Jewelry the Family Way
Wednesday, 02 November 2011 22:25
Not many people can say that they have been doing the same thing since they were 14 years old and still love it, but Carlos Diaz can.
As a silversmith, he first opened his business in Tucson in 1958 and has been a presence in town ever since.
Diaz got his start in his hometown of Bogota, Columbia, where he watched his uncle work as a silversmith before becoming his apprentice at the age of 14.
He worked in Quito, Ecuador, for a few years making chalices for the church and hollowware for the embassy. In 1953, he came to the United States and eventually became a citizen, deciding to settle in Tucson after visiting with a friend.
Diaz worked as a bus boy, maintenance man, and doing piece work for other jewelers before opening his own business in 1958.
Since then, Diaz has expanded his knowledge to keep up with his customers. He attended the Gemological Institute of America, where he learned how to mount diamonds and other gems.
Diaz’s grandson, Enrique Creighton, 21, has been working in the shop as a silversmith for the past two years and plans to attend the Gemological Institute like his grandfather did before him.
Today, at the age of 84, Diaz still works in his shop, Carlos Diaz Silversmiths. He works alongside his family who helps him run the business.
Working at Carlos Diaz Silversmiths
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Written by Amber Gallegos
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