When you walk into Precious Metalsmith in downtown Olympia, you see a regular jewelry store. You see the hustle and bustle of a hardworking family of employees doing what they love, you see many beautiful pieces of jewelry such as Celtic knot bracelets inlayed with jewels, custom gold necklaces and bright, brilliant rings with original flair. 

What you don't see, however, is the elaborate, interconnected computer system used for programming designs, wax mill for casting molds, and the masterminds of the artists hard at work creating unusual custom pieces - like hood ornaments, bicycle emblems, gun embellishments, silver bullets, memorial keepers and golf clubs.

 "We've always taken on the weird custom stuff," says Chris Thornton, who, together with his wife Joanna has owned Precious Metalsmith at its current location at 106 5^th Ave. since 2008.

The couple met in 1997 at the China Clipper in Olympia when he was working with a silversmith in Shelton and she was in goldsmithing school. After they met, Chris says, "It was on like Donkey Kong."

In 1999, they were juried in to set up a booth at the farmer's market and began their metalsmithing career. Even back then, they had a knack for providing custom work for hard-to-find designs. Chris remembers one particular customer that had him re-create a boat part from the 1940s.

Fast forward 13 years and you'll find the Thornton's continuing their dream of custom, quality jewelry and other quality custom designs.

Right now, Chris is working on a designer golf putter for a friend whose brother is about to retire from Boeing. The putter has 777s and aviation equations embellished on the club, and will soon have the details of the man's career engraved in the bottom.

Chris showed me the design on his state-of-the-art computer, and it looks polished, creative and classy. It will be two-toned, with bronze and sterling silver.

"We've gotten people excited about golf clubs," says Chris. He explains they go to great lengths to make sure the putter doesn't play different. They work with a swing weight to ensure proper balance and lye.

Other custom requests have been a Colt .45 with a family name and Scottish band, Halloween costume embellishments like specialized buttons, and sterling silver and bronze emblems for a local bicycle maker.

"It's a team effort around here," says Chris of his wife, who buffs, polishes and sets stones, and his eight employees who are always on hand to help customers choose their perfect piece, whether it's a classic engagement band or something outside the jewelry box.

See more of their work at www.preciousmetalsmith.com.