It all began with 80 German marks: in the countryside 125 years ago, Gerhard D. Wempe laid the modest cornerstone for a business which has become a renowned global player. Trace the history of a business that is simultaneously also the history of a family.

For over 30 years, we have offered patrons the highest quality Victorian and Twentieth Century antiques and jewelry. Located at 11 East 57th Street in Manhattan, New York City.

In 1899, the first Mikimoto pearl shop opened in the fashionable Ginza district of Tokyo. The Mikimoto business quickly expanded internationally, opening stores in London (1913), then in Paris, New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Shanghai and Bombay, and was thus one of the first Japanese brands to attain an international presence and recognition.
Mikimoto took advantage of every opportunity to personally promote his pearls, and took part in the 1926 Philadelphia World Exposition in which he displayed a replica of the "Liberty Bell" covered with pearls. Source

Established in Manhattan in 1940, Kentshire Galleries is the foremost dealer of fine English antique furniture, furnishings, and accessories in America. We invite you to view the selected examples presented here from our extensive inventory and to visit us when you’re in town.

Zales has grown from a single store selling jewelry alongside appliances and cameras to a major international jewelry corporation. Over the course of five generations, Zales expanded from a family jeweler located in just a few downtown locations to the largest fine jeweler in retail shopping malls across North America. Having surpassed 750 stores in the United States and Puerto Rico, Zales Jewelers has grown upon the strength of its traditions and its commitment to excellence.

Every Bulgari item – whether a piece of jewellery, a watch, a perfume or an equipment – has been strictly examined to make sure that it upholds the Bulgari custom of workmanship and is completely trustworthy to the level of sensitivity and objectives of its designer. Bulgari jewellery always starts with a watercolor or gouache. Then, the artisans sketch upon all their guide skills and experience to create jewellery with smooth and curved lines, the embodiment of efficiency.
From the very first sketch, the idea is examined to select the shades best best for bring out its beauty, and to make sure its wearability and reliability with Bulgari custom and style. Bulgari timepieces, moreover, merge an beauty of design with innovative systems. They are properly designed and examined according to the most extensive Europe requirements, which assures a completed item of the finest excellent.
The perfumes and makeup are created with the same attention to details, with properly chosen raw components and substances. Soft silk and set components are made from unique components at the biggest level of workmanship. This focus on excellent excellent is also shown in customer support. Since 1990, workers have been qualified in the Quality program, under which the custom of excellence started in Rome's Via Condotti shop over a millennium ago is introduced forth to every Bulgari shop.

New York City based jewelery designer Wendy Mink has been creating beautiful pieces for over 18 years, having evolved from small scale design and manufacturing into a substantial operation, combining great quality, workmanship and innovative design.
The company was founded on Wendy's background as a painter & her strong interest in South East Asia, both lead to extensive travel which eventually nurtured an immense appreciation of the beauty and craftsmanship behind the jewelry and textiles associated with local women of Nepal and India. Wendy went on to formulate the company shortly after returning from the East, rapidly earning a solid reputation and securing a place in the competitive jewelry industry.
The Wendy Mink Jewelry studio is located in NYC's Tribeca neighborhood where a team of Tibetan jewelry artisans work right alongside production sales staff. These artisans have collaborated with Wendy for more than 17 years & lend their own skills & technique to design direction.

Van Cleef & Arpels is a famous French jewelry house; its origins in 1896 lay in the hands of Alfred Van Cleef and his father-in-law, Salomon Arpels. They occupied their first shop in the Place Vendome at number 22, where their premises are still located.
Van Cleef & Arpels, place Vendome in Paris A third Arpels brother joined in 1912, and his genial personality helped woo important clients including such celebrities as Marlene Dietrich and Maurice Chevalier.
The firm's pre-1920 jewelery is characterised by fluid lines, graceful curves, color, and a poetic sense of movement, evident of the Art Nouveau style.
For the coronation of Farah Pahlavi, the former empress of Iran, Van Cleef & Arpels received the order of designing and building a crown in 1967. The 4-pound pearl, ruby, diamond and emerald crown she received at her 1967 coronation took Pierre Arpels of Van Cleef & Arpels six months to make. Although she had to leave many of her jewels behind when she left with her husband in exile in the late 1979, her crown is still in the Iranian Crown Jewels, located in the Iranian Central Bank in Tehran.
Gucci produces a line of beauty products using the Van Cleef & Arpels brand name. Source

Fine jewelery. The most precious stones in the world.

The Works Gallery is a sophisticated jewelry store that has graced The Upper East Side of New York for twenty-one years. From its simple beginning, to the upscale town of Southampton, L.I., the thirty year old business has culminated its journey in the city as a success. The classic store presents a wide scope of fine jewelry created by some of the most famous and talented artisans from around the globe.

Dino Modolo has captured the essence of women by designing six collections that possess beauty and magical wonder. With the use of unique materials and innovative designs each Di MODOLO collection: Triadra, Favola, Fiama, Tempia, Quadria and Falco for Men is sure to stimulate your spirit and capture your heart.
Elegant, sexy and clean, Di MODOLO offers bracelets, necklaces, pendants, earrings and rings highlighted by the elegance of 18-karat white and yellow-gold diamonds, precious and fine colored gemstones.

Cartier was founded in Paris in 1847 by Louis-François Cartier. In 1874 his son, Alfred Cartier took over the administration of the company, but it was his sons, Louis, Pierre and Jacques, who were responsible for establishing the famous world-wide brand name of Cartier.
Louis retained responsibility for the Paris branch, moving to the Rue de la Paix, in 1899. He was responsible for some of the company's most celebrated design innovations, like the legendary mystery clocks, high fashion wristwatches and exotic orientalist Art Deco designs, including the daringly colourful "Tutti Frutti" jewels. Jacques took charge of the London operation and eventually moved to the current location at New Bond Street.
Elevation of Cartier's, New YorkPierre Cartier established the New York Branch in 1909, moving in 1917 to the current location of 653 Fifth Avenue, the Neo-Renaissance mansion of banker Morton Plant. Source

The diamond is the most important part of the ring and no two are exactly alike. The value and price depends on four factors. Clarity, color, cut, and carat weight. A diamond weight is expressed in carats with 100 points to a carat. Cut is also very important. A properly cut stone shines with a fire and brilliance, the likes of which are not seen in any other precious stone. Color also plays an important role in determining the price of the stone. The nearer a stone gets to being colorless, the greater its value. The final factor affecting price is clarity. Most stones contain natural imperfections.

Backed by his friends Cole Porter and Vincent Astor, Verdura opened his salon above Fifth Avenue in 1939. Success was almost immediate for the boldly innovative Duke. He became a legend from Hollywood to the palaces of Europe for his elegant and whimsical jewelry. Today, women of style continue to adore Verdura’s classic elegance.

Fred Leighton offers the finest and most exclusive estate, antique and rare jewels in the world.

Celebrate life's special moments through personalized gifts - from the celebration of birthdays to commemoration of achievements to weddings to births of babies.

Established in 1969 as an urban ceramics studio by Robert and Sally Silberberg. Thirty-five years ago Park Slope was hardly the enclave for young professional families it is today, but it was always a neighborhood, and The Clay Pot is essentially a neighborhood store. Joined by their daughter Tara in 1990, the store now reflects her passion for jewelry and has developed into a nationally recognized source for America's premier jewelry designers. Rated in the Top Ten of outer-borough stores by the first edition of Zagats Shopping Guide.

"In 2002, Greenwich Jewelers moved to a new location just blocks away from the original store. The 64 Trinity Place store opened in July, and the larger location allowed us to expand the selection of fine jewelry and watches and double the size of the workshop. In the past few years the Gandias' daughters, Jennifer and Christina, joined the family business, with the same passion for gems and jewelry as their parents. Today, the Greenwich Jewelers heritage of exceptional custom design and jewelry service remains intact as the hallmark of our business. However, Jennifer and Christina have expanded the vision of the store to include providing clients the latest styles in fine jewelry. From classics with a twist to unique artisan collections, each piece is hand-selected to enhance the wearer's personality, style and life."

Loree Rodkin, known for her nonconformist, visionary approach to jewelry making, blurs the distinction between modern and medieval.

In business since 1982 and is the first choice for all your jewelry displays, jewelry boxes, jewelers tools and jewelers supplies. The largest selection of jewelry displays on the web with over 3000 different products including ring displays, necklace displays and necklace stands, bracelet displays, earring displays as well as earring stands, watch cases and watch winders, showcase risers and all types of acrylic jewelry displays.

There is an Erwin Pearl. . Born in Vienna, Austria, Erwin Pearl came to the United States as a young boy. He soon became a leading designer of fine jewelry, even winning the prestigious Diamond International Award for five consecutive years. However, the challenge of designing pieces accessible to a wider audience led him into fashion jewelry.

Passion. Character is what really makes up a heart . Its curves, grooves and passionate existence add elegance and life to its simple silhouette. Margo created the universally recognized Red Ribbon Lapel Pin for AIDS awareness. This furthered Margo’s reputation as a visionary, socially aware and iconic jewelry designer. Margo’s sleek versatile designs are elegant with an edge, captivating.
Bold Dynamic and Expressive Sterling Silver and 18K Jewelry Designed by Margo Manhattan with Precious and Semi-Precious Gems.

As the best-known name in retail jewelry, Zales Jewelers has a broad selection of classic and contemporary styles. Zales stores sell more diamond jewelry than any other jeweler in North America. In addition to diamond fashion jewelry, Zales offers gold, cultured pearls and an extensive wedding jewelry selection. In fact, it is the extensive bridal collection that represents the largest part of the chain’s business.

Charles Lewis Tiffany, founder of Tiffany & Co., was dubbed "the King of Diamonds" by New York City newspapers. In the spring of 1887, Tiffany bought the French Crown Jewels.
Tiffany designs were worn by such famous families as the Astors, the Vanderbilts, and the Morgans. Athletes, Hollywood stars, and even European royalty adored these diamonds. Museums valued the Tiffany designs, which ranged from the Art Nouveau period to Art Deco to today's modern styles.
Today, the 128.54-carat Fancy Yellow Tiffany Diamond is on display in the New York City flagship store. Source

New York, Las Vegas, Honolulu, Los Angeles and Mailibu.

1998 marked the opening of a new flagship store on Fifth Avenue. Michael C. Fina Company, yet again showing New York what a family business could achieve, built a store that showcases the most complete selection of jewelry, fine dinnerware, housewares, and giftware in Manhattan. With a full service Bridal and Gift Registry, the new Fifth Avenue store has become the highlight of shopping in New York.
Today, Michael C. Fina, is still owned and operated by the Fina Family, and is still dedicated to the providing its customers with the greatest products, and the best values.

Pat Areias Sterling has its roots in the old Mexican tradition of silversmithing and today is one of the most innovative companies in the field. Artistically, Pat Areias strives to maintain the same level of excellence achieved by the great silversmithing visionaries Jean Puiforcat of France, George Jensen of Denmark and William Spratling of Taxco. Pat Areias Sterling began in 1987 in Cuernavaca, Mexico, with the introduction of a three-piece buckle set which became the foundation of the designer's business. Two years later, she added silver jewelry to her collection. Reminiscent of the Art Deco era, her designs are marked by a contemporary style. Pat Areias Sterling now offers an extensive line of handcrafted sterling silver jewelry and hair accessories collection as well as a belt and buckle collection. Each piece of Pat Areias's artistry is hand rendered, one by one. As such, from their sterling silver belt buckles to their many accessories (including hair pieces, earrings, necklaces, bracelets, button covers, key chains, money clips and home accents) they may be similar, but they are not the same.