Ben Bridge Jeweler, the 34-store chain owned by Berkshire Hathaway, just made an unusual move: it acquired Olympic Manufacturing, a local Bellevue, Washington-based jewelry shop it’s worked with for decades.
💬 “We haven’t traditionally done acquisitions like this,” said CEO Lisa Bridge. “But this was an exciting opportunity to bring in a new skill set and a new aspect of the business.”
The financial terms weren’t disclosed, but the deal marks a major step toward vertical integration for Ben Bridge—adding in-house craftsmanship to its business model.
🏭 Olympic, founded in 1975, is known for custom jewelry and repair services, not only for Ben Bridge but for other local jewelers too.
“We’re happy to support other local jewelers,” Bridge confirmed, noting that Olympic’s external services will continue even after the acquisition.
Bridge also praised Olympic’s standards:
“It’s a beautiful shop. I’ve seen a fair amount of jewelry manufacturing, and I was really impressed the first time I visited—from cleanliness to organization, it just felt right.”
Olympic has long handled a significant share of Ben Bridge’s custom and repair work, making the purchase a natural next step. Now, the brand hopes to enhance Olympic’s operations with stronger infrastructure and organizational support.
🎯 The acquisition signals a deeper investment in local talent, artisanal manufacturing, and craftsmanship rooted in the Pacific Northwest—all while maintaining its independent, relationship-focused ethos.
Since 2000, Ben Bridge has been a subsidiary of Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway, adding an extra layer of significance to the move.