At Vanscoy, Maurer & Bash Diamond Jewelers, we love a good love story. After all, we spend our days helping people celebrate engagements, anniversaries, and just-because moments with sparkling diamonds and gorgeous designer jewelry. So, it feels pretty special that our own story started with a kind of perfect marriage too. Recently, Jewelers Collective featured us in an article about how our store came to be, and we thought it was the perfect time to share the behind-the-scenes of how this Lancaster favorite was born.
Take a peek at the original Jewelers Collective article!
Two Stores, Two Strengths, One Big Idea
Picture Lancaster, Pennsylvania in the early 2000s. On one side of town, Mark Maurer owned Van Scoy Diamond Mine, a destination for engagement rings and diamonds of every shape and size. If you were planning to pop the question, Van Scoy was where you went.
Downtown, you had Bash Jewelers, owned by the one and only Bill Bash. His store was the spot if you wanted high-end designer jewelry. We’re talking David Yurman, Roberto Coin, and all the names fashion-forward jewelry lovers swooned over.
The two stores didn’t compete. Instead, they complimented each other perfectly. One was all about diamonds. The other was all about designer fashion jewelry. And here’s where fate stepped in.
The Serendipitous Spark
In 2004, Mark and his son, Mark Allan Maurer II, were looking to expand. They had mastered the engagement ring game but wanted to bring their customers a full jewelry experience. At the very same time, Bill was preparing for retirement and thinking about selling his building in downtown Lancaster. Talk about timing.
As Mark put it best, “This was an equation where 2 + 2 = 6.” We weren’t in the fashion jewelry business, and Bash Jewelers wasn’t known as a big engagement ring destination. By combining the two, nobody lost their identity. Instead, we created something bigger and better than what either business could have been on its own.
Building Something Stronger
With the Maurer team moving into the Bash Jewelers location, the two sides blended their strengths. Suddenly, diamond shoppers didn’t have to go elsewhere when they wanted a Yurman cuff or a Roberto Coin necklace. And fashion jewelry fans didn’t need to search far and wide when the time came for engagement rings or anniversary diamonds.
The results were incredible. Customers could get everything they wanted in one trusted place, and sales skyrocketed beyond what either store had seen individually. It was truly a win-win.
Bill stayed on during the transition, helping guide the Maurers into the world of designer fashion jewelry. The learning went both ways, and in the process, a partnership grew that felt like it had always been there. As Mark says today, “When you look at it 21 years later, it feels like we were always doing this together.”
A Legacy Written in Diamonds and Gold
What makes this story even more meaningful is the history woven into it. Mark Maurer began his jewelry career back in 1981. Bill Bash had already been shaping the Lancaster jewelry scene since the late 1950s, formally incorporating Bash Jewelers on May 24, 1960. Funny enough, that date just happens to be Mark’s birthday. Neither of them could have predicted how deeply their paths would intertwine, but in hindsight, it feels like it was meant to be.
Today, Vanscoy, Maurer & Bash Diamond Jewelers stands as a living example of what happens when diamonds and design meet. We’re proud to be the place where Lancaster comes for timeless engagement rings, dazzling fashion jewelry, and a shopping experience rooted in trust and community.
More Than Just a Store
At the heart of it all, our story isn’t just about business. It’s about people. From Mark and Mark Allan’s dedication to growth, to Bill’s lasting influence, to every customer who’s walked through our doors, this journey has been shaped by relationships.
We’ve seen proposals, anniversaries, and milestone celebrations. We’ve helped families pick out heirlooms and couples design the rings of their dreams. And through it all, we’ve stayed true to the vision that started it all: bringing together the best of diamonds and the best of designer jewelry, right here in Lancaster.
Our Perfect Union
Looking back, it’s easy to see how the equation really was 2 + 2 = 6. What started as a simple idea to combine two strengths has grown into a legacy that’s stronger than ever.
So the next time you’re shopping with us, whether it’s for a sparkling engagement ring, a bold Yurman bracelet, or a little something just because, know that you’re part of the story too. You’re the reason Vanscoy, Maurer & Bash Diamond Jewelers exists, and you’re the reason we’re so excited about the future.
Here’s to the past, the present, and all the moments of celebration still to come.
