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Black, Starr & Frost

Black Starr & Frost trace their roots back to 1810 in New York of ‘Marquand & Paulding’ by Isaac Marquand at 164 Broadway New York, NY.  Marquand sold a variety of goods including silverware and jewelry from a small private office and was well known in the timepiece community.  The business grew and changed both the name and the location. In 1833 the firm had a street level premises and installed and began to focus on the retail side of the business.  Then in 1851 the company became Ball, Black & Co.  They were of a handful of American jewelers to exhibit at The Great Exhibition in London’s Crystal Palace. Their display included a four piece tea service crafted of gold.  America’s First Lady, Mary Todd Lincoln became a frequent shopper. When her husband died in 1865, she owed the firm $64,000.  In 1874 the company reorganized and Cortlandt W. Starr was promoted to partner alongside Aaron Frost thereby forming the famous name Black, Starr & Frost. Things were good for BSF and just two years later they moved locations to Fifth Avenue.  That same year they exhibited alongside Tiffany & Co. (their primary competitor) at the Centennial Exposition here in Philadelphia which was the first time America had played host to an International World’s Fair!  They excelled in reputation both for popular styles and quality of work through the 1920s and 1930s.  They even started to move towards more pronounced pieces.  One of the most famous stones was the Portuguese Diamond, a near flawless octagonal step cut stone weighing 127.01cts which the company bought in Paris.  They sold it in 1928 to the actress Peggy Hopkins Joyce who was already an established client. She wore it frequently, set in the center of a diamond line necklace.  Black Starr & Frost attracted movie stars and Royal families as well as dignitaries.  This helped them capture the attention of the social elite such as the Vanderbilt's, the Guggenheim's and even the Carnegie's.  In 1939 they began merging with the Gorham Corporation and added their name to the end,   The even added a Palm Beach location.  They continued to grow and eventually had a total of thirty-three locations in 1991.  This expansion was largely initiated by a group of investors who had purchased the company in 1962 which returned the name to Black, Starr & Frost.  The company changed hands several times and in 2006 had just one location left.  This was purchased by The Molina Group.

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© COPYRIGHT 2017-2023. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. .All Rights Reserved. All trademarked names, brands, models, logos, images, and graphics are the sole property of their respective trademark owners and copyright and credit to their respective owners. Timberbrook Capital, Velvet Box Society, this site, including its owners, operators, and developers, is not affiliated with nor endorsed by any watch or jewelry brand manufacturer brand or any subsidiaries thereof, in any way Timbrook Capital, Velvet Box Society is not an authorized retailer of any watch or brand name jewelry manufacturer.  By Browsing, purchasing, or referencing our site for any reason the user  agrees to release all claims to and against Timberbrook Capital, its affiliates, owners, and employees.
  • Shop
    • Latest Finds
    • Shop By Era
    • Engagement Rings
    • Stackable Bands
    • Cocktail Rings
    • Timepieces
    • Gentlemans Accessories >
      • Gentleman's Rings
    • Bracelets
    • Earrings
    • Necklaces & Pendants >
      • Charms & Pendants
      • Chains
    • Diamonds & Gems
    • Signed Jewelry
    • From The Vault
    • Gift Ideas >
      • Wedding Day Gifts
      • Wedding Party Gifts
      • Push Presents Gifts
      • Anniversary Gifts
      • Graduation Gifts
      • Birthday Gifts
      • Religious Gift Ideas
      • Sweet Sixteen Gift Ideas
      • Quinceañera Gifts
    • Birthstone Jewelry
    • Final Sale Items
    • Gift Cards
  • Custom
    • Custom Engagement Rings
    • Custom Jewelry
    • Recreating an Heirloom
    • Family Crest Jewelry
    • Design Process
    • Schedule Consultation
    • For The Trade
    • More For The Trade
  • Sell To Us
    • What We Buy
    • Ways To Sell
    • Expert Qualifications
  • Services
    • Appraisal Services >
      • Jewelry Insurance
      • SELL TO US
      • Appraisal Fee Schedule
      • Exchange
      • Gem Identification
      • Metal Analysis
      • Estate Appraisals
      • Authentication Services
      • Expert Witness & Court Related Matters
      • Museum Collection Services
    • Schedule Consultation
    • Custom Jewelry Design
    • Recreating an Heirloom
    • Jewelry Repair
    • Jewelry Restoration
    • Timepiece Repair
    • Diamond Cutting and Gemstone Repair
    • Find Jewelry For Me
    • Find a Watch For Me
    • Find a Diamond
    • Jewelry Rental
    • Insurance Replacement
    • Private Collection Management
    • Layaway Plan
    • Consignment
    • Wish List
    • Wholesale Inquiries >
      • Host a Trunk Show
  • The Brand
    • Our History
    • Our Experts
    • Our Values >
      • Corporate Responsibility
      • Sustainability
      • Military and First Responder Discounts
      • Kimberly Process
    • Jewelry School >
      • Makers Biographies
      • Educational Session
      • Eras of Style >
        • Ancient
        • Medieval & Renaissance
        • Baroque & Rococo
        • Georgian
        • Victorian
        • Edwardian
        • Art Nouveau
        • Arts & Crafts
        • Art Deco
        • Retro
        • Hollywood Glam
        • Mid-Century Modern
        • Brutalist
        • Art Organique
        • 1980's Jewelry
        • 1990's Jewelry
        • Contemporary
        • Simplistic
      • Diamonds & Gems >
        • Gemstone Education >
          • Gemstone Knowledge >
            • Approximate Gemstone weights
            • Carat to MM Conversion
            • Equivalents Chart
            • Gemstone Colors
            • Created, Synthetic & Simulated Gemstones
          • Gemstone Laboratories
          • All About Gemstones
        • Diamond Education >
          • Diamonds
          • Lab Grown Diamonds
          • Diamond Cutting and Gemstone Repair
          • Comparative Round Size Info
          • Diamond Carat Weight by MM
      • Counterfeit Jewelry & Watch Identification
      • Engagement Rings
      • Diamond Earrings
      • Timepieces >
        • Watch Anatomy
        • Vintage Rolex
        • Watch Terms
      • Sizing Help >
        • Ring Width
        • Ring Size
        • Wrist Size
        • Ankle Size
        • Earring Size Guide
        • Watch Size Guide
      • Styles, Finishes, & Fit >
        • Ring Designs & Fit
        • Men's Wedding Band Finishes
        • Band Width
      • Custom Jewelry
      • Metals
      • Engraving
      • Birthstones
      • Jewelry Care
      • Jewelry Terms
    • Press
    • Be Social
    • Gems by VBS The BLOG
    • Reviews
    • Advice >
      • The Courtship
      • The Engagement
      • The Wedding
      • After The Wedding
    • Events
    • Careers
    • Affiliate Program
    • The Archives: A Collection of Sold Items
  • Contact