A Piece to Stand the Test of Time: Marthaler Jewelers

By rosa linda fallon

Photo Credit: LG Photography

Tonya Marthaler, co-owner of Marthaler Jewelers, says she never imagined herself working in the jewelry industry. Tonya has a background in nursing while her husband, Andy, has been a jeweler since he was 16 years old. Now, as owners of one of the most well-known jewelry stores in Asheville, Tonya says she couldn’t imagine doing anything else. 

Since 2010, Marthaler Jewelers has been creating precious memories and commemorating the occasions that truly matter for their customers. Tonya remembers how it all began. When Andy was working at a jewelry store in the mall, he made a connection with a frequent customer who appreciated Andy’s integrity and honesty. 

One day, the customer invited Andy and Tonya out to dinner to talk about how he might be able to help them open their own jewelry store. “I went into it originally thinking it was a waste of time,” Tonya says of the experience. “Very rarely do you hear of things like this.” Tonya and Andy realized their friend was serious about helping them. In 2010, Marthaler Jewelers opened a small 1,000 sq. ft. store in Biltmore Park. Tonya says “it’s been gang-busters ever since.” The business grew so fast, Tonya quit her nursing job to help with the business full-time. 

Since then, Tonya has grown to appreciate and even love everything that goes into making memorable jewelry. “My passion is creating something beautiful where, if even for a moment, people can enter into a space or have an experience looking at something beautiful that takes their minds off of everyday things that can be draining,” she says. 

Tonya describes jewelry as something that stands the test of time, and it allows people to be a part of something, even if they weren’t there when it happened. “It’s one of the rare things in the world that we still hand down. If it’s well cared-for, it stands the test of time.” 

This year, the Marthalers are excited to expand their business with the opening of a new location on Hendersonville Road in Fletcher, North Carolina. They are proud to continue to offer their customers custom-design services on a much larger scale. The Marthalers are also pleased that their son Matthew (who is also an attorney) has decided to join them full-time this year. 

Even as they expand, the Marthalers want to continue to develop a business where their customers feel like and are treated like family. Tonya and Andy stay humble, grateful and grounded. They stick to the foundations of their business: honesty, faith, a strong work ethic, and family. 

Tonya says the business wouldn’t be possible if it weren’t for the whole family pitching in. “We just couldn’t do any of this without our family. Even though they thought we were a little crazy for doing it, they have been with us every step of the way,” she says.

As the company approaches thirteen years in business, the Marthalers are “so thankful for the opportunity to pay it forward.” The couple donates and supports initiatives to better the lives of residents of the Rosebud Reservation in South Dakota. 

Every day, Tonya does her best to balance being a business-owner, wife, mother and dog mom. It isn’t all “dancing through daisies,” as she says. Some days are harder than others. In the midst of it all, she holds steadfast to her faith, and she makes sure to “stop and see the world around her,” even if it’s just for five minutes. 

As a customer of Marthaler Jewelers, Tonya promises you can expect nothing less than an extraordinary experience. 

To learn more about Marthaler Jewelers, visit www.marthalerjewelers.com