Owner and Goldsmith

Alex is a Master Goldsmith with 23 years of experience in fine custom jewelry design.  Originally from the Ukraine, Alex came to the United States in 1997 and resides in the Tidewater area of Virginia.  He started making jewelry in a maintenance shop using a welding torch and improvised tools, some he made himself.  As time went on he showed his work at a local jewelry store to sell it on consignment.  A couple of years later he became the jeweler in that same store.  

He has a strong belief in the everyday wearabilty of fine jewelry. He often bezel sets stones to ensure  structural stability, which is not often seen in traditional fine jewelry. His award winning hand fabricated filigree style is just as durable. 
Alex's passion shows through his meticulous detail and balance fashionable jewelry.

Alex is the recipient of many awards including: the Mayors award in the Stockley Gardens show, “Best in Show” in the Port Warwick Art and Sculpture show, and the "Virginia's Finest Artist Award” at The Boardwalk Art Show at Virginia Beach. He was published in “The Jewelry Artist Magazine” by Lapidary Journal with a Second Place award. In 2014, he received the Saul Bell First Place for the Holloware /Art Objects Design Award. You can read his interview with Rio Grande here.

Owner and Goldsmith

Tim is a goldsmith with over 25 years of experience in traditional jewelry design. Tim is graduate of Bethel High School growing up in the Tidewater area of Virginia and developed a passion for collecting stones.  He took on an apprenticeship with a master goldsmith to pursue his interest in stones and put his old collection to use. Though he was also working as a chef at the time, his apprenticeship solidified his passion for jewelry and his life changed course. He continued working at several different local jewelry stores until he met Alex Maryaskin who shared the same ethical integrity and artistic aim for perfection. The two started a friendship and after 10 years they were able to open Simply Unique Jewelry Designs together.

Tim's designs are often very traditional and his specialties include complicated stone setting and re-fabrication of inherited jewelry pieces. He has a passion for antique jewelry and old watches.

Sales Associate

Minda grew up in Hampton area and was a graduate of Bethel High School. She moved to Yorktown in 2001 with her family. She has worked in the jewelry business for 18 years as a manager, assistant manager, and joined Simply Unique Jewelry Designs in 2010 as sales associate. Minda has a certification in Diamonds and Colored Gemstones from the Diamond Council of America. 

Minda may be the person to help you design your custom one-of-a-kind jewelry, assist you with jewelry repairs, and give a better understanding with your diamond purchase. When you call the store she may be the one to answer the phone and usually is the first face you will see when you come in our store. She has a great background with sales and is very knowledgeable with all types of jewlery styles.

She loves working one-on-one with customers to learn about the stories behind their jewelry.

Apprentice Bench Jeweler

Rick originally grew up in New London, Connecticut and moved to the Virginia Beach area and is a graduate of Princess Anne High School. Before becoming an apprentice at Simply Unique Jewelry Designs he worked doing computer repair for 35 years. 

Rick became a member of the Tidewater Gem and Mineral in 2008 because  he has always had a passion for cutting and polishing cabochons stones such as Jaspers and Agates. He became an apprentice with Simply Unique because he was looking for a way to set his cabochons in something he made by hand.

 Rick hand fabricates his pieces mainly out of sterling silver and helps with basic both gold and sterling silver repairs in the store.