After 38 years owning van de Water Jewellers, Ivan van de Water and wife Miriam will say goodbye to the glittering rows of gems for sale in their shop.
The couple have sold the business to Megan and Brad Lamb, of Gore, who will take over on Friday.
Mr van de Water said one of the highlights of his career had been working with diamonds.
"The more you learn about them, the more there is to see," he said.
He greatly admired the gem.
"If you have a diamond that’s 10 years old or a 100 years old it is exactly the same. They never wear out."
He had travelled to Antwerp since 2001 to buy diamonds in the market there.
"That would probably be the highlight of my jewellery time."
Joining the Nationwide Jewellers chain in 1993 allowed him to buy diamonds at the invitation-only market.
On some trips Mrs van de Water accompanied him and the couple visited family in the Netherlands.
The pair both grew up in Gore and attended St Peter’s College.
After Mr van de Water left school he went to work for Roy and Elaine Burgess, who then owned the jewellery shop.
He worked there for two years and in 1978, with the aim of saving to buy the business, he went to work for a building firm in Dunedin.
In 1980 when the couple married, Mr van de Water worked at the paper mill and tannery in Mataura.
"We knew in 1980 we had the opportunity to buy it but we needed the dosh to do that."
Mr van de Water returned to work for the Burgesses in 1982 and the couple took over the business in 1983.
They enjoyed living in Gore.
"A lot of people bag Gore for being a small rural town but we just think it’s a lovely place," Mrs van de Water said.
Selling jewellery was a "beautiful trade", Mr van de Water said.
"You’re dealing with beautiful things and one of the highlights is that you are part of very special times in people’s lives and that’s a real honour."
Like their customers, the couple also celebrated special occasions with jewellery.
Mr van de Water gave his wife a tanzanite and diamond necklace to celebrate 30 years in business.
He bought the gem in Thailand and had the necklace made in New Zealand.
The business had been fortunate to have good staff .
"It’s always been a really happy team here."
The couple are moving to Wanaka, where their daughter lives.
"We feel the time is right while the business is in good health and we are in good health," he said.
It might take them a while to adjust to life without the responsibility of a business to run.
They were looking forward to travelling throughout New Zealand and visiting family.
