New York Retail Jeweler Henry Lewkowitz
Russian-born Henry Lewkowitz (1872 – 1919) arrived in New York in 1888, when he was 16 years old. He later listed 1888 as the year of the establishment of his jewelry business. In fact, he began working as an apprentice in watch and jewelry repair shops in 1888.
In 1892, he opened his own watch repair shop at 106 Eldridge Street, in New York’s Lower East Side. After nearly twenty years of running the shop, he accumulated the necessary capital to open a jewelry boutique at 294 Grand Street in 1911.
Lewkowitz sourced jewelry from Europe—Italy, Germany, France, and other countries. He also contracted with jewelry manufacturers who created jewelry specifically for the Lewkowitz firm. These were exquisite, handcrafted pieces of gold and platinum, adorned with diamonds, emeralds, sapphires, rubies, and other precious stones.
Henry Lewkowitz’s premature death in 1919 from a heart attack was a terrible shock to his family and friends. He was 52. However, the family business continued under the management of Henry Lewkowitz’s widow and their two daughters, Ethel and Lilian. Soon, Charles M. Sheirr, Ethel’s husband, took over the H Lewkowitz jewelry corporation.
Charles M Sheirr
Jewelry designer Charles Sheirr (1898 – 1967) created many pieces under Lewkowitz and HL brands. He served as president of the Lewkowitz corporation for forty years, and contributed greatly to its growth, making it nationally known. Under his leadership, the company launched an extensive advertising campaign in Vogue magazine beginning in 1952.
Noteworthy, Samuel Sheirr (1903 – 1971), younger brother of Charles Sheirr, was executive vice president and part owner of H Lewkowitz Inc.
In 1952, H Lewkowitz moved its downtown shop from 288 Grand Street to new quarters on the sixth floor of the building at 424 Madison Ave. The new quarters were just a few steps from the firm’s midtown shop at 430 Madison Ave.
According to business directories, the H Lewkowitz corporation headquartered in Florida, is still active and still family-owned.
Lewkowitz Jewelry in Ads
