The Oldest Jewelers in America and the World
This is a historical archive of Jewelers along with additional information associated with each Jeweler listed. Some of the additional information is taken from that specific Jeweler, while other information may be taken from other historical sources. Additional information may include our own findings as well. Everything on this page is public information, and again, exists as a historical record or archive maintained by us.
2000's
2019
Litchfield Fine Jewelers - 6 years
Matthew Fankhauser established Litchfield Fine Jewelers in 2019.
2015
Billie's Custom Jewelers - 10 years
Tri Buu Huynh established Billie's Custom Jewelers in 2015. Prior to that he worked at Walt's Jewelers.
2010
Daniel's Jewelry - 15 years
Danny Bigelow established Daniel's Jewelry in 2010. In the 1990's Daniel worked at Walt's Jewelers for a few months.
2006
Muralt's Custom Jewelers - 19 years
Matt Muralt established Haney Family Jewelers in 2006. In the 1980's and 1990's Matt worked at Walt's Jewelers.
2005
Hinrichsen Jewelers - 20 years
Joseph Hinrichsen started Hinrechsen Jewelers.
2004
Haney Family Jewelers - 21 years
Troy Haney established Haney Family Jewelers in 2004. Prior to that he worked at Walt's Jewelers. Haney Family Jewelers was sold in 2019.
2003
Cassy Saba Jewelry - 22 years
Cassy Saba established Cassy Saba Jewelry in 2003. Prior to establishing her own business, Cassy worked at Walt's Jewelers.
Forever Diamonds Jewelers - 22 years
Raymond Kelly established Forever Diamonds Jewelers in 2003. Prior to that he worked at Walt's Jewelers.
1900's
1995
Barnes Fine Jewelers - 30 years
Paul and Susan Barnes started Barnes Fine Jewelers in Arizona.
1992
John Wallick Jewelers - 33 years
1990
T. Gabel Jewelry - 32 years
Terry Gabel established T. Gabel Jewelry, a family owned business, that originally opened in Louisville, Kentucky in August 1986, later moving to the the Phoenix, Arizona, metropolitan area in 1990. T. Gabel's ceased operations in 2022.
1987
Molina Fine Jewelers - 38 years
Alfredo J. Molina established Molina Fine Jewelers in 1987, in Phoenix, Arizona. Also the owner of Black, Starr & Frost.
1986
Hamra Jewelers - 39 years
The Hamra brothers opened their own jewelry store after working in their father's jewelry business.
1984
Cornelis Hollander Designs - 41 years
Cornelis Hollander founded Cornelis Hollander Designs.
Oliver Smith Jeweler - 41 years
In 1980, Oliver opened a store in Balboa Island in Newport Beach, California. He then opened Smith Fine Jewelry in Scottsdale, Arizona in 1984. In 2005, Oliver renamed the store, Oliver Smith Jeweler. Standing apart from the beginning, Oliver Smith Jeweler is singular.
1980
David Yurman - 45 years
Frederick Fisher Jewelers - 45 years
1970
Schmitt Jewelers - 55 years
Larry Schmitt founded Schmitt Jewelers.
1960
Graff - 65 years
Laurence Graff established Graff in London in 1960.
1956
Walt's Jewelers - 69 years
Originally founded as, "Walt's Jewel Box." We are not the oldest jeweler in America. We are not even the oldest jeweler in Arizona!
1950
Michael's Jewelers - 73 years
Michael Strong retired at the age of 103 and closed Michael's Jewelers in 2023, with their last day open being Friday, December 29th, 2023.
1949
Dickson's Jewelers - 76 years
1932
Harry Winston - 93 years
Harry Winston is owned by the Swatch Group.
1919
Buccellati - 106 years
1906
Van Cleef & Arpels - 119 years
1800's
1899
Schwanke-Kasten Jewelers - 126 years
1888
Charles Schwartz & Son - 137 years
1884
Bulgari - 141 years
1874
Black, Starr & Frost - 151 years
While conducting research for this page, we could only determine this company was established in 1874. You decide if their claim to be "America's First Jeweler", established in 1810, is true or not. They claim to be founded in 1810 and to be, "the oldest continually operating watchmaker in the United States". Even if their claim were true, just look at this list and see if there are any American Jewelers established prior to 1810.
Piaget - 151 years
1871
Josephs - 154 years
Another humble jeweler. With enough clicks, you may find yourself reading their story, which is along what one might expect.
1870
Borsheims - 155 years
Their index or home page does not mention their founding year, or if it does it is well hidden. Even on their History page, they do not just come out and say their founding year, but rather let the user figure it out themselves. Something that is nice to see on their History page is they show logo's they have used over the years. They also show various advertisements of theirs over the years.
Springer's - 155 years
It seems to be a trend amongst the older jewelers, to not be impressed by their own antiquity. Springer's does not even offer an About Us page, or History page, but rather opts for a brief paragraph on their index or home page which mentions being around for over 150 years.
1860
Chopard - 165 years
1858
Boucheron - 167 years
L.D. Giddens Jewelers - 164 years
L.D. Giddens appears to be gone.
1854
Saboe Jewelry - 171 years
Their website is minimalist, so this link is to their Facebook page.
1852
Randolph Jewelers - 166 years
Randolph Jewelers closed, after 166 years in business, in 2018.
Shreve & Co. - 173 years
It is humorous how Shreve handles dates on their Our Story page. They start with the year 1804, but not claiming it is their birth year, just with that date out there for all to start reading, including search engines. They talk about 1848 and the Gold Rush, the 49ers, and finally they mention they opened in 1852. Shreve's claim is, "Shreve & Co. is the oldest retail jeweler in the state of California". This may be true.
1847
Cartier - 178 years
1842
Fabergé - 183 years
Peter Carl Fabergé or Karl Gustavovich Fabergé founded the jewelry firm of Fabergé in the old capital of St Petersburg, Russia.
Merkley Kendrick Jewelers - 183 years
They claim to be founded in 1832, however, the company that was founded in 1832 was founded by two individuals, James Lemon and William P. Kendrick. They liquidated their business in 1841. William P. Kendrick started a new business in 1842, which is their true establish date.
1836
Brombergs - 189 years
No crazy claims, other than claiming they are the only member of the American Gem Society in the city of Birmingham, which may be true, though odd to mention ... when your business was founded in 1836. They do something else kinda odd, but maybe passively agressively awesome, and that is on their About Brombergs page they mention that in 2007 they renovated their Mountain Brook location "just before the 50th Anniversary". This is odd because by 2007, Brombergs had been around for around 171 years and they were more concerned with celebrating their 50th year in the same location. Maybe a humble brag, given 50 years is older than most jewelers? Either way, they do not seem to be amazed by their age.
1832
Cornwell Jewelers - 187 years
Cornwell went out of business in 2019.
1810
See 1874.
1700's
1796
Shreve, Crump & Low - 229 years
They do not seem to be phased by how established their business is, considering their About Us page does not go into their history.
1785
Bixler's Jewelers - 240 years
"America's First Jeweler"
1736
Garrard - 289 years
Founded in London in 1735 by master silversmith George Wicks.
1600's
1613
Mellerio - 412 years
Nothing quite like looking outside the United States to find old establishments.
1300's
1369
Torrini - 656 years
The world's oldest Jeweler. Visit their History page. They mention they are the eigth longest-lived family businesses still in existence. Impressive!
Visit Watch Manufacturers & Designers.
A Tradition for Generations
Our Clients are repeat customers who continue to trust Walt's Jewelers for generations. We have Clients who first visited us the year we opened, in 1956! We have several Clients who came to Walt's Jewelers for their engagement and wedding rings, then their children came to us, and their grand children, and it seems the tradition will continue. Visit the most trusted independent Arizona jeweler.
If You Are Not Listed Here But Should Be
If you are a Jeweler and your shop/store/salon/house is not listed here, please feel free to reach out to us and we will consider adding you. Full disclosure, we have opted to intentionally NOT visibly list some Jewelers because their stories do not add up. Some considerations, if your great-great-great-great-great-great grandfather started working as a Jeweler or Horologist or in the industry 6,000 years ago but he did not start his own business until 5,000 years ago, then the business is 5,000 years old, not six. We will post our own thoughts on claims made, as you can see above and in the source code of this page.