The history of the Kestenman Bros Mfg Co began in Providence, Rhode Island in 1916. Originally it was a small jewelry workshop of the eldest brother Abraham (1894 – 1965), who came to the United States from Austria in 1910. He opened his workshop on Clifford Street, Providence and began manufacturing cameos, lingerie clasps, bracelets, and scarf pins.

His other brothers, Charles H. Kestenman (1896 – 1943), Louis (1898 – 1987) and Max (1901 – 1976) joined the family business in 1917. According to statements filed at the Providence City Hall in 1918, the founders of Kestenman Bros Mfg Co., 109 Friendship St., were Abraham and Charles H. Kestenman.
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Walking past the shop windows on New York’s Fifth Avenue has always been a thrilling experience. The well-known scene from the Breakfast at Tiffany’s, in which Audrey Hepburn approaches the window of the fashionable Tiffany store, has become iconic. Indeed, the Tiffany windows were worth seeing, because Tiffany’s Window Dresser Gene Moore (1910-1998) worked on them.

For years, he created witty and beautiful window displays that made strollers look twice, smile and stare. Gene Moore’s windows at the legendary store created an atmosphere of an arts carnival, like an open-air museum exhibit. Meanwhile, that was Walter Hoving (1897 – 1989), president of Tiffany & Company (1955-1980), who handed the Tiffany windows over to Mr. Moore.
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On the evening of December 23, 1937, the Heyman brothers George, Nathan, Louis, Harry, Oscar and William celebrated the 25th anniversary of their famous company. In recognition, the company’s employees presented the brothers with a symbolic clock, 23% of an inch high and weighing more than 50 pounds.

Made from a pound of pure gold and sterling silver, the clock was a true work of art.

It took the company’s craftsmen 14 months of work, which they did on weekends in their free time, unknown to the business leaders. After seeing it, the brothers were speechless for several minutes. In fact, the clock reflected the entire history of the company.
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The history of the Wells Mfg Co began in 1923 in Attleboro, Massachusetts founded by Raymond L Wells – jeweler, manager, wholesaler and inventor. Before starting his business, Wells had extensive experience in the jewelry field.

Having worked for several years in jewelry companies in Attleboro and San Francisco, he knew all the stages of creating, producing and selling jewelry. Raymond Wells started his career at E. A. Fargo & Co., Attleboro, a silver and aluminum maker, and worked there for several years. Then he joined the J. H. Spiro Jewelry Company, 704 Market St., San Francisco, where he worked as a sales and travel agent.
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