Austrian-born Emanuel Ciner (1865 – 1958) and Louis Seeleman (1874 – 1949) founded Ciner & Seeleman at 87 Maiden Lane, Manhattan, New York in 1892. The company’s co-founders also included Julius Bernstein, who left the firm in 1901. The company manufactured jewelry and rings made from precious metals and diamonds.

After 22 years of business together, Ciner and Seeleman announced their mutual consent to liquidate the firm. Established in 1914 the new firm Ciner Mfg Co moved to 51-53 Maiden Lane. Meanwhile, Louis Seeleman continued to operate under the firm name Seeleman & Co after extensive renovations to the old plant at 87 Maiden Lane.

Noteworthy, most of the employees of the old company chose to continue working for Emanuel Ciner’s company. Among them was Isidore W. Neuwirth, who represented the new concern in the east, middle west and south.

The Ciner Mfg Co established a new modern jewelry plant at 51-53 Maiden Lane, New York, and began manufacturing a high-grade line of gold and platinum diamond mountings and a complete line of diamond jewelry.

According to The Jewelers’ Circular, The Ciner Mfg Co removed its offices and factory to 36 W 47th Street in 1924. In its new quarters the concern had more commodious quarters with every modern facility for the production of merchandise.

Irwin and Charles join the company

In the early 1920s, when the company employed about 50 people, Emanuel’s sons, Irwin and Charles, also joined the family business. Starting with hard work cleaning the premises, they later made jewelry themselves, learning all the stages of jewelry creation. From the mid-1920s, Ciner’s sons served as sales representatives and managers of the company.

During the Great Depression, the company switched to manufacturing costume jewelry, focusing on the quality of materials and workmanship. Craftsmen created jewelry by hand, using metal alloys, Swarovski crystals, artificial pearls, and art glass imitating natural stones.

Contracts with the Ministry of Defense

Like many jewelry companies, during World War II, Ciner worked on contracts with the Ministry of Defense, making small parts for airplanes. When the war ended, the company was back in full swing, creating high-end costume jewelry. In 1946, Ciner began advertising in fashion magazines such as VOGUE and Glamour.

According to the Directory, in 1953, Emanuel Ciner was chief executive of Ciner Mfg Co., 15 W 36 Street, New York City 18. Irwin Ciner was production manager, and Charles Ciner was sales manager. The firm employed 50 people.

Death of Emanuel Ciner

On February 8, 1958, Emanuel Ciner died at the age of 92, leaving the reins of the company to his sons and grandsons. Irwin Ciner played an important role in improving the methods of rubber molding, casting and enameling. Charles Ciner headed a very successful advertising company and expanded the sales markets.

In 1992, celebrating the 100th anniversary of Ciner Jewelry Company, The New York Times published an interview with Patricia Ciner Hill, the daughter of Irwin Ciner and granddaughter of Emanuel Ciner. According to the interview, Patricia and her husband, David Hill, worked closely with the designers and supervised production from start to finish.

Unfortunately, after 130 years of successful operation, suspension of work and restoration of activity, the world-famous jewelry company Ciner ceased to exist.

Ciner Costume Jewelry and ads