In 1940, Mr. James Clarke Free opened his jewelry store with his partner Mr. Jack Werst in Dayton, Ohio. Soon after, Mr. Free purchased the company from Werst and quickly began his journey to become Dayton’s premier diamond expert.

His reputation was for meticulous work, matched with the highest quality materials and crafted to perfection; a prominence that still follows James Free Jewelers today.

During the 1970s, an established reputation gave way to new opportunities. Mr. Free hired a young, passionate, GIA-certified gemologist and sales associate named Michael Karaman. In 1984, Mr. Karaman purchased the company, and ultimately set his sights on bringing the Rolex brand to our discerning clientele. In the late 1980s, it was with great pride that we accepted the privilege of becoming an Official Rolex Jeweler.

Today, James free continues to embody the Swiss watchmaker’s timeless values: quality, passion, and excellence.

In 2013, under the visionary leadership of Mr. Karaman, James Free looked to its history, and created a state-of-the-art, Rolex-designed, and authorized watch repair center. James Free became the premier jeweler in Dayton to repair, preserve, and offer Rolex timepieces, from iconic designs to the latest innovations. In 2019, our partnership with Rolex was taken to a new level of distinction and honor by achieving the highly coveted status of Rolex Plaque jeweler. As an authorized Rolex Jeweler, we are proud to present our customers with unmatched service and expertise synonymous with the Rolex name to new generations of watch enthusiasts.