J.E. Caldwell & Co Jewelry
With intricate and refined artistry, the jewelers at J.E.Caldwell & Co. have been handcrafting illustrious watches and adornments — including cocktail rings, engagement rings and link bracelets — for nearly two centuries. The American firm, which is among the oldest silver and jewelry companies in the United States, has found acclaim with collectors and buyers worldwide.
Born in Poughkeepsie, New York, J.E. Caldwell & Co. founder James Emmott Caldwell (1813–81) apprenticed as a silversmith and subsequently trained in watchmaking under the esteemed watchmaker Samuel Ward Benedict in New York City. Following his apprenticeships, Caldwell sought work in Philadelphia, initially securing a position with a wholesale jeweler before importing watches for a jewelry manufacturer. In the late 1830s, he established a storefront of his own, in a stately marble building on Chestnut street. Caldwell partnered with James M. Bennett thereafter in order to launch a jewelry shop nearby that they called Bennett & Caldwell. With the passing of Bennett, Caldwell partnered with a former employer, John C. Farr, and changed the company name, establishing the J.E. Caldwell & Co. of today.
In 1876, Philadelphia hosted the first World’s Fair held in the United States. Alongside the Gorham Manufacturing Company — a legendary but largely overlooked American silver firm — J.E. Caldwell showcased an array of stunning jewelry and silver objects at the event’s Centennial International Exhibition. In the early 1900s, J.E. Caldwell was contracted to fashion a presentation silver tea service — more than 160 pieces — for a newly commissioned battleship, the U.S.S. Pennsylvania. The brand’s exquisite silver wares traveled at sea aboard this battleship — and later, on the U.S.S. Valley Forge — for decades.
J.E. Caldwell & Co. became known for exquisite Art Nouveau and Art Deco jewelry. Ownership of the firm passed through the family over the years before changing hands to business interests outside of the family. Today a J.E. Caldwell & Co. retail location continues to operate in Philadelphia.
Find antique and vintage J.E. Caldwell & Co. jewelry on 1stDibs.
1970s Vintage J.E. Caldwell & Co Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Platinum
1970s American Art Deco Vintage J.E. Caldwell & Co Jewelry
Yellow Diamond
1970s American Vintage J.E. Caldwell & Co Jewelry
Freshwater Pearl, White Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1890s Victorian Antique J.E. Caldwell & Co Jewelry
Natural Pearl, Yellow Gold, Platinum
1990s American J.E. Caldwell & Co Jewelry
Citrine, Diamond, Pearl, Gold, Enamel
1930s Art Deco Vintage J.E. Caldwell & Co Jewelry
Diamond, Platinum
Early 2000s American J.E. Caldwell & Co Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, White Gold
Late 19th Century Antique J.E. Caldwell & Co Jewelry
Pearl, Natural Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Modern J.E. Caldwell & Co Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
Mid-20th Century J.E. Caldwell & Co Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Platinum
2010s American Contemporary J.E. Caldwell & Co Jewelry
White Diamond, Yellow Diamond, 18k Gold, Platinum
20th Century French J.E. Caldwell & Co Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Gold
2010s Hong Kong Contemporary J.E. Caldwell & Co Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern J.E. Caldwell & Co Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Yellow Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 20th Century J.E. Caldwell & Co Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Yellow Gold, Enamel
1970s Vintage J.E. Caldwell & Co Jewelry
Diamond, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold