The Legacy of Nancy & Darrel Quinn

February 2026

By Jacie Elizabeth Millen
Photography (top) by
Cassidy Dunn Photography

Nancy and Darrel Quinn, owners of Quinn’s Diamond Jewelers, were married on June 7, 1975—a date that marked the beginning of a love story that would become just as enduring as the diamonds they’ve spent a lifetime working with.

Nearly five decades later, their marriage is not only a romance—it’s also a partnership built on laughter, faith, resilience, shared purpose, and a deep belief in people. Together, they’ve created more than a business, they’ve built a legacy.

Darrel is a second-generation certified jeweler—a craftsman who began learning this trade in high school and never left it. His hands, his eyes, and his instincts have been shaped by decades of experience. Nancy, equally passionate and intuitive, stands beside him as both partner and powerhouse, bringing warmth, vision, and heart into every transaction they make. Their personalities are different, but perfectly balanced. Where one leads, the other supports. Where one steps forward, the other knows when to step back. With years of trust and understanding, they work seamlessly, reading each other, reading their clients, and creating a rhythm that feels effortless.

They laugh together every day, “at least once a day,” Darrel said. Their marriage, they both agree, has only gotten better with time. Nancy joked that it helps because, “he knows who the boss is.” 

In late 2007, they moved from Illinois to plant new roots here in the Lowcountry. The plan was to retire and take it easy. Both Nancy and Darrel didn’t take the idea of retiring too fondly and by Valentine’s Day 2008, they opened their store in The Village at Wexford on Hilton Head Island—a place that has since become a cornerstone of the community.

“We couldn’t retire; there were too many pieces of jewelry I didn’t have yet.” Nancy laughed. In all seriousness, Darrel and Nancy have proven time and again, they are passionate about what they do; They love it and it shows.

It wasn’t luck alone that built their success, but faith, consistency, reputation, and integrity. Darrel often says he’s the luckiest person he knows, not because of chance, but because “God has always been good to me.” He’s won contests and awards over time, but he claims Nancy is his biggest win.

Over the years, they’ve created more than 4,000 engagement rings, helping thousands of couples begin their forevers. Their relationships aren’t transactional but personal. Clients often become friends, and friends are treated like family. A few have even invited them to weddings.

They believe a company is only as good as its reputation and its people. They stand behind every piece sold, every stone sourced, and every promise made, staying rooted in quality, integrity, and education. Darrel has studied and trained internationally, including spending time in London with DeBeers Group, where they now both have a spot on its board of directors. He is also a horologist, which is a skilled professional who designs, repairs, and restores timepieces and watches.

But Nancy and Darrel’s story isn’t just about diamonds—it’s about people and how interesting life can be in a jewelry shop. One unforgettable moment came when a young woman placed a ring on hold, paying half and sending her boyfriend to pay the rest. He gave her the ring, and she unexpectedly came back to Quinns to give the ring back and ask a big favor. She then sent her husband to pay for half the ring and was fully reimbursed (with astonishment). This was her plan to be able to wear the ring around both men.

Once that happened, they wondered if anything would ever top it. Darrel has the gift of gab, so they’ve heard of all sorts stories from haunted house proposals, Halloween weddings, runaway brides and grooms, even backseat car engagements, Darrel joked, “I’m sure it’s happened before, but we’re prepared for that.”

How? The lighted ring box. Quinn’s offers a unique take on the iconic ring box; it lights up to brilliantly spotlight the diamond adding sparkle and wow to each proposal. Apparently, it can light up the backseat, too. One thing is for sure, these two have seen and heard love stories of every kind.

And through it all, their own love story remains the foundation.

Family is everything to them. Nancy and Darrel raised two sons — both certified jewelers before graduating high school—and now watch their legacy continue through their three grandchildren who are already growing up surrounded by the same values of craftsmanship, integrity, and love that built the Quinn name.

Over the summer, their 9-year-old granddaughter asked to sell her handmade rubber band bracelets in front of the store. At five dollars each, she walked with $170 that day. She’s certainly living up to the family name.

Their love story is filled with sweet simplicity too—like Nancy’s very first Christmas gift from Darrel was a set of pots and pans. Practical, yet with tears flowing, she said, “Your parents own a jewelry store; you didn’t think to get anything from there?” Darrel has never missed a special occasion since.

In the end, though, love isn’t all about diamonds to Nancy and Darrel. Love is consistent, loyal, and patient. It’s built, and it’s chosen—every single day. Their legacy isn’t measured in carats or clarity; it’s measured in moments and years. In family and faith. In trust and laughter. In the thousands of love stories they have helped to launch. And in the one they’re still living—together.

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Up Close

That’s So Darrel:
One year for Easter, Darrel dressed up as the Easter bunny and stood outside the store. While children exited the store, they accidentally locked everyone out. Darrel decided to ask a neighboring store owner to borrow her car to go get his spare keys… Of course the car was a flashy Mercedes convertible, and he had no alternative but to keep the bunny suit on. “Nothing to see here!” (His clothes were inside the store.)  

This or That with Nancy: 

• Big sparkle or subtle shine: Big sparkle

• Classic or unique jewelry: Unique

• Round or emerald cut: Round—(both Quinn’s agree their favorite cut is round because it reflects 100% of light off the diamond)

• Everyday pieces or special occasion: It’s all everyday—“If you have it, wear it or pass it on, jewelry should never be locked away.”

• Vintage or modern jewelry: Modern, but hard to choose.

• Bigger Stones, lower quality or smaller stones, higher quality: Smaller stones, higher quality! “I would prefer bigger stones and higher quality, but I lean towards the smaller with higher quality due to the fact that if you put quality first, it doesn’t matter how big it is, your diamonds will always talk to you and last so much longer.

• Diamonds, Sapphires, Rubies, Emeralds? Diamonds…
always diamonds!