Gotthelf’s – A name synonymous with fine world-class jewelry since 1976, the year Paul Gotthelf founded the business in the heart of Vail Village. The company expanded for over 30 years, achieving national recognition. The Bloomberg News named it as “One of the Top twenty-two U.S. Jewelry Retailers” – not bad for a young silversmith from Buffalo, NY, with a passion for jewelry – and a true love for the mountain lifestyle.

While directing Gotthelf’s through its impressive growth, Paul took to studying and analyzing Vail’s real estate market. It became his obsession. He soon invested in residential and commercial properties in the Valley. An early strategic purchase was that of his retail store, a premier Vail Village location on Meadow Drive. Today, Paul has interests in commercial special use properties in Vail, Steamboat Springs, and Grand Junction. He has analyzed market trends and growth potential for the Vail and surrounding markets.

From the very beginning, as Paul is quick to tell you, “It was never all about selling jewelry and purchasing real estate, it was more about the life-long relationships in the Vail community, and with my international clients”. As the relationships grew over time, Paul naturally became a sought-after consultant – helping others to better understand the cyclical nature of the marketplace, and where to look for opportunities.

So the transition to full time real estate was inevitable, and the timing perfect. One of the country’s oldest and most prestigious jewelers, A.E. Betteridge, of Greenwhich, CT, purchased Gotthelf’s in 2005, thus freeing him for full time dedication as a real estate broker. Joining the premier firm of Slifer Smith, and Frampton, Paul immediately proved his market knowledge and made use of his extensive network. He hit the ground running, as was named Rookie of Year.

EDUCATION and EXPERIENCE

Paul graduated from Monroe Community Collage and continued at Rochester Institute of Technology (Industrial Process Control). His early career was with Rochester Gas & Electric, testing safety equipment for nuclear shutdown and operations. With Taylor Sybron Corp, he tested and assembled electronic process control instrumentation.

His entry to jewelry began at the Silver Moon in Rochester, New York, where he apprenticed as a gold and silversmith.

PERSONAL

Paul resides in Lake Creek, with his wife Joni, and is the proud father of three. His oldest son, Eric earned his Finance degree from Santa Clara University and is now working with Paul out of the Bridge Street Office in Vail; Kyle has been pursuing the sciences at the University of Colorado (CU); and his daughter, Kendal, is enrolled in Earth Sciences at CU.

His reputation throughout the Valley as an avid skier, and a competitive cyclist is well deserved. He’s been enjoying this incredible lifestyle for 30 years, and is always looking for someone to join with him in the fun!