Founded 1781
The Asprey firm was established in the late 18th century specializing in dressing cases, during the early 20th century the firm rose to fame for its jewelry and royal patronage. Founder William Asprey was the descendant of French Huguenots who fled to England to escape religious persecution. The family traditionally specialized in leatherworking, continue >>

Founded 1854
The Royal Asscher Diamond Company, began over 150 years ago as the I.J. Asscher Diamond Company in 1854 at Tolstraat 27 in Amsterdam, founded by Joseph Isaac Asscher, a famed diamond artisan well known in the field. continue >>

1850- 1932
Louis Aucoc was a renowned nineteenth-century French jeweler and goldsmith who came from a family of established goldsmiths. In 1877 he bought the Parisian firm “Lobjois” and changed its name to “La Maison Aucoc.” The firm excelled due to Aucoc’s winning personality and his great skill as a goldsmith and refined continue >>

1900-1983
Suzanne Belperron was an iconic Parisian jewelry designer who insisted “Mon style est ma signature.” Her jewelry embodies a sensual elegance as well as an intellectual fascination that appealed to a sophisticated clientele from socialites to stage and screen stars. Working until the 1960’s she never signed a piece believing continue >>

Founded 1810
Black, Starr & Frost is one of the oldest operating jewelry houses in America. Founded in 1810 by Erastus Barton and Frederick Marquand it was originally named Marquand and Barton located near New York’s Maiden Lane. The firm added and lost partners numerous times; it also frequently moved locations, depending on the whereabouts continue >>

Founded 1890
René Boivin, an expert goldsmith and engraver bought his first jewelry workshop in 1890 and established the house of Boivin. His marriage to Jeanne Poiret in 1893 was critical to his success in the jewelry industry as Jeanne was a savvy business partner and had numerous connections with Paris’ fashion elite. Jeanne Poiret’s continue >>

Founded 1858
Since its very beginning, Boucheron has carved out a place for itself among the great names as a reference of French luxury in the very exclusive world of designer jewelry. Boucheron’s work spanned multiple design eras, notably Art Deco, Art Nouveau, and Second Empire styles. Though he started with little capital and a small stock of continue >>

Founded 1919
The Italian firm of Buccellati is famous for textural gold jewelry and exquisite silver objects. The main design accomplishments of the Buccellati firm span four decades: from the 1920’s to the 1960’s. The pieces are bold and instantly recognizable, with a style that references the great goldsmiths of the Renaissance. continue >>

Founded 1884
Bulgari has been setting the pace for Italian jewelry styles for over a century, drawing inspiration from the timeless beauty of Greek and Roman art, while lending a contemporary edge to the innovative pieces. The Bulagri family is descended from an Ancient family of Greek silversmiths from a small village called Epirus. In 1879 founder Sotirio continue >>

Founded 1837
The House of Peacock first opened its doors on February 9, 1837, the same year Chicago (population 4,000) was incorporated as a city. According to one historian, the opening of the city's first retail jewelry establishment in the small frame building on Lake Street marks Chicago's passing "from semi-savage conditions to civilization and continue >>

Founded 1847
The name Cartier is synonymous with beautiful objects of quality and style. Although Cartier is perhaps better known for fine jewelry, their signed wristwatches have made a huge impression on the global watch market and have become increasingly collectable over the years. Many of the fabulous watches can be regarded as pieces of jewelry in their continue >>

Founded 1815
One of the distinguishing characteristics of the 19th century was a reverence for the past. This was the age of the Grand Tour, when the popular imagination was sparked by visions of antiquity, the Middle Ages, and the Renaissance as the refined upper classes returned home bursting with information and purchases from their trips abroad. In continue >>

1935-1979
Donald Claflin was born in Massachusetts and trained at the Parsons School of Design in New York. He began work as an illustrator and textile designer and moved into jewelry at David Webb, before joining Tiffany & Company in 1966. His eleven years as a designer at Tiffany & Co. continue >>

Founded 1780
The founder of Chaumet, Marie-Etienne Nitot had worked with the jeweler to Queen Marie-Antoinette before opening his own shop in 1780. He quickly gained an aristocratic clientele and reputation. From 1802 onwards Nitot and his son Francois Regnault, were Napoleon’s personal jewelers, creating symbols of power and exuberance for the Emperor continue >>

Founded 1965
Henry Dunay began his meteoric rise to the top of jewelry fame as a message boy for an elderly master goldsmith in New York. After apprenticing through his adolescence, Henry Dunay founded his company nine days after turning twenty-one. He went on to win 53 international awards for his designs, and became legendary for his craftsmanship and continue >>

1904-1923
The firm of Dreicer & Co. was one of the top luxury jewelry retailers in America during the first quarter of the 20th century. The firm is believed to have originated as J. Dreicer & Son representing the Parisian firm A. continue >>

1865-1937
The nature and artistic circumstances of Lucien Gautrait are mysterious. Little is known about Gautrait, and even records of his name are unreliable, ranging from the common ‘Lucien’ to some who referred to him as ‘Leopold’. The jewelry industry at the turn of the century was highly confusing, with no set regulations. continue >>

Founded 1912
The famous American firm of Oscar Heyman & Bros. can trace its origins back to the Fabrege workshop in Russia, where the brothers gained invaluable experience working with platinum and creating tools for the jewelry industry. Upon completion of their training in 1906, the elder brother’s immigrated to America to avoid military service. continue >>

Founded 1901
Maison Lacloche Frères was a retail business which selected its works from the top talented designers and workshops of Paris that the public was unaware of. Calling on workers for the great jewelers, Louis Girard, Georges Verger, Rubel, Georges Lenfant, Strauss-Allard-Meyer, and Halluin-Matlinger, the reputation of the firm as one of continue >>

Founded 1878
In his time, Joseph Marchak was considered by the people to be in the same league as the famous Russian goldsmiths Sazikov and Khlebnikov. One could come across his name as frequently as the famous brands Faberge and Bolin in the reports about the Nizhny Novgorod Fair of Art and Industry of 1896. Today, jewelry historians state that the works continue >>

Founded 1892
Herman Marcus immigrated to New York City from Germany in 1850 and found employment with Tiffany & Co. Years later after partnering and establishing multiple firms, Marcus’ partner George Jaques retired, and the firm of Marcus & co. was established by Herman Marcus, and his sons William and George Elder. continue >>

1949- Present Paloma Picasso is the youngest daughter of 20th-century artist, Pablo Picasso and painter/writer Françoise Gilot. Her own artistic career began in 1968 when she became a costume designer in Paris. After her rhinestone necklace designs, crafted out of inexpensive flea market finds, continue >>

Founded 1872
The French jewelry firm of Plisson et Hartz excelled at making jewelry in the Art Nouveau style, as well as gold chimerical and animal designs. Begun in 1872 by Plisson and partner Bottentuit, Plisson directed the firm alone from 1886 to 1898, when he was joined by longtime associate Hartz, the creative force behind their designs. Plisson continued continue >>

1907-1987
One of the twentieth century's most gifted artists, Jean Schlumberger created fantastic designs that transformed nature's wonders into objects of mesmerizing beauty. With gold and dazzling gemstones as his palette, he captured the glory of flowers, exotic birds and mythical creatures in bejeweled statements unrivaled in the world of jewelry design. continue >>

Founded 1945
Sterlé was a major award winning designer notable for his innovative approach to jewelry design using baguette-cut diamonds and colored gemstones in sweeping, curling lines. His love of nature played out in his favorite motifs: birds, flowers, leaves, arrows, feathers and bows. Sterlé’s designs epitomized the dynamics of continue >>

Founded 1837
Tiffany & Co. is one jewelry firm that really needs no introduction. Tiffany’s flagship store is located at the corner of Fifth Avenue and 57th Street in Manhattan, New York City since 1940. The polished granite exterior is well known for its tiny window displays, and a 128. continue >>

Founded 1906
The Van Cleef & Arpels brand instantly conjures up the concept of diamonds, rare rubies, sapphires and emeralds. The high-jewelry house consistently strives to improve methods of cutting stones, mounting, and crafting pieces that are treasured through generations. Faithful to the spirit of their founders, each piece of Van Cleef & Arpels continue >>

Founded 1939
Off-beat and irreverent designs were Verdura's hallmark and enduring legacy. Verdura was an exceptional visual artist, and his drawings were remarkably accurate and detailed. At times, he seems to have been influenced by Faberge, but he also broke with American design standards to set entirely new trends. continue >>

Founded 1945
In the late 1940's on Manhattan’s Madison Avenue, the doors opened to the flagship store of one of America’s greatest jewelry manufacturers: David Webb. Webb’s designs are distinguished by a bold use of color, dimension, and meticulous attention to detail. David Webb is possibly best known for his enamel jewelry of animal continue >>

Founded 1932
The name of "Harry Winston" is known as one of the world's most prestigious jewelry companies. It is a name linked to most beautiful jewels, settings, and to luxury and exclusivity. Inspired by the endless energy of New York, Harry Winston opened his doors in 1932, and began a process of transformation, turning diamonds into art and continue >>

Founded 1922
Using only the highest quality gemstones and the most exquisite platinum mountings, Raymond Yard designed jewelry that not only took on an identifiable style of its own, but also elevated Art Deco jewelry to a new level. Raymond C. Yard differentiated itself from other jewelers in the art of rebuilding jewelry with its exquisite 20's and 30's continue >>