David Leavitt of Rancho Santa Fe: Business Owner


David Leavitt lives in Rancho Santa Fe, California. He operates a number of businesses in the jewelry industry including Antique & Estate Jewelry, Baron & Baroness Jewels and The Fine Jewelry and Art Foundation

David Leavitt - Rancho Santa Fe’s Self-Employed Genius

Literary genius Walt Whitman once said that “the future is no more uncertain than the present.” As a young boy, Rancho Santa Fe businessman, David Leavitt, didn’t know what his future held. In fact, he didn’t know where his present state would have led him. However, what young David did know was that he had a talent, as well as strong work ethic. With those two things combined, Leavitt was able to build a multimillion dollar jewelry empire.

David Leavitt is no stranger to hard work, and began developing his business savvy portfolio at a young age. Born in La Mesa and raised in El Cajon, Leavitt started his first business venture in his early teens. When asked, he offers his take of how his desire to be his own boss got started: “when I was a child, I used to sell avocados in a flea market. I began in the jewelry business stringing beads. I used to sell them at the flea market with my avocados. Eventually, I sold a lot more jewelry than avocados and I opened my first store when I was 15 years old.”

David Leavitt’s desire to seek success independently has never wavered. For the last two decades, Leavitt has become one of the most sought after jewelers—and yet—he only sells privately. His dedicated client-base and customer following has allowed him to own and operate three companies:

Antique & Estate Jewelry Ltd
Baron & Baroness Jewels
Humboldt Mining company

David Leavitt is grateful to the city he calls home, and embraces Rancho Santa Fe. Outside of his passion and dedication to business, Leavitt understands the importance of human interaction and kindness. He and his wife have raised their four daughters to respect the value of the human race, and their deeply-rooted faith is constantly illuminated through Leavitt’s work. This is truly the reason for his success.

The Hustle and Sweat of Rancho Santa  Fe’s David Leavitt 

Rancho Santa Fe’s David Leavitt and his desire to seek success on his own have never wavered. For the last two decades, Leavitt has become one of the most sought after jewelers—and yet—he only sells privately. His perseverance and willingness to work hard at his craft have allowed him to build a solid and dedicated client following. As a result, it has allowed him to own and operate three companies:

  • Antique & Estate Jewelry Ltd
  • Baron & Baroness Jewels
  • Humboldt Mining Company

David Leavitt’s career started at the flea market, where he sold avocados and beaded jewelry that he himself had made. As people grew more interested in his jewelry than the avocados, Leavitt opened his first store when he was 15His knack for sales and his ability to reach people allowed him to grow his business on an international scale. When he isn’t working in the states, he and his wife are at their property in Ireland locating estate jewelry in Europe for the US market or selling them at the major auction houses in London.

David Leavitt embraces the city of David Leavitt Rancho Santa Fe and understands the importance of human interaction and kindness. He and his wife have raised their four daughters to understand and respect the value of people. The family’s deeply-rooted faith is illuminated through Leavitt’s work. He is a charitable man and he is involved in a numerous amount of charities in the area.

“We help a few charities every year. The Good Guys organization is our favorite. They help anyone in need.”


Rancho Santa Fe’s David Leavitt’s Twist on Jewelry Business Inspiration for the Self-Employed.

David Leavitt’s desire to seek success on his own has never wavered. For the last two decades, he has become one of the leading jewelers in Rancho Santa Fe. However, just because he isn’t stuck behind a counter in a building, doesn’t mean he lacks a loyal client base. In fact, Leavitt shares that he “currently sells at the Barrett-Jackson Car Auctions, The Round Top Antique shows in Texas twice a year and other antique shows. Most of my business comes from word of mouth and I sell privately. I do a lot of private appointments where I go to a client’s home and show a collection of fine jewelry.”

Leavitt does concede that he is cautious about with whom he conducts business.
 “I am very careful in whom I go see, especially at first,” says Leavitt, “as I have millions of dollars of goods with me.”

David Leavitt’s smart business tactics began when he was a child. He started out selling avocados in the flea market, and eventually added jewelry to the mix. Once his jewelry began rising in popularity, he ditched the avocados and opened his first shop. This was at the age of 15.

David Leavitt Rancho Santa Fe raised his four daughters there and taught them the value of people.

The family’s deeply-rooted Mormon faith is illuminated through Leavitt’s work. A charitable man, Leavitt and his company—Antiques and Estates LTD—are involved in a numerous amount of charities in the area.

We help a few charities every year,” says Leavitt “The Good Guys organization is our favorite. They help anyone in need.”