business is unpredictable. Now I continue my magic act for organizations on weekends with Sal Senatore. It's called The Magical Comedy of Big Mike and Little Sal. We recently performed at Congregation Beth Israel at the Men's Club Hanukkah Party."

To contact Mike Spade the Magician call (732) 396-7128 or visit mikespade.com.