Asprey Yellow Gold Wrist Watch Owned and Worn by Hollywood Icon Jerry Lewis
View Similar Items
Asprey Yellow Gold Wrist Watch Owned and Worn by Hollywood Icon Jerry Lewis
About the Item
- Creator:
- Case Material:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1960s
- Condition:
- Seller Location:Chicago, IL
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU946077142
Asprey International Limited
Favored for over two centuries by European royalty, movie stars, rock music legends and England’s elite, Asprey International Limited’s reputation for creating elegant, high-quality furniture, jewelry and decorative objects is without equal. The storied manufacturer’s motto — “It can be done” — exemplifies their approach to design, which has proven over time to be both dynamic and enduring. To this day, Asprey International Limited remains a go-to purveyor of luxury goods and bespoke design services.
The roots of Asprey International Limited can be traced all the way back to 1781 when it was founded by William Asprey in Mitcham, Surrey. The business moved to its revered modern location, 166 Bond Street, in 1847. The company’s highly accurate regulator clock, once displayed in the window of their flagship, became a frequent stop for Londoners wishing to reset their watches.
Asprey first gained renown for its manufacture of exquisitely engineered dressing cases, which were compact pieces of luggage that travelers would use to tote their cosmetics and toiletries. At the International Exhibition of 1862, the company received a gold medal for its excellent dressing-case designs and also earned a Royal Warrant from Queen Victoria for their manufacture. Upon his ascension to the throne, King Edward II introduced incredibly formal Buckingham Palace court presentations, balls and soirées, resulting in a huge demand for diamond jewels starting with his coronation in 1902. The court jewelers Asprey, Garrard, Carrington and the newly opened London branch of Cartier were all overwhelmed with orders for sumptuous diamond jewelry to be worn at the king’s elaborate coronation. Currently, Asprey International Limited holds a Royal Warrant from His Royal Majesty Charles, Prince of Wales, for jewelry and silver.
Asprey continued to build its reputation for the production of luxury goods including tableware and silverplate pieces throughout the Victorian period and into the early 20th century. Especially known for its designs of the 1920s and ‘30s, Asprey International Limited considers the Art Deco period to have been its golden age. Their designers embraced the spirited originality of the period with open arms, and Asprey enjoyed a time of intense creativity and debuted a wealth of iconic creations throughout the mid-century modern period, too.
Asprey artisans have designed bespoke pieces for such notable celebrities as British musician Ringo Starr and American actress Angelina Jolie. They have also designed made-to-order accessories for Hollywood movies, most notably the Edwardian-style “Coeur de la Mer,” which was a piece of costume jewelry from James Cameron’s 1997 hit, Titanic. The company’s recreation of the piece — this time designed with actual gems sourced from Sri Lanka — fetched more than $2 million at a fundraiser held in Princess Diana’s honor in 1998. Asprey previously acted as the official jewelry designer for the BAFTA awards and collaborated with Ferrari’s Formula 1 team during the late 1990s.
Asprey International Limited has received many awards and recognitions for its timeless designs. Most notably, it was awarded the Queen's Award to Industry in 1975. The London College of Arms bestowed upon the brand a new official coat of arms in 2006 to mark its esteemed 225-year-long legacy of excellence.
On 1stDibs, find antique Asprey International Limited decorative objects, lighting, serveware and silver and jewelry.
More From This Seller
View AllVintage 1950s Swiss Wrist Watches
Diamond, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1970s Swiss Wrist Watches
Coral, Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 2000s Swiss Wrist Watches
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1960s French Wrist Watches
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1980s American More Rings
10k Gold
Early 2000s French Wrist Watches
Diamond, Yellow Gold
You May Also Like
Mid-20th Century Swiss Modernist Wrist Watches
Vintage 1960s Swiss Modernist Wrist Watches
Vintage 1960s Swiss Modernist Wrist Watches
Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Swiss Wrist Watches
Gold, Stainless Steel
Early 20th Century Swiss Art Deco Wrist Watches
14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1970s Swiss Wrist Watches
Gold-filled
Recently Viewed
View AllRead More
This Chic Abstract Bracelet Is by the Father of Modernist Jewelry
Mid-20th-century designer Andrew Grima upended tradition with his avant-garde aesthetic.
Diamonds Were Her Best Friend, but Marilyn Monroe Also Sparkled in These Rhinestone Earrings
Although positively oozing red-carpet glamour, the Hollywood legend had a penchant for costume jewelry.