by Sarah Ellis

Looking through his thick-framed glasses, perhaps scratching his shiny scalp, his voice fluctuates. He's already uncomfortable doing the commercial. The owner of Perrywinkles Fine Jewelry compares himself to Mr. Magoo, always blindly stumbling onto things, and never really sure how he got there. Nevertheless, he seems to be going places. Perry Sporn spends his days either in a warehouse, at one of his five stores, or traveling around the world in his company plane looking at diamonds.

Sporn grew up in New York City and graduated from Herricks High School. He went to Albany University, but he never graduated. Something sparkly had caught his eye. He was working for a jewelry store for some extra cash during college when he started buying and selling diamonds.

He didn't know much about the business, but within a year or two he bought into an existing store and began a partnership. Soon he was part owner of 25 stores within 300 miles of each other. However, Sporn found he couldn't "read" customers; he couldn't "look people in the eyes and know his jewelry was important;" and he didn't know his employees very well. "I have to know that every piece I sell has tremendous value," Sporn says. He wasn't proud of the partnership, so he got out.

"I have to know that every piece I sell has tremendous value," Sporn says. He wasn't proud of the partnership, so he got out.

When Sporn left, he chose to keep the stores in the towns he liked best in New York; Ithaca, Saratoga, Watertown, and Plattsburgh. He also kept the store in Burlington, Vermont.

In Dunkin Donuts fashion, Sporn laughs and says, "Time to make the jewelry,"

A day in the life of Sporn: He spends his mornings at the factory in Saratoga Springs looking at new designs and overseeing what they make. When he's not flying all over the world in his company plane, he spends his afternoons at his stores and with customers.

Sporn is passionate about what he does. His employees are important to him because they provide an environment and opportunity to share what he loves with customers, and that's very rewarding to him. "We want to offer something to our customers that's not possible to get anywhere else," Sporn says sincerely.

All of Sporn's employees know him well and are never nervous or intimidated by him. Sporn treats his employees with the same kindness and respect he shows his customers. Sporn's biggest influences have been his friends. He cares greatly about the people closest to him, including his two brothers; nicknamed Yuckel and Rudy, and his sister; nicknamed P.I.T.A. "I want to be able to make a difference in my friends and people who work for me; I want to be there for them and know that they can count on me" Sporn says.

"I want to be able to make a difference in my friends and people who work for me; I want to be there for them and know that they can count on me" Sporn says.

Perrywinkles store in the Champlain Center mall

Perrywinkles Fine Jewelry is different from other jewelry stores because they know everything about their diamonds. Sporn travels to places like Israel, Russia, and Bangkok in search of uncut diamonds. He then brings them back to his factory to have them cut there. This way, they know everything about the diamond; where it's from, how it's been cut, where it's going- everything.

Sporn is the same outside of the business world; very curious and passionate. "I'm fussy and demanding, and I demand the same of myself and the people who represent us," Sporn says, "I like to explore. I'm patient with people; I like to see how other people live and what drives them."

Sporn says, "I like to explore. I'm patient with people; I like to see how other people live and what drives them."

Sporn flies his company plane, but he didn't always know how to. He was supposed to be on a plane that crashed years ago and became alarmed and frustrated. He didn't understand how the plane could crash and decided to learn how to fly. Now he flies from country to country in search of diamonds. In his free time he flies his Pitts Special plane, maneuvering in all directions in daring stunts. Sporn also enjoys hiking and exploring the Adirondacks.

A new Perrywinkles store opened in 2003 in Burlington and Sporn says things are going well. Though he says his future is unknown, he and his business are continuously growing successfully. People are telling their friends about Perrywinkles and driving from further and further away in search of the perfect diamond, he says. "If you're doing the right things, you're going to grow. People will drive for you. If there's something you're doing wrong, it'll show."

Perry is positive when looking toward the future. He makes time for his friends, his employees, and his customers. Though he's not sure where he's going, he's not worried about getting there, just like Mr. Magoo. "I got a great life, I'm gonna keep doing what I do—what I love doing," Perry says.

Where do you get your diamonds?

Locations of Perrywinkles Stores

PERRYWINKLES FINE JEWELRY
60 Smithfield Blvd
Plattsburgh, NY 12901
(518) 562-2328

PERRYWINKLES FINE JEWELERS
Pyramid Mall
Ithaca, NY 14850
(607) 257-1481

PERRYWINKLES FINE JEWELRY
21182 Salmon Run Mall Loop Ste 110
Watertown, NY 13601
(315) 785-0062

PERRYWINKLES FINE JEWELRY
100 Saratoga Village Blvd
Ballston Spa, NY 12020
(518) 899-3331

PERRYWINKLES FINE JEWELRY
Burlington, VT 05405
(802) 865-2624

For more information about gems and jewelry, visit the Gemological Institute of America.