OUR STORY
Serving
Chicagoland
Since 1949.
And Still Counting.
Three generations of families. Thousands of engagements. One store that has always taken the time to get it right.
The Lustig Difference
It Started With One Belief:Every Customer Deserves the Best.
In 1949, Lustig Jewelers opened its doors in the Chicagoland area with a single, unwavering commitment: to give every customer the care, attention, and expertise they deserve, not just when the sale is happening, but for the lifetime of the piece.
More than 75 years later, that commitment hasn't changed. We are still the same independently owned Jewelry store, still staffed by veteran jewellers who know their craft inside and out, and still the place that Chicagoland families trust for the moments that matter most.
Engagements. Anniversaries. Birthdays. Baby showers. Graduations. Quiet Tuesdays when someone just wants to treat themselves. We have been honoured to be part of all of them.
"Come in as a customer. Leave as our friend."
The Lustig Promise
Our Journey
75+ Years in the Making
The Beginning
Lustig Jewelers was founded in Chicagoland, with a focus on fine craftsmanship and exceptional personal service.
Growing With Our Community
A generation of Chicagoland couples choose Lustig for their engagement rings. Our reputation for honest guidance and beautiful design spreads through word of mouth.
Expanding Our Craft
We invest in on-site Jewelry fabrication and repair, giving customers the rare assurance that their most treasured pieces never have to leave our hands.
Introducing 3D Custom Design
We adopt cutting-edge 3D CAD technology, allowing customers to see and shape their custom designs in real time before a single stone is set.
Welcoming New Designers
We partner with exceptional designers, including Carizza®, Naledi Collection, and MaloBands, bringing exclusive, hard-to-find collections to Chicagoland.
The New Chapter
In 2025, Lustig Jewelers was acquired by the Helfer family, three generations of Chicagoland jewelers with roots going back to 1933. Two legacies. One store. The same values that built Lustig are now carried forward by a family that has spent decades living them. This is not a new beginning. It's a continuation.
Three Generations of Craft.A New Chapter Begins.
Some legacies are built overnight. This one took ninety years.
Lustig Jewelers has long been a trusted name in Chicago's jewelry community. And in 2025, it found the right hands to carry it forward.
The Helfer family has been in the diamond business since 1933, when David Helfer opened a wholesale diamond office in downtown Chicago. Within six years he had launched his first retail store in Kankakee, Illinois. Over the decades that followed, David built something rare: one of the first independently owned jewelry chains in the Midwest, with more than fifteen stores spanning Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana, and Iowa.
The next generation carried the tradition forward through the 60s, 70s, and 80s. Then came Gregg, the eldest son, who returned to the family calling and in 1999 opened a private showroom in the historic Maller's Building on Chicago's Jewelers Row. By 2003 his brother Michael joined, bringing 20-plus years in sales and marketing. Not a retail showroom. A destination. A place where serious buyers came for expertise, honesty, and craftsmanship without the theatre.
When Gregg passed in 2016, Michael stepped forward as owner. And when the opportunity came to acquire Lustig Jewelers, the choice was clear. Two storied names. One shared commitment.
The history runs deep. The work is personal. Lustig continues here.
Affiliations and Credentials
Jewelers of America · Gemological Institute of America · Illinois and Chicago Jewelers Association ·The Jewelers Board of Trade
WHY LUSTIG?
Not Just a Jewelry Store.
A Trusted Guide.
Veteran Expertise
Birthstone jewelry · Fashion pieces · Personalized items
Our team of jewellers brings decades of hands-on experience. When we advise you on a diamond, we're drawing on a lifetime of knowledge, not a sales script.
Custom Design On-Site
Birthstone jewelry · Fashion pieces · Personalized items
We design and fabricate custom pieces right here in our Vernon Hills showroom. Your ring, your vision, our hands, from first sketch to final polish.
Personal, Not Transactional
Birthstone jewelry · Fashion pieces · Personalized items
We take our time with every client. No rushing, no pressure, no pushing the most expensive option. Your comfort and confidence come first, always.
Local & Independent
Birthstone jewelry · Fashion pieces · Personalized items
Lustig is independently owned and deeply rooted in the Chicagoland community. When you shop here, you're investing in local craftsmanship and a relationship that lasts.
Made right here
Every Repair, Every Custom Piece, Done in Our Showroom.
Most Jewelry stores send their repair and custom work off-site. We don't. Our skilled jewellers work on-premises in our Vernon Hills showroom, which means your rings, necklaces, and bracelets are always in our hands, not on a truck somewhere.
From setting a new stone to resizing a treasured heirloom, we do the work ourselves. That's how we can guarantee both the quality and the timeline.
- On-site repairs, often while you wait
- Custom 3D CAD design from scratch
- Engravings handled in-showroom
- Adjustable shanks for arthritic joints, a Lustig specialty
Part of Your Community
Chicagoland Has Been Our Home for Over 75 Years.
We are proud members of the Vernon Hills community and the wider Chicagoland area. Over the decades, we have supported families through some of life's most important moments and built friendships that outlast any transaction. When you walk through our door, you're not a ticket number. You're a neighbor.
THE PEOPLE BEHIND YOUR PIECES
Meet the Team Behind Lustig Jewelers
Decades of experience. Personalized service. A shared passion for helping our clients celebrate life's most meaningful moments.
Michael Helfer
Owner
Roman Sidelsky
Master Jeweler & Custom Design Manager
Girly Gonzalez
Assistant Manager
WE GOT YOU COVERED
Not Sure Where to Start?
Start With a Conversation.
Our consultations are free, relaxed, and completely no-pressure. Come in and tell us what's on your mind, and we'll take it from there.