Jewelry Brands History
A young jeweler born in the German town of Baden-Württemberg, Solomon Freirich (1897 – 1976) emigrated to the United States in the late 1910s. After settling in New York, Sol Freirich met Sadie Weiss (1900-2000), daughter of the renowned jeweler Jacob Weiss.
Her father co-founded the jewelry firm of Weiner & Weiss, 51 Maiden Lane. In 1904 he established a jewelry company under his own name. By 1911, Jacob Weiss had already owned The Imperial Art Co., New York.
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The Brier family, consisting of a father, mother, their four sons, and a daughter, immigrants from Austria, arrived in the United States in the early 1900s. The eldest son, Samuel Brier (1884 – 1962), who worked for several years as a foreman at the Majestic Mfg Co, founded Brier Mfg Co, at 268 Weybosset Street, Providence, in 1912.
Samuel Brier’s co-founders were his younger brothers Harry Brier (1893 – 1953), Benjamin Brier (1897 – 1986), and Charles Brier (1899 – 1959). Started as a jobbing house, Brier also manufactured a large line of goods for five, 10 and 25-cent houses.
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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.
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The French costume jewelry brand Gontie is not just high-quality jewelry with a nearly 80-year history; it is a family tradition that dates back to the late 19th century.
According to France Major Manufacturers Directory, Jean Gonthiez (1933 – 2013) and Frederick Gonthiez founded Gonthiez Freres, S.A., on July 3, 1957. Noteworthy, the Gonthiez were the successors of a family business established by Esaïe Gonthiez (1858 – 1931) in 1890.
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Born in the town of Warwick, Rhode Island, Daniel F. Briggs (1842 – 1925) came to Attleboro as a young man. He learned the trade of toolmaker in the local jewelry factories acquiring and refining his jewelry-making skills. Over time, he became one of the foremost jewelry experts in New England.
In 1867 he started his own business, which became quite successful. He manufactured swivels, spring rings, bars and other articles of supply for the manufacturers of jewelry. Three years later he launched into the manufacture of watch chains, at which business he attained such a signal success that 10 years later he retired.
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Established in 1946 in Providence, Sperry Mfg Co produced costume jewelry for less than ten years, until 1955. Its founder was Arthur S. Spear (1921 – 1996) – a World War II veteran, talented businessman, engineer, and inventor.
Born in Providence, Rhode Island, Arthur Spear studied science at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. During World War II Spear served in the Army Corps of Engineers. After the war, he returned to his native Providence and founded costume jewelry manufacturing company – Sperry Mfg Co.
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Founded in 1936 at 185 Eddy Street in Providence, Catamore Jewelry Co manufactured religious items and costume jewelry. From the beginning, it was a family business led by Christopher Catanzaro (1908–1980), president and treasurer. His wife, Phyllis (DeFusco) Catanzaro (1912–1977), served as vice president and secretary of Catamore Jewelry Company.
High demand for the company’s products necessitated expansion. Significant changes occurred in late 1948, when the company became a corporation. First, Christy Catanzaro, owner of the company, started a new and enlarged program of advertising and sales promotion in 1948.
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