About Bruno Fine Jewelers
In the early 1970’s Larry Bruno started in the Jewelry business. He studied the art of jewelry making at the Bowman Technical School in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, considered then to be the finest school of jewelry making in the country. Larry studied fine jewelry repair, stone setting and hand engraving, all of which led to apprenticing under Master Jewelers Pete Copploe from Copploe Jewelers in Youngstown, Ohio, and Darrell (Buzz) Gould of New Castle, Pennsylvania.
Larry soon started his own business as a "bench jeweler" doing custom jewelry work for area jewelers. His wife, Linda, would deliver the jewelry work daily to area jewelers of Warren and Girard in Ohio, and Sharon and Greenville in Pennsylvania. Their success soon flourished into the opening of their own store in 1981, L. P. Bruno Jewelers, in Hermitage, Pennsylvania.
In the spring of 2007 Larry and Linda purchased the Springfield Waterfall property in Mercer, Pennsylvania with a plan to build their new "Dream Store" - Bruno Fine Jewelers! The seven acre property includes an ancient glacial gorge and stream. A new store was constructed on the perfect site - overlooking the gorge, the Springfield Waterfall, and the Historic Springfield Furnace. What a view!
The Springfield Furnace was in operation from 1837 until midway through the American Civil War when in 1862 it went 'out of blast'. The furnace produced 'pig iron' which would then be crafted into much needed iron items such as iron stoves and farm implements. Immediately after acquiring the property Larry was approached by Dr. John White, an Archaeologist from Youngstown University, asking permission to start an archaeological dig at the furnace. Larry agreed and the history-revealing "dig" has been ongoing
ever since.
• Foyer doors from a castle in Belgium
• A 200 year old fireplace mantle from a tavern in Mid Ohio
• A conjecture drawing of the Springfield Furnace circa 1850, by Mike Reznor
• A hand painted mural by artist Stephanie Palmer which depicts the area
landscape in the 1850’s
• Interior stone walls excavated from the archaeological dig
• Wall-to-wall store windows overlooking the gorge and the Springfield Falls
Customers not only experience an unforgettable visit to a romantic location, but also have access to the finest diamonds in the world, and fine jewelry from several noted designers (including Bruno Design’s). Customers with substantial purchases also receive a photo opportunity at the waterfall to capture that special moment in their lives.
Larry belongs to many jewelry organizations, including Jewelers of America and the Independent Jewelers of America. As a Direct Diamond Dealer, his travels have taken him on numerous visits to Antwerp, Belgium - the Diamond Capitol of the World!
