Jewelry Brands History
Born in New York, Robert Fitz Simmons (1842 – 1894) moved to Waterbury, Connecticut with his parents. At an early age he tired of parental restraint and started out to seek his fortune. He first located in North Attleboro and soon secured a position with Daniel Evans.
Having earned some money, he soon decided that he had enough experience and capital to start a small business of his own. He worked as a minter and merchant, forming a partnership with Albert F. Briggs.
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Born in New Jersey on July 1, 1828 Andrew Jackson Hedges (1828-1902) attended a public schools at Madison until he was 16 years old. Then he came to Newark alone and entered the employ of Aaron Cartier. After a few years with Cartier he went with Field & Keep, and in 1859 he became a co-owner of the firm. Seven years later Andrew Hedges left the firm of Field & Keep and formed the Dodd & Hedges company, with David C. Dodd Jr., in 1866.
In January 1877, Andrew J Hedges obtained control of the business, as a result of a friendly dissolution of this firm. So, Mr. Hedges went into business by himself under the style of A J Hedges & Co. His factory was at Lawrence and Mechanic Streets, Newark, and his New York office and salesrooms at 14 John St.
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Born on Independence day of 1864 in Rhode Island, 16-year-old Charles Aaron Whiting began his career at Wade, Davis & Co, Plainville, Massachusetts. Thanks to his talent and hard work, Charles Whiting achieved rapid growth from 1889 to 1896. Having started as courier, office worker, salesman, and designer, he finally became partner and owner of the company. So, in 1886 Wade & Davis became known as Whiting & Davis.
Wade, Davis & Co jewelry manufacturers was founded in 1876 by William H. Wade (1835 – 1911), Edward Payson Davis (1838 – 1908), and Louis Heckman (went missing on December 21, 1891). Their first collection in August 1876 consisted of silver jewellery popular in the late Victorian era – bracelets, earrings, pin brooches and bar brooches.
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The history of jewelry company Nony New York, Inc lasted less than a decade. Registered in 1988 as a domestic business corporation located at 320 West 37th Street, New York, N.Y. Nony ceased to exist in 1997. The company produced shoe clips, cufflinks, pins, earrings, pendants, bracelets, necklaces, tie clips, and brooches. However, the bulk of the products were button covers and cufflink caps.
The company created button covers in sets, usually from 5-6 different buttons on the same theme or in a single style. The design of the sets was diverse – from heraldic with an antique look and art deco, to fashionable podium and classic. There was also a wide line of themed buttons for holidays – Christmas, Easter, Halloween, etc.
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The history of the Arax jewelry brand began in 1917 in New York City, founded by Armenian-American jeweler Haig G. Zavatjian. According to 1917 records, Arax Jewelry Mfg. Co., Inc. received papers of incorporation in Albany, New York, to do business in that city. The company’s authorized capital was $10,000, and the founders were Haig G. Zavatjian, 588 Hudson Ave., West New York, Thos. H. Simsarian, North Bergen, N. J., and David Gellar, 141 Broadway, New York.
Initially, Arax Jewelry Co., Inc., 106 Fulton St., New York, manufactured jewelry from coral and pearls. According to advertising from the 1920s, the company’s craftsmen also created artistic brooches, earrings, pendants, and necklaces using 14-karat and 18-karat gold. Noteworthy, Haig G. Zavatjian brought stones for jewelry from his extensive travels along the Pacific coast and around the world.
Swedish born silversmith Olof V Anderson emigrated to the United States in 1929, and was naturalized in 1934. In 1938, he founded Anderson Tool & Die Co, which manufactured tools for jewelry production. During the war, the plant located in Providence, Rhode Island, fulfilled military contracts.
The company changed its name to Anson Incorporated and began manufacturing men’s accessories in 1945. Anson craftsmen made high quality buckles, tie pins, money clips, cufflinks, key rings, bar brooches and bracelets using silver and gold plating.
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The history of the legendary American jewelry brand Napier began in 1920, founded by James H. Napier (1889, Martinsburg. N. Y. – 8 February, 1960, Meriden, Connecticut). However, the history of the Napier Co. of Meriden, Connecticut manufacturer of silverware specialties and jewelry creations dates back to 1875.
While still young, James Napier worked for General Electric Co., and for International Silver Co. In 1914 he joined E. A. Bliss Co., (previous names Whitney & Rice, Carpenter & Bliss). Originally Attleboro based Bliss Company came to Meriden, Connecticut in 1890.
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