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A Look Back Into Our Journey
Melissa is an inspired artist with a heart for her family and her craft. Her late husband, Jonathan Bailey, a Master goldsmith and award-winning designer, introduced Melissa to the world of Jewelry design and manufacturing. Together, Melissa & Jonathon expanded their Jewelry repair shop as they began creating what they called the “Chesapeake Collection.”
Capturing the Spirit of the Bay
The collection enjoyed great success in its efforts to capture the varied and beautiful icons still so prevalent about the bay and our coastal water regions. Together they designed, waxed, molded, and created several pieces, including Workboats, Skipjacks, fish, waterfowl, oysters and most importantly, crabs. Sadly, Jonathan passed in the early 80s, but the dream remained.
A Daily Commitment to Craft and Community
For almost 34 years, Melissa worked each waking day, opening that small store behind the family home, each day she aspired to be a better person, a better mother, and to build a trusted business. Melissa is well known throughout the region for her hard work, beautiful jewelry, and her continued generosity in support of so many community and waterman-based organizations.
A New Chapter Begins
Eventually, Michael met Melissa, fell immediately in love, married and together have begun the new future of the family business now known as Chesapeake Jewelers. The old brick-and-mortar store, Bailey Jewelers, no longer exists, but the Chesapeake Collection is no longer limited to the walls of a store. Several times each year, we pack up our extensive collection and set up our booth at several events and festivals. Oftentimes, we are sponsors of these events, and are happy to be so.
Honoring the Bay and Its Legacy
You see, we believe in the legacy of the bay, we marvel at the sight of a stately heron gliding silently onto its next fishing spot. Experiencing the silent glory of an amazing sunset. Seeing monarch butterflies on wing in their annual migrations across the vast expanse of the bay. The natural beauty of fish, clams, oysters, and, of course, those famous crabs. Most of all, we recognize and appreciate the hard-working men and ladies who make their living working the water.
Reflecting the Waterman's Life in Every Piece
The everyday working waterman and women are the heart of our efforts. We have seen 1st hand what it takes to make a living from working the water. It’s all done by hand, faith and a belief that good will come from it. We hope that our pieces exemplify all these things because we know that you, or a loved one, once recognized and believed in these things as well.
With Gratitude and Hope for Future Connections
Thank you for allowing us to introduce ourselves and our collection to you. Thank you to all our customers and friends who have brought Us along thus far. We each look forward to seeing you again either at our Home studio, on the water, or at an upcoming event near you.
Reviews
I bought some jewelry two years ago, I loved it. I came back again this year at Virginia Beach, VA to buy some more!
Melissa knows her jewelry & crabs. Best place to go when looking for a true Chesapeake piece. Always great service - even years after the sale.
I live within driving distance of some of the biggest names in jewerly.... but i only buy from mike and melissa.. Their customer service and attention to detail is what keeps customers coming back year after year. I currently own several of their pieces.
i have worn them everyday in all types of weather and water.. i sleep ,shower and swim in them without any care of them tarnishing, bending or falling off...
Hi Mike and Melissa: glad you are having fun in Florida this winter!
Wanted to tell you I just love my Mainship Expedition Trawler pendant!! Wear it everyday! Getting lots of compliments too.
Thanks again!
My BF bought me this pelican in 2016 at the Baltimore boat show when we bought our 2017 Sportsman Boat. Never take it off! My favorite bird!
I love the jewelry that they have. They are great people 😁❤
Excellent customer service and they stand by their products. Always friendly and pleasure to do business with. They are absolutely the best.
Custom designed this pendent of our Mainship 400 trawler from pictures. It is perfect, including the radar
I absolutely love these two!!!! Always smiling, always remember you! Their jewelry is by far the most beautiful one of a kind pieces you will ever find!!
Each item we have had custom made is superb. This is one terrific jeweler you can trust! We know that when Chesapeake Jewelers makes it, it will be the best
Love love love your jewelry
Love all my jewelry that I purchased from you over the years
Love my (silver) blue crab stud earrings, now I want that (silver) blue crab slide/pendant for my necklace.
Fantastic!!! Love the creativity. Thanks so much for crafting my blue crab bead at Poquoson Seafood Festival today!!!
After caching a contending Diamond Jim fish in 2013 and winning $500 plus a sapphire stone as part of my winnings, I had the stone set in a large Crab claw pendent and is absolutely beautiful! I get so many compliments on it when I wear it. I send them to Chesapeake Jewelers where I know they will get amazing jewelry! So if you are looking for that unique piece of jewelry this is the place to go!