Married and in the jewelry business for 35 years, 24 of those at the intersection of Pioneer and Fort streets. They’ve counted 1,400 cars passing by in one hour and they estimate thousands have stopped in simply because they were driving by. An average of three wedding rings made each day, working with 1,300 degrees Fahrenheit metals most days. Sixty minutes to set up the jewelry displays daily and another 40 minutes to put it all away in the safe each evening. Four kids and four grandchildren. Working six days a week, four of those open for business and the other two working on designing or repairing jewelry in the back.

Behind those statistics is the story of Jon and Susan Lee, owners of J.P. Lee Fine Jewelry. They will close the doors of their longtime Draper business for the final time Dec. 24.

He credits her and she credits him for their success. “She takes care of all the books and keeps the business moving forward. She’s even become a good salesperson in spite of herself. People come because she’s so nice,” Jon said. “It’s been successful only because he’s so knowledgeable and personable. People know they can trust him,” Susan said. 

Jon wears an apron to try to stop molten gold from burning holes in his clothes. He also wears a visor for eye protection and five power magnification. “Setting stones is tedious and intense,” Susan said. His hands are often black as a result of jewelers’ polishing compound. “I used to be embarrassed by that. Now I’m proud of it. It’s who I am,” Jon said. For all these years, in addition to jewelry sales, they’ve done custom designs, repairs and also appraisals. 

It all began because Jon worked in a jewelry store as Christmas help after his LDS mission and before he went back to college. “It was just going to be a three-month job, but I found out I was good at it,” he said. He had gone to Alta High and she to Bingham. Friends arranged for them to meet at a Fred Meyer where Jon was working behind the jewelry counter and Susan was on an errand. He made note of her phone number from the check she paid with. “I can still remember the pink dress she was wearing,” he said. According to Jon, after three weeks “we were an item.” 

He worked at three different jewelry stores over a period of years, and once they were married, Susan worked two jobs and moved back in with her parents so they could afford to send Jon to the Gemological Institute of America in Los Angeles for one year. “We were big fans of $39 standby flights in those days,” he said. Jon finished his training, returned to Utah, and apprenticed with a jeweler. Following that, Jon and Susan opened their first J.P. Lee Fine Jewelry in West Jordan. Back then, they took their first-born child to work with them and kept her entertained with toys in the back room.

After 10 years in West Jordan, Jon happened to witness a for sale sign going up at the building they now own and occupy. “I bought it on the spot,” he said.

Jon had grown up here. “We moved here when I was 11, so I’m almost indigenous to Draper,” he said. Both Jon and Susan appreciate the history at the heart of Draper where their business stands and they’re delighted they’ve been a part of that. Today, many think of it as the jewelry building, but in earlier days, it housed doctor and dentist offices as well as a pharmacy. “It was the original medical building for Draper and, when I was a kid, we used to come here and buy penny candies at the pharmacy on our way to the Draper movie house (now the historic theatre),” Jon said. 

Jon can be credited with playing a role in saving the Old Park School. Several years ago, it was owned by the city and had historical significance, but it was in desperate need of repairs the city couldn’t afford. City officials planned to demolish it despite public protest. That’s when a local person stopped into the jewelry store and asked if Jon knew of any buildings for sale. Jon suggested they talk to the mayor about the Old Park School. “They made a deal with the city to buy it within days of when it was supposed to be torn down,” Jon said. “They were masterful with what they did with it,” Susan said of the historic building’s buyers.

Through the years, every one of their four children has worked for them at one time or another and Jon’s mom worked the sales floor for 15 years.

One piece of advice Jon has given to potential grooms is be sure to “interview” with the parents of the bride-to-be before proposing. It’s a lesson he had to learn himself some 35 years ago. He’d gotten a ring for Susan and kept it under the seat of his car for about a week before asking her to marry him, but he’d forgotten to talk with her parents first. “Her dad gave me a three-hour interview,” Jon said. Nowadays, Jon is sure to ask guys looking at engagement rings one very important question. “How did your interview go with the dad and the mom?”

The Lee’s business reputation is such that people come from Arizona, Wyoming, Idaho and New Mexico to buy from them. And because Draper is growing, they still get people stopping in for the first time. “We’ve been blessed with as much work as we can handle,” Jon said.  

Their plans for retirement include visiting grandchildren, travel and church missions. Susan hopes to grow a garden and Jon, a college English major, wants to write a couple books. Something as simple as living in the moment is also a goal for Susan. “To enjoy people without feeling rushed. Now we can really enjoy the moments,” she said.

They frequently get invited to weddings for those they’ve sold rings to, and having been in the business so long, it has become generational. “It’s almost a daily occurrence to make rings for people for whom we made rings for their parents years ago,” he said.

Both Lees said the decision to retire has been a difficult one and they both expressed gratitude. “The hardest part of retiring is leaving the people,” he said. They’re thankful to the Draper Police for keeping their business safe and to the city for creating an atmosphere conducive to business. Most especially, it’s the people they’re grateful for. “We have been supported by this community and we have felt so much love. We’re involved in the happy events of people’s lives. It’s been a privilege for us to be part of thousands of special occasions,” Jon said. 

“We have become friends with so many people who’ve been customers. You build this bond,” Susan said. 

Reflecting on 35 years of marriage and working together, Jon said, “It’s been my privilege to have the best business partner in the world. I have enjoyed every second of building this business with her.”