Edwin Harold Tompkins (1898 – 1971) was born to Charles Henry Tompkins and Hester J. Cooper. He spent his childhood in Fishkill, Duchess, New York. His name was first mentioned in the Jewelers’ Circular in 1918 as a jewelry industry representative who purchased Liberty Loan Bonds for $100 as a show of patriotism.

Edwin Tompkins began working in the jewelry business quite early, and he also married early. He married for the first time in June 1917, at the age of 19. The wedding took place in New York City. Later, in 1926, his wife, Carmen Holmes Tompkins, obtained a divorce from him in Paris.

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Born in Manhattan, New York City, Franklin Edel Karples (1898–1977) was the only son of William Edel Karples and Margaret Amanda Edel. In the 1920s, he was a collector and connoisseur whose name was often mentioned at art and antique auctions.

He established Franklin E. Karples jewelry company under his own name, incorporating it in June 1926. Other incorporators were T. L. Harrison, W. F. McDermott and J. L. Farrell. Karples led Franklin E. Karples, Inc., located at 604 Fifth Ave., as president for four years.
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Unjustly forgotten today, Claudia Fishel was once a renowned retail jeweler, designer, and owner of two beautiful jewelry stores. Both of her boutiques, which she managed from 1941 until her death in 1956, operated under the brand “Claudia Fishel Jewelry of Distinction”. Her first store was located at 535 Madison Avenue in New York City, and the other at 918 Lincoln Road in Miami Beach, Florida.

Claudia Fishel created original jewelry designs using gold, platinum, diamonds, sapphires, rubies, and emeralds. She also loved to create jewelry by remodeling old jewelry pieces and combining them. Advertisements for jewelry under the Jewelry of Distinction brand appeared in popular magazines, including Vogue, The New Yorker, and Palm Beach Life.
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A third-generation Dutch diamond dealer, Jacques H Adler (1916 – 2001), came to the United States in 1940 during the height of World War II. In 1941, he opened the House of Adler jewelry store in Denver and Colorado Springs. The first mention of Jacques Adler’s business appeared in the Jewelers’ Circular in March 1943. The article described the successful advertising and development of Adler’s jewelry business.

That same year, Jacques Adler met his future wife, May E Adler, who also owned a jewelry business in her native Colorado. In 1944, their first daughter, Jacqueline, was born, and in 1945, their second daughter, Maury. By this time, Jacques Adler and his wife had formed a partnership to run the jewelry business. He owned 60%, and his wife 40%.
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The history of Massalone fine jewelry brand began in 1921 in New York, founded by Hungarian-born diamond setter Maurice Moss. Maurice Moss established his first jewelry firm at 65 Nassau Street in New York City in 1917. However, he had to close the business just a year later, when Maurice was drafted into the military service.

In 1920, Maurice Moss met Hugo Rocke, with whom he had much in common. Hugo Rocke, a diamond setter, also had his own business at 41 Maiden Lane before joining the military. Released from the service in 1920, the two formed a partnership called Moss-Rocke. Their firm occupied a spacious space at 15 John Street, where both jewelers did diamond setting for the trade.
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The biography of the once-famous jeweler Nadja Buckley (1896 – 1973) contains many striking episodes that are difficult to confirm. In fact, her contribution to the jewelry business and achievements in this field are more important.

Leading New York jewelry designer and manufacturer of expensive jewelry in the 1940s and 50s, Buckley was a winner of the most prestigious awards. Her precious jewelry graced the covers of magazines such as Vogue and Jewelers’ Circular. She created the astrological sign for ‘gems’ which was quite popular.
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