The founder of the Henry Birks & Co, Henry Birks (1840 – 1928) was born in Montreal. He was the son of John and Anne Massey Birks, who came to Montreal from Yorkshire, England, in 1832. After graduation from the Montreal High School in 1857, Henry Birks entered the Savage & Lyman firm.

Starting out as an apprentice, in 1868 Henry Birks became a junior partner of Joseph Savage, aged owner of the firm. Although the firm went into bankruptcy in 1878, Henry Birks remained on as manager. Ten years later, the firm became Henry Birks & Co.

Initially, Birks was a jewelry, watch, and silverware store that collaborated with well-known companies of the time. Among them were such renowned firms as Reed & Barton and Gorham. Established in 1879 at 222 Saint James Street, Montreal, Henry Birks & Co employed four people.

Bertram Cox was a watchmaker, George C. Robinson – bookkeeper-salesman, and William H. Lavers was messenger boy.

The Heirs of Henry Birks

Henry Birks and Harriet Phillips Walker got married in January 1868, and the same year their eldest son William Massey Birks was born. Lke his father, William received his early education at the Montreal High School and entered the family business n 1894.

Two other sons were John Henry Metcalfe Birks (1870) and Gerald Walter Birks (1872). Gerald W Birks joined the firm in 1888, after graduation from Montreal High School. John H Birks graduated from Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1891 and entered the family business.

Business expansion and First Jewelry Factory

In 1887 Henry Birks opened his first factory on manufacture of jewelry, where eight craftsmen worked.

Notably, the Birks firm absorbed various jewelry companies located in Ottawa, Toronto, Vancouver, Halifax, Quebec, and Winnipeg. In particular, Hendry & Leslie, Olmsted & Hurdman, George E Trorery, A Rosenthal & Sons, Ryrie Bros Ltd, and Porte & Markle.

Accordingly, the staff Henry Birks & Sons gradually increased to more than 450 people. No other concern in Canada possessed such a corps of skilled artists to design and execute their work as Henry Birks & Sons.

William Massey Birks

Incorporated in 1905, Henry Birks & Sons Ltd employed about 800 people and opened branches across Canada. William Massey Birks (1868 – 1950), vice president took over the family business after the death of his father, Henry Birks. President of Henry Birks & Sons since 1928, he became Chairman of the board of directors in 1938. Noteworthy, he was active even in his 80.

J. Lovell Baker (1894 – 1980)
In 1957, J. Lovell Baker, Vice-President of Birks, took over the Birks. Graduate of the Gemological Institute of America and world gem authority, he started with Birks in 1911, as a salesman. In 1963 he retired.

Henry Gifford Birks and George Drummond Birks

From 1967 to 1972 Henry Gifford Birks headed the company as Chairman of the Board for Birks and his younger brother Victor was President. Then, Henry’s son and grandson of the founder, George Drummond Birks led the firm as President for five years. George Birks succeeded him.

Business downturn and depression

In the early 1990s Birks experienced a business downturn and depression, like many jewelry firms of the time. Thanks to Iniziativa Regaluxe SRL, Italian holding company, Birks managed to keep family control over the firm.

As a result of the merger of Henry Birks and Sons Ltd with the American Mayors Jewelers Inc in 2005, the Birks & Mayors Group was created. Thus, Henry Birks & Sons ceased to exist.

Vintage Costume Jewelry by Birks

1905 catalogue by Henry Birks & Sons