M.J. Miller & Co. - Barrington, IL

123 W. Main Street, Barrington, IL 60010

www.mjmillerjewelers.com

Michael Miller has been fascinated with gems since he was a child. He took a correspondence course about diamonds at age 10. By 15, he was traveling from his home in North Dakota to New York to visit diamond cutters.

When it came to choosing a profession, his father encouraged him to get a career in pharmacy. So he did. By 1970, he had established himself in Barrington, Illinois as a pharmacist, but he also sold jewelry in the back of Esh Pharmacy.

In June 2000, just as his extensive jewelry stock was growing and he needed more room, a customer came in and told him about their business space on Main Street. She and her husband were moving to Naples, Florida, and the building they had constructed at 123 West Main Street was available.

With 16 parking spaces right in front of the building and a location on the village’s major street of commerce (with a major grocery store chain directly across the street), Miller knew it was just what he needed. He bought the building on the spot.

Main Street is also the area’s county divider. The north side of Main Street sits in Illinois’ Lake County; the south side is Cook County. According to the Internal Revenue Service, Barrington, Illinois is the seventh wealthiest zip code in the United States.

These affluent customers are the ones who come into one of the largest privately-owned jewelry retail organizations in the Northwest suburbs of Chicago. Miller prides himself on the fact that clients trust him and know that he will often have unique gems in stock. And if he doesn’t have something, “I know exactly where to get it,” he says. In fact, Miller travels extensively to find the gems for his custom designs. As his website proclaims, “We strive everyday to earn the confidence of our clients by exceeding their expectations.”

In addition to local customers, Miller has amassed celebrity clients including royalty, television stars and professional athletes. One of the most memorable pieces: Maya Angelou’s 75th birthday present commissioned by Oprah Winfrey. Miller designed a brooch that featured an 18-carat gold birdcage with a platinum canary and a ruby heart. The piece was inspired by one of Angelou’s most famous works, “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings.”