1810

1810-01-01

Isaac Marquand originates the legacy of Black, Starr & Frost at 164 Broadway in New York.

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Black, Starr & Frost is the first to use plate-glass windows to display merchandise to luxury-loving pedestrians, innovating the well-known New York City pastime of window shopping.

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Black, Starr & Frost is the first firm to use the American Eagle as its logo. Clients knew the firm was “at the sign of the golden eagle.”

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The company creates the first class ring for the United States Military Academy at West Point.

1851-01

The company makes headlines at the London Crystal Palace Exhibition, displaying an exquisite four-piece tea service made of pure gold.

1860-01

The company builds the finest business structure and most famous shop of its time on Broadway and Prince Street. The first fireproof building in New York, it is constructed of white marble, and in its vaults the modern safe deposit system is fashioned. Southern clients demonstrate the ultimate act of client trust by bringing their valuables to the store for safekeeping during the Civil War.

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Black, Starr & Frost coined the phrase, the “Carriage Trade” as it’s known today.

1863 dates-02

The Gillmore Medal, created by Ball, Black & Co., is issued on October 28, 1863 by Major General Quincy A. Gillmore, Commander of Union troops. Given to those who served valiantly during the Fort Sumter battle, the medal was among the first to recognize honor on the battlefield. Only about 400 were issued.

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The company creates the Kearny Cross for acts of valor in war.

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1865-01-01

Mary Todd Lincoln owed $64,000 to the firm at the time her husband was assassinated, which represents $11 million today.

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Black, Starr & Frost builds the first apartment building and jewelry salon on 28th Street and Fifth Avenue.

1881dates-04

Black, Starr & Frost designs and fabricates the first trophy for the U.S. Lawn Tennis Association Championship, known today as the U.S. Open.

1896-01dates-05

Spencer Trask, grandson of Founder Isaac Marquand, saves The New York Times from bankruptcy, funds John Moody’s credit rating system and provides seed money to Thomas Edison for his invention of the light bulb and for Albert Einstein’s invention of the sonar, which was used as the targeting system for torpedoes.

1911dates-06

Black, Starr & Frost creates the ceremonial key for the New York Public Library.

1912dates-07

The C.T. Cook residence on Fifth Avenue and 48th Street is converted into the new home of Black, Starr & Frost. Not until the 1920’s do other jewelers and diamond dealers join Black, Starr & Frost in this part of the city, which is recognized worldwide today as New York City’s “Diamond District.” The cost of the building exceeds $1 million dollars.

1915dates-08

The first auto-racing trophy, known as The Astor Cup, is created by Black, Starr & Frost.

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Black, Starr & Frost designs and produces the silver platter for The Davis Cup, which was kept within its vaults for many years.

1928dates-10

Peggy Hopkins-Joyce, the first Ziegfeld girl turned socialite, acquires the largest blue diamond in the world at the time, known today as The Portuguese Diamond from Black, Starr & Frost. Now on display at The Smithsonian Institute in Washington, D.C. the near-flawless 127.01-carat gemstone is the largest faceted diamond in The National Gem Collection. She paid $373,000.

1929-01

The Frost family lost its fortune in the great stock market crash and Gorham became the majority interest holder of the firm.

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Black, Starr & Frost acquires the jewels of America’s legendary financier and philanthropist “Diamond Jim” Brady.

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Robert Clifford Black, president of Black, Starr & Frost, acquires the “Lucky Baldwin Ruby”. The ruby was purchased from Harry Winston, a gemstone broker. It is believed that Mr. Winston used the proceeds of the sale to open the Harry Winston store in 1932. Mr. Black publicly announces the purchase of the Lucky Baldwin Ruby for $100,000 exhibiting his commitment and belief in the future appreciation of fine gems.

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Two unique, jewel encrusted “mystery clocks” crafted by Black Starr & Frost are displayed at the World’s Fair.

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Carol Channing plays legendary Lorelei Lee, inspired by Peggy Hopkins Joyce, on Broadway and is the first to sing “Diamonds are a Girls’ Best Friend.”

1953dates-15

Marilyn Monroe is selected to play Lorelei Lee on the big screen in “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes” and famously sings “Diamonds are a Girl’s Best Friend” with the unforgettable verse “Tiffany, Cartier, Black, Starr, Frost, Gorham, talk to me Harry Winston, tell me all about it.”

1956dates-16

Black Starr & Frost creates the “Princeton Mace,” utilized at Princeton University for key observances at the school. The Princeton Mace is an integral element of the regalia of Princeton University.

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A group of investors purchased the firm and returned it to its famed name of Black, Starr & Frost.

1962

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The Black, Starr & Frost group acquires the New York Cartier store. The corporate race begins to expand the brand nationally.

1986dates-20

New York’s famous The Plaza Hotel becomes home to another Black, Starr & Frost jewelry salon.

1991-01

By this time, the company was represented by 33 locations in notable cities across the country.

2006dates-19

International Jeweler Alfredo J. Molina acquires the last remaining Black, Starr & Frost store at South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa, California, with the vision to lead the historic brand into a new era of prominence.

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Black, Starr & Frost moves from South Coast Plaza to a magnificent waterfront salon located at 341 Bayside Drive, Newport Beach, California.

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Black, Starr & Frost sells the Archduke Joseph Diamond, a 76-carat, D-color, internally flawless diamond, the largest D color internally flawless Golconda diamond in the world for $21.5 million at Christie’s Geneva Magnificent Jewels auction, setting three world records for the sale of a colorless diamond.

DUST COVER.indddates-22

Chairman Alfredo J. Molina brings life to a quest consisting of eight years of research when Black, Starr & Frost publishes 1810: Celebrating Two Centuries of American Luxury. This striking coffee table book is a rich and stunning account of the company’s priceless history.

2014-01dates-22

Black, Starr & Frost launched its new Everyday Luxury Collection.

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Black, Starr & Frost, the oldest continually operating watchmaker in the United States, debuts The Renaissance Collection, its first luxury timepieces in three decades.

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Black, Starr & Frost opens its second salon at 32nd Street & Camelback Road in Phoenix, Arizona in the fall of 2015.