History of Tiffany Arguably the world’s most iconic jewelry brand, the history of Tiffany dates back to 1837. This is when 25-year-old Charles Lewis Tiffany and his friend John B Young opened a small stationery and fancy goods store in New York City with the help of a $1,000 contribution from Charles’ father. Located on Broadway, the Tiffany store quickly established itself as the go-to emporium for fashionable ladies in search of jewels and timepieces. It has a clean American style that represented a distinct departure from the opulence associated with the Victorian era. As the first American company to adopt the British silver standard of using only metal that was 92% pure, Tiffany received international recognition when it won the grand prize for silver craftsmanship at the 1867 World’s [...]

History of Cartier When you hear the word Cartier, what’s the first thing that comes to mind? Beautiful necklaces? Iconic watches? Or maybe a signature gold bracelet? Regardless which of these appeared in your imagination, one thing is for certain: Cartier is synonymous with luxury. Since the mid-19th century, they have been building a name as a classic, yet innovative jewelry and watch maker. Their pieces are iconic and timeless. Founded in 1847 by master jeweler Louis-François Cartier who took over from master watchmaker Adolphe Picard, Cartier built a reputation on his ability to create extravagance. Cartier’s son Alfred took over in 1874 and expanded into new forms of watchmaking including the trendy wristwatch, but it would be his three sons Louis, Pierre, and Jacques, who built the [...]

History of Van Cleef & Arpels: When Estelle Arpels, the daughter of a dealer in precious stones, met Alfred Van Cleef, the son of a stonecutter, it was the beginning of a love story that would have an enduring legacy more than a century later. The young couple married in 1895, bound together by their pioneering spirit and shared passion for precious stones. The following year, Estelle’s father, Salomon Arpels, helped Alfred start a jewelry business. In 1906, after the passing of Salomon Arpels, his son Charles Arpels and son-in-law Alfred Van Cleef founded the Maison of Van Cleef & Arpels, a boutique in Paris. The original boutique had an exceptional location. It was right across the street from the Hôtel Ritz. Most noteworthy, the hotel was a [...]

History of David Webb David Webb was born and raised in Asheville, North Carolina in 1925 and began designing jewelry at a young age. At age 9, David Webb was introduced to metalwork and quickly developed a passion for jewelry making. He eventually apprenticed at his uncle’s factory and at 17 and then moved to New York City to pursue his craft full time. In 1948, Webb opened his own business with three employees around the corner from New York’s Diamond District. He crafted his own jewelry designs in his workshop. He then caught the attention of elite department stores like Bergdorf Goodman. Webb also became popular with the Ladies Who Lunch crowd. These women would travel in their chauffeured limousines to Webb’s business to make a number [...]