The history of the Emmons costume jewelry chain firm began in 1948 in Newark of the New York metropolitan area. The founders and incorporators of Emmons Jewelers, division of C.H. Stuart & Co., were Charles Henry Stuart (1868 – 1950) and his son Lyman Knight Stuart (1898 – 1964).

It’s worth noting that Charles Stuart had a business he ran for many years—C. H. Stuart, a door-to-door sales company in Newark, N.Y. The company sold a variety of products, from cosmetics and cologne to household items and other small items. Thus, the Stuarts, father and son, already had extensive practical business experience, and applied door-to-door sales experience to their jewelry business.

C. H. Stuart & Co continued to operate for many years, even after the death of its founder in 1950. However, its activities were not related to jewelry production. Since 1960s, the firm operated under the brand name Caroline Emmons, or simply Caroline, a name that closely resembles the name of Charles Stuart’s mother and Lyman Stuart’s grandmother, Caroline Emmons (1840-1903).

Branches in the US states

By the second half of the 1950s, the Emmons Jewelers, under the leadership of president Edward F. Farrell, had representative offices in 12 US states, including California, Ohio, Indiana, and the Metropolitan New York area.

The office heads held sales and management seminars for both their agents and the firm’s fashion show directors and managers. The most prominent branch managers, many of whom held the status of vice president of the Emmons firm, included George Messmer, William C. Scheetz, Emily Johnson, Wilbur Wedge Jr, Rudy Valente, James H. Leddy, Jr., and others.

Emmons Ads in Vogue

In the early 1950s Emmons advertised jewelry in Vogue fashion magazine. Their first ad appeared in Vogue January 1952, featuring blue swirl jewelry set consisting of necklace, brooch and earrings.

Their second ad in Vogue September 1959 issue “Anatomy of Fashion” demonstrated jewelry articles made for the “Anatomy of a Murder”, 1959 American legal drama film produced and directed by Otto Preminger. “Each piece a masterpiece of design, Emmons jewelry is everybody’s favorite. Lee Remick and Eve Arden, the stars of the film, wear Emmons jewelry”.

Emmons Fashion Shows

Not available in malls, department stores, or boutiques, Emmons jewelry pieces were available at special, invitation-only private parties. The Emmons managers offered cooperation for those who were interested in the income, fun and prestige of a full or part time career as an Emmons Fashion Show Director.

“To arrange an Emmons Fashion Show in your own home for you and your friends, simply write: Emmons Jewelers, Inc., Newark, New York State.” During their seminars, Emmons famed Fashion Show Directors showed how to make every item in the jewelry wardrobe lead a double life. Also, how to create hundreds of new and different arrangements “with your own jewelry…” and with Emmons exquisite, popularly priced collection.

Sarah Coventry – Jewelry brand inspired by granddaughter

Lyman Knight Stuart and his first wife Harriet Burt Sanford had three children Margaret Coventry Stuart (1924 – 2012), Charles William Stuart (1925 – 1996), and Lyman Knight Stuart, Jr. (1927 – d. 1978). Their first granddaughter, Sarah Coventry was born in 1949.

It was this event that inspired Lyman Knight Stuart to create a brand of costume jewelry that would later become iconic and immortalize the name of his granddaughter Sarah Coventry.

It’s important to reiterate that Emmons and Sarah Coventry worked with local jewelers and jewelry makers in Providence, Rhode Island. Both Emmons and Sarah Coventry, once multi-million dollar businesses, existed until declaring bankruptcy in 1981.

Emmons Vintage Costume Jewelry