Shockey Jewelers

Shockey Jewelers has sold rings and watches from the same block of downtown Elgin since 1937, which makes the shop one of the oldest retailers left in the district. The store is at 18 Douglas Avenue, and Peter Shockey, a GIA graduate gemologist and the third generation of the family in the business, runs the counter. The stock is diamonds, engagement and wedding rings, and fine jewelry, with custom design, repairs and appraisals done in house. Locals also know the shop for the Elgin ornament, a numbered limited-edition series of the city’s landmarks that reached its 30th and final edition in 2025.

What to know

• The store has been in business since 1937 and is family-owned into its third generation.
• The address is 18 Douglas Avenue, a block from the Chicago Street Metra stop.
• Owner Peter Shockey is a GIA graduate gemologist; services include custom design, repairs, appraisals and gold buying.
• The 2025 Elgin ornament was the 30th and final edition of the series, priced at $28.95 plus tax; earlier years are still sold.
• The store has stayed at the same downtown location for decades and sells gift-boxed prior-year ornaments to complete a set.