Founded in 1947 B.David Company was a family business owned by Carl E. Martin (1919 – 1987) and his wife Marie (nee Barrett). Carl and Marie named the company after their new-born son David B. Martin. Located at 2508 Vine street, Cincinnati 19, Ohio, the company employed approximately 20 people. They manufactured costume jewelry using high quality materials. In particular, rhodium-plated Austrian machine-cut crystal and colored stones hand set in beautifully finished rhodium plated mountings.

Elegant designs included crown and floral brooches, crosses, bracelets, necklaces, pins, and earrings. Noteworthy, the firm also manufactured fine jewelry made of precious metals and gemstones. The company used several trademarks – B. David inside an oval frame or b. David arranged inside a divided square. The third trademark used by the firm consists of letters bd arranged diagonally.

B.David sold beautifully boxed jewelry through retail jewelers and local representatives in all states. The company widely advertised their fine fashion jewelry in the 1950-60s, published mostly in the Jewelers’ Circular Keystone.

In 1970 David Bruce Martin (February 15, 1947 – June 17, 2021), son of Carl and Marie Martin, took over the company and worked until his retirement in the 1990s.
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Providence, the jewelry manufacturing center of the USA, numbers hundreds manufacturing jewelers of Italian extraction. Among the well-known Italo-American manufacturers were Uncas (Vincent Sorrentino), Imperial Pearl Company (Alfred Marsello), Gustavo Trifari, Ralph Tortolani, and many more.

One of the most notable designers was also Angelo del Sesto (June 10, 1896 – November 13, 1992), founder of Van Del jewelry brand.
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Born in Munich, German jewelry designer Joseph Heilbronner (1893-1968) came to New York after the WWII, and became a US citizen in 1948. In 1952 he married Edith Levitt, and this was the second marriage for 60-year-old Joe. From his first marriage he had two children, a son, Hans, and a daughter, Margo. Noteworthy, it was their names that made up the name of the future Hargo jewelry brand – the first two letters from Hans and the last three from Margot.

So, in 1955 Joseph Heilbronner and Edith Levitt founded their family business Hargo Creations (doing business as HAR) in New York City. It is important to note that all reference books on vintage jewelry misspell Joseph’s last name, without the letter L – Heibronner. According to Catalog of Copyright Entries, Works of Art, 1959 and 1960, his last name was Heilbronner.

Known for fine enameling and detailed jewelry, HAR designs traditionally include oriental figures with imitation ivory faces, fortune tellers, cobras, dragons, and blackamoors. The designs also include large misshapen crystal cluster stones with an iridescent glow. The designer of these pieces was not just a professional, he was a talented designer, a bright star who flared up for a short time. Heilbronner died in 1968 and the company ceased to exist.

Currently, collectors are on a real hunt for HAR jewelry, the prices for some pieces reach fantastic levels! Every year, the value of HAR jewelry only grows.
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Founded by Jacques Hobe in 1887 in Paris, the history of Hobe jewelry brand ended in 1995. The company produced jewelry from precious metals and stones. A hereditary jewelry designer, William W. Hobe (1881 – 1961), Jacques Hobe’s son, founded the American branch of Hobé Cie, Ltd, in 1910. In addition, he was a president of the Hobby Guild of America.

Born in Germany, William W. Hobé and his wife Sylvia came to the U.S. in the early 1900s and settled in New York City. In 1907, he became the only American ever to win the Florence International Design Award. He was president of Hobe Cie, Ltd., Hobé Jewelry and Pearl Co, and Hobé Button Co, Inc, New York.

Noteworthy, Hobe was truly a family business, with all members of the family taking part. William’s wife created unique designs inspired by masterpieces of European jewelry from past centuries.

Hobe craftsmen made jewelry by hand, using sterling silver, 14K gold, semi-precious stones and high-quality pastes. It is important to note that the Hobe were not only manufacturers of jewelry, but also of women’s clothing, accessories, buttons and even cosmetics.

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The history of Honora Jewelry Company began in 1946 founded by Stanley Schechter (1924-2000) and Jerome J Grossbardt (1923-2012). Noteworthy, Jerome J Grossbardt named the company in honor of his wife Honora Grossbardt. Stanley Schechter and Jerome J Grossbardt worked together for less than two decades, and then each of them created their own business.

The company manufactured fine jewelry with the use of gold and precious stones – diamonds, sapphires, rubies, black and white cultured pearls. In 1956 Honora Jewelry Co. opened its division Photo Sculpture, Inc., on manufacture of book lockets with reproduction of portraits in 14 K gold frames.
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