Born in 1886 in Pforzheim, German jewelry designer Carl Schraysshuen came to the USA in 1922, and settled in Providence, Rhode Island. In 1923, he began his career in the jewelry business at the Speidel Chain Company, manufacturer of watch, bracelets, jewelry and chains.

During his 13 years with the company, Carl Schraysshuen held the positions of manager, vice president, and treasurer. However, in 1936, he left the company to start his own business. So, 50-year old Carl Schraysshuen and his partner 32 year-old Arthur W. Loercher founded Carl-Art Inc., at 95 Chestnut St., Providence, R. I. Arthur W. Loercher became vice president and treasurer. The name of the company comes from the names of its founders Carl and Arthur (Art).
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The history of the Jordan jewelry brand began in 1939 in Providence, Rhode Island and lasted less than two decades. Initially it was Kaye Jordan Co., manufacturers of moderate priced jewelry, founded by Robert M. Jordan (1893 – 1964). Jordan previously worked as sales manager of the Ostby & Barton Co, Providence, RI, manufacturing jewelers.

According to the 1943 Jewelers’ Circular, “R M Jordan, president of the Kaye Jordan Co., changed the company name to RM Jordan & Co. No other change is involved. The same ownership, officers, executives and sales personnel continue”. Home office of the company was at 87 Weybosset Street, Providence, R. I., with branch offices in New York and Los Angeles.
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Born in 1908 in Italy, Francesco M. Tortolani grew up in a family of jewelers. After graduating from design school in 1928, he left Italy for Providence, Rhode Island. For a while, he worked in local jewelry workshops and was engaged in wholesale jewelry.

In the early 1930s, he worked in the jewelry workshop of his uncle, Dominic Tortolani (1893, Italy – 1980, Johnston, Providence). Working in the jewelry workshop helped Frank not only hone his jewelry-making skills but also establish himself as a talented designer and artist. By 1934, Frank and Dominic had become partners in a new jewelry company.
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Before talking about the history of the Regency jewelry brand, we need to know that three different American companies manufactured jewelry marked Regency. Even the most authoritative jewelry reference books write about the Regency company as unknown and mysterious. However, it is not difficult to identify these jewelry pieces, thanks to the design, style and markings.
So, the three companies that produced Regency jewelry:
1. Regency Creations Inc., 45 West 46th Street New York 36, N.Y. (1951 – 2001)
2. W. Bell & Co., Inc., District of Columbia (1973 – 1993)
3. Regency Jewelry Corporation, 25 West 31st St., New York, N.Y. (1956-1993)

Regency Creations jewelry is practically absent from the vintage jewelry market, and has remained only in advertisements. Thanks to these advertising posters, we can see the unique style, design, used materials and hallmark which consists of the letters R-C. The company was active in 1950-60s.

W. Bell & Co made brooches, earrings, bracelets, pendants, necklaces, lockets made of gold and silver. The company owned 10 trademarks, and 5 of them were for the production of jewelry, including Regency. The company had branches in Illinois and Maryland, where the jewelry brand Regency was launched in 1974.
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The history of the R.N.K. jewelry brand began in 1971 and ended in 2002. Its founder was a renowned costume jewelry maker Robert Newman Koch Jr (September 26, 1926, Buffalo, NY – July 2, 2006, East Orleans, Massachusetts). Veteran of World War II, he served in the navy as a radio operator in the Pacific.

After graduating from the college he joined the legendary Coro jewelry company and finally became its president. Robert Newman Koch Jr. founded his family business R.N. Koch, Inc., in 1971. The office of the company was on the 5th Avenue in his native New York, and the factory was in Pawtucket, Rhode Island.

According to 1990 Publication in “Doing business in Chicago” by Jeffrey P. Levine, the new owner of the R. N. Koch, Inc. was The Lori Corporation (Northfield, Illinois).

The Lori Corp. – a designer, manufacturer, and distributor of jewelry and accessories operates through its three wholly owned subsidiaries. Among them – R. N. Koch, Inc., Rosecraft, Inc, and Lawrence Jewelry Corp. Noteworthy, during 1988, Koch entered into a licensing agreement to design and distribute costume jewelry under the licensor’s registered trademark “Sarah Coventry.”

When making jewelry by hand, RNK craftsmen used high-quality gold- and silver, metal alloys, beautiful enamels and rhinestones. The marking on the back of the products includes the abbreviation RNK, after the name of the company’s founder. Made fifty years ago RNK jewelry is collectible.
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The history of the Lois Jean jewelry brand began in 1975 and lasted less than a decade. Located ten miles outside of Boston at 241 Crescent St., Waltham, Massachusetts, Lois Jean Inc ceased to exist in 1983. Its founder, president and jewelry designer was Lois Jean Raymond.

The company produced costume jewelry, namely pendants, bracelets, charms, earrings, lockets, and anklets, some of which were made of precious metals. The designer marked her jewelry with her name Lois Jean in stylized letters and on an oval cartouche. Notably, she also designed jewelry for the London-based Casini Diamonides. Skillfully handcrafted by the master herself and with the use of high-quality materials, these limited edition pieces are highly collectible today.

Noteworthy, after closing her costume jewelry business in Boston, she founded Lois Jean Inc wholesale company at 555 Fifth Avenue in New York. Oddly enough, the company also operated for only eight years, from 1984 to 1992.

Lois Jean Raymond died on 10 December 2008.

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