COMPANYHISTORIES
NAIC 44831

Jewelry Stores

How the companies in this industry began, and the forces that shaped them.

19companies1847–1991founding years18still active1no longer operating
§ 01

The industry over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironmentHistory
FoundedCartier Monde
1847
FoundedTiffany & Co.
1868
FoundedBulgari S.p.A.
1884
FoundedMarks Brothers Jewelers, Inc.
1895
FoundedThe Kroger Co.
1902
1903
TechnologyThe Wright brothers achieve powered flight.
FoundedFinlay Enterprises, Inc.
1911
FoundedBen Bridge Jeweler, Inc.
1912
1914
EconomyWorld War I begins; global trade reorders.
FoundedHelzberg Diamonds
1915
1916
EconomyPiggly Wiggly opens the first self-service grocery store.
FoundedFriedman's Inc.
1920
FoundedFortunoff Fine Jewelry and Silverware Inc.
1922
FoundedZale Corporation
1924
1939
EconomyWorld War II begins; wartime production surges.
1945
EconomyThe war ends; a long global expansion begins.
FoundedReeds Jewelers, Inc.
1946
1947
TechnologyThe transistor is invented.
FoundedSignet Group PLC
1949
FoundedSamuels Jewelers Incorporated
1956
1958
TechnologyThe integrated circuit is demonstrated.
1962
EnvironmentSilent Spring launches the modern environmental movement.
EconomyThe first Walmart opens, built on everyday low prices.
FoundedService Merchandise Company, Inc.
1970
FoundedPiercing Pagoda, Inc.
1973
1975
TechnologyThe personal-computer era begins.
1981
TechnologyThe IBM PC launches and sets a standard.
FoundedThe Swatch Group SA
1984
TechnologyApple ships the Macintosh; the GUI era begins.
1989
HistoryThe Berlin Wall falls; global markets open up.
FoundedLittle Switzerland, Inc.
1991
TechnologyThe World Wide Web is released to the public.
1993
TechnologyThe Mosaic browser brings the web to everyone.
1994
TechnologyE-commerce begins to disrupt retail.
1995
TechnologyWindows 95 launches; the internet goes mainstream.
1997
EnvironmentThe Kyoto Protocol sets the first climate targets.
2004
TechnologySocial media and Web 2.0 take hold.
2007
TechnologyThe iPhone launches the smartphone era.
2010
TechnologyCloud computing goes mainstream for business.
2015
EnvironmentThe Paris Agreement sets global climate targets.
2020
EconomyThe COVID-19 pandemic upends the global economy.
2022
EconomyInflation spikes; central banks raise rates sharply.
2023
TechnologyGenerative AI reaches mainstream business use.
§ 02

The companies

Compagnie Financière Richemont AG →
Active · Switzerland
Created as a holding company for the Rupert family's international interests, Compagnie Financière Richemont AG…
Cartier Monde →
Active · founded 1847 · England
One of the most revered names in jewelry, Cartier Monde (French for "World") is also the world's largest luxury…
Tiffany & Co. →
Active · founded 1868
Tiffany & Co.
Bulgari S.p.A. →
Active · founded 1884 · Italy
Bulgari S.p.A.
Marks Brothers Jewelers, Inc. →
Active · founded 1895
Marks Brothers Jewelers, Inc.
The Kroger Co. →
Active · founded 1902
Among companies that principally operate grocery stores, The Kroger Co.
Finlay Enterprises, Inc. →
Active · founded 1911
Finlay Enterprises, Inc.
Ben Bridge Jeweler, Inc. →
Active · founded 1912
By the end of the 1990s, Ben Bridge Jeweler operated 62 stores in 11 states, having achieved 15 percent annual revenue…
Helzberg Diamonds →
Active · founded 1915
Helzberg Diamonds is one of the country's largest jewelry retailers, with a chain of some 200 stores nationwide.
Friedman's Inc. →
Active · founded 1920
Friedman's Inc.
Fortunoff Fine Jewelry and Silverware Inc. →
Active · founded 1922
Fortunoff Fine Jewelry and Silverware Inc.
Zale Corporation →
Active · founded 1924
Zale Corporation is the largest operator of retail jewelry stores in the United States.
Reeds Jewelers, Inc. →
Active · founded 1946
Reeds Jewelers, Inc.
Signet Group PLC →
Active · founded 1949 · United Kingdom
Signet Group PLC is the world's leading retail jewelry specialist.
Samuels Jewelers Incorporated →
Active · founded 1956
Samuels Jewelers Incorporated owns and operates one of the largest chains of jewelry stores in the country, with 116…
Service Merchandise Company, Inc. →
Defunct · founded 1970
Service Merchandise Company, Inc.
Piercing Pagoda, Inc. →
Active · founded 1973
A fast-growing jewelry retailer, Piercing Pagoda, Inc.
The Swatch Group SA →
Active · founded 1984 · Switzerland
The Swatch Group SA--known as Société Suisse de Microelectronique & d'Horlogerie or SMH until 1998--is the world's…
Little Switzerland, Inc. →
Active · founded 1991 · Virgin Islands
In the spring of 2001, Tiffany & Co.
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