90 years of sparkle: Galloway and Moseley celebrates legacy of love, craft and community

There's a burgundy bag in Sumter that makes hearts skip. It's not flashy or loud. In fact, it's quite simple — elegant even. But for generations of families in Sumter and surrounding areas, that bag holds far more than fine jewelry.

It holds trust. Love. Legacy.

And this April, Galloway and Moseley Fine Jewelers celebrates a resounding 90 years in business — Sumter's oldest jewelry store. Nine decades of polishing engagement rings, repairing heirlooms and helping customers say "I love you" without uttering a single word.

The Galloway & Moseley jewelry firm, initially at 36 S. Main St., was opened April 12, 1935, by founders G. Moseley and J.D. Galloway.

Over time, the business has been handed over from generation to generation, and now Britton Moseley, son of G.B. Moseley, carries half of the family's legacy on his shoulders.

Britton chuckled softly when asked about his start. He remembers being a little boy in the original store downtown, crawling around on the shop floor looking for scraps of gold. If he found one, he'd pocket it, fueled by the excitement that he was "rich."

"Of course, I always had to give it back," he said, laughing lightly.

As he aged, he'd take on various responsibilities, from cleaning glass cases and making bows for the gift wrap department to being a pivotal player in the store's migration in 1980 to its current 444 N. Guignard Drive location and the landscaping of the storefront. This move would be a defining moment for the business — going from leasing to owning a brick-and-mortar — and Britton.

"There's a place for you here," his father told him. When it was time to get serious about a career, Britton attended Gemological Institute of America to study gemology and take his place within the family business as owner and vice president.

The other half of the jewelry store's partnership rests on the shoulders of Danny Chandler. Hired by G.B. Moseley, Chandler has spent 51 of the store's 90 years learning different aspects of the business, from crafting jewelry and setting diamonds to working on the bench and making sales to now being owner and president.

The pair have been equals in the business since 1996 and, together, expanded the store's sparkle into Florence nearly 20 years ago in 2006. Both businesses have maintained the same quality collections, cuts and customer service they were founded on, Chandler explained.

While diamonds may be forever, the jewelry industry is not without its changes. The biggest shift has been technology. The business is highly regarded for its custom jewelry, and many of the wax molds, once upon a time, were carved by hand. Today, customers can come with printed pictures or vague ideas of what they desire and through 3D-printed molds, steady hands and pure pizazz from staff storewide walk away with unique pieces that will become the focal point of many precious memories.

But what hasn't changed is the commitment to service. Bringing new folks into the firm to work the floor, man the shop and carry the nearly century-old legacy forward is not taken lightly by Britton or Chandler. Employees are held to high standards, ones they are eager to meet and exceed. Not for the praise or the perks. But to be part of serving third- and fourth-generation customers who seek out their inventory to add a sparkle to their special moments.

"That's one of the special things about our business," Chandler shared warmly.

Founded on family, that's exactly what you become when you enter Galloway and Moseley, whether employee or customer. And the support given to the store is reciprocated across the community through the Rotary Club, Sumter Merchants Association and several other organizations.

"I can't tell you how thankful we are to Sumter and every opportunity we get to tell them we're thankful, we're very humbled," Britton expressed. "We are ingrained in the community and, gosh, we wouldn't trade it for the world."

As they enter their tenth decade, both Britton and Chandler are focused on not just maintaining tradition but preserving it, one sparkle at a time.

And in this town, that kind of sparkle never fades.