Lastovica Jewelers

One of Temple’s most popular jewelry stores has been owned by the same family since 1950 when Alfred Lastovica Sr. moved here from Abilene. The World War II veteran had worked at a jewelry business in Abilene and decided to take the next step — open his own store.

Today, the business that Alfred built is run by two sons and their wives — Johnny and Diane Lastovica, and Billy and Helen Lastovica.

“Dad opened up in the old Professional Building downtown,” Johnny said. “It’s being redeveloped into apartments now, but Lastovica’s Jewelry was located on the corner of Central and 2nd Street.”

The business relocated several times in the downtown area, then moved to its current location on South 31st in 1996.

The Lastovica boys were both Temple born and raised.

“I graduated in 1971 and Johnny was a year behind,” Billy said. “We both went to Kilgore Junior College, but I graduated from Sam Houston State. Johnny specialized in watch repair, and Billy learned the goldsmith and jewelry repair trades. Soon they were ready to go to work in the Temple store.

“We’re a full-service jewelry store,” Johnny said. “We repair watches and jewelry, and we custom design rings and other pieces.”

“Our biggest sellers are wedding rings — the ones with big diamonds,” Billy said with a grin. “We also sell a lot of Lone Star-cut blue topaz. Blue topaz is the state gemstone of Texas.”