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Rudi the Goldsmith honored on his 90th birthday

Posing with Rudi Haug are daughter Melody Crawford, his wife, Valerie, daughter Yvonne Hill, grandson Sean Hill, son-in-law Doug Hill. [MATT MATTESON]

By MATT MATTESON, Published: July 17, 2026

Do you fancy a personal design on a piece of your jewelry?

Rudi Haug can do it for you. He can also put your fingerprints on a pendant (some people ask for that). In fact, there isn’t much in the business of gold, silver and gems that he hasn’t done. And for those efforts, plus reaching his 90th birthday, Haug was honored one afternoon earlier this month. 

“Rudi has dedicated nearly 63 years of his life to sharing his passion, craftsmanship and love of fine jewelry with generations of customers and friends,” reads one of the whereases in proclamation signed by Hendersonville Mayor Barbara Volk. 

One might assume that at the age of 90, the owner of The Goldsmith by Rudi would be an old school jeweler. Not so. Rudi took me into the cavernous rooms in the back of the shop and showed me a few gadgets including a new $35,000 laser welder.

“Back in the old days jewelry was all soldered but with the laser welder we can pinpoint, down to a fraction of a millimeter, the exact location that we need heat,” he said. “It’s cleaner and faster.”

Another device Rudi touted was his laser engraver.

“We can put photo designs on almost any piece of jewelry,” said Rudi, who recalls war veteran customers who wanted their old aluminum dog tags redone in silver.

German born, Haug has spent most of his life in the United States. He enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1957 and served a five-year tour of duty. He has been married to his Valerie for 66 years. They have two daughters, Melody and Yvonne, who is the store manager.

Goldsmith by Rudi is truly a family business, offering design, repair, appraisals of fine jewelry. It even has a stone-cutting machine in the back room. Although the shop at 434 N. Main Street employs 11, Rudy Haug is not ready to leave it to others.

“I plan to keep on working,” he says, without hesitation. Jewelry is his life.