Born in the Russian Empire, 20-year-old Samuel Heller came to the United States in 1888. A talented gemologist, inventor, and jeweler, Samuel studied the properties of stones in his Deltah laboratory. Having taken up the business of buying and selling precious stones, he founded L. Heller & Son, Inc in 1892.

The company became known for its Cultique cultured pearls, a product of Deltah laboratories that had the precious appearance of cultured pearls. Protected by a patent, Cultique pearls attracted women who wanted the beauty and perfection of cultured pearls at a significantly lower price.
(more…)

Once the world’s largest manufacturer of pierced earrings, Jewelry Manufacturing Company began its history in 1945. The name of the jewelry brand JMS comes from the names of its founders – Jack Glickson Morris and Samuel H Lipton. JMS was located at 256 Liberty St., Bloomfield, New Jersey. The company’s heyday began in the early 1950s. Advertized in jewelry catalogs, JMS designer high-quality jewelry was sold at affordable prices in major U.S. stores.

According to some jewelry advertisements published in 1953, the company produced fashion jewelry under two brand names: Jems by JMS and JMS. The popular company’s logo included stylized JMS letters on a diamond-shaped cartouche.

Handcrafting brooches, necklaces, bracelets, and earrings the jewelers used 10- to 18-karat gold, jade, rhinestones, and cultured pearls. One of their magnificent gold plated earring lines included 12 removable seasonal plaques (including birthdays, anniversaries, weddings, Christmas, etc.)

In 1963, the company went through a reorganization, and the new owners changed the logo and company name to J.M.S. Jewelry Mfg Co.

Having stood the test of time, today fine filigree work of the JMS designers is highly collectible.
(more…)

The history of the fine jewelry brand Gorman began in 1940 in Providence, Rhode Island, with the office and factory located at 160 Atlantic Ave. Initially, Gorman & Son, Inc was a family business founded by hereditary jeweler Henry J. Gorman. Headed by Henry J. Gorman as president, the vice president was his son Henry J. Gorman Jr., and the secretary and treasurer was his wife Mary Gorman.

Traditionally, the company sold jewelry directly from the factory to the retailers. Also, the firm had sales offices at 7 East 42nd St., New York, N.Y., and 315 W 5th St., Los Angeles, California. According to the Rhode Island Business Directory, which published company information annually from 1944 to 1968, Gorman also had a factory in Cranston. Henry J. Gorman Jr. died in 1973 at age 60 and was buried in Cranston.

The company’s craftsmen made gold filled jewelry with the use of cultured pearls and natural stones. Noteworthy, the earliest markings on the back of the pieces included the capital letters H G, as well as the gold karat. Later sterling silver jewelry was marked Gorman and sterling 925.

Having stood the test of time, the products of this brand are extremely rare, demonstrate high quality of execution, and today have collector’s value.
(more…)

The history of the Jones New York costume jewelry brand began in 1970 in Pennsylvania. Noteworthy, although the name of the jewelry brand includes New York, this name is fictitious and had no relation to New York. The founder and president of Jones Apparel was Pennsylvania native Sidney J. Kimmel (born January 16, 1928).

Initially a branch of W.R. Grace & Co, Jones Apparel Group became an independent major supplier of women’s clothing. Jones Apparel opened branches in various states – Delaware, New Jersey, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Vermont, and others. Since 1975, Jones began to produce shoes, watches, bags and fashion jewelry under various brands.

Since the company has registered several trademarks for the production of costume jewelry, the markings on the back of the jewelry are different. They include JNY (in various styles), Jones New York, JJ, Jones Studio, and Jones Wear (for watches).

In addition, the company produced costume jewelry under license from other jewelry companies. Among them, for example, the Anne Klein brand, acquired in 1976. All of these brands ceased to exist in different years.

Once the fastest growing women’s apparel company in the USA, Sidney Kimmel has gone through ups and downs, business splits and ownership changes. Today, Jones New York continues to operate as a fashionable women’s clothing brand.

(more…)

The history of Parco jewelry brand began in 1945 in Providence, Rhode Island and lasted more than three decades. The founders and co-owners of Parco Mfg Co were brothers Peter Parisi, president (1912-2006), Charles T. Parisi (1920-1994) – vice president, and John Parisi (secretary and treasurer). Located at 91 Hartford Avenue, Providence, Parco Manufacturing Co employed about twenty people.

The Parco craftsmen made stunning jewelry pieces with the use of gold, sparkling rhinestones, capturing the essence of post-war glamour. According to the 1940-50s ads, Parco was a great hand at original design in rhinestone jewelry. “Fine hand-set stones free from acid, tarnish proof rhodium settings and sheer inspiration are the ingredients” for their distinctive lines.
(more…)

The history of the PEM or P & E jewelry brand began in 1989 founded by the Museum Cooperative of Salem, Inc. Located in the Peabody Essex Museum in Salem, Massachusetts, the company ceased to exist in 2003. However, before that, in 1992, the Museum Cooperative of Salem and the Peabody Essex Museum merged. As a result, the Peabody Essex Museum Inc continued its operations and is active today.

Inspired by famous works of art, these miniature masterpieces are replicas of exhibits stored in the museum – paintings, sculptures, jewelry, furniture, etc. Creating jewelry by hand, the museum jewelry designers and craftsmen used only the best materials – fine enamel, crystals, pearls, silver and gold. Traditionally, jewelry came in the original box and with descriptive paper. The maker’s mark includes P&E or PEM on the back.

One of the oldest museums in the USA, Peabody Essex Museum was founded in 1799. Today, the museum includes more than 1 million exhibits. Noteworthy, museum visitors can purchase a gift or jewelry to remember their visit in the PEM Shop, also known as the Museum Gift Shop in Salem.

(more…)