JEWELRY MAKERS

Jewelry maker marks are stamps, engravings, or logos applied by manufacturers to identify the brand behind a piece. Recognizing these marks helps you authenticate jewelry, determine its origin, and understand its value. Browse our full index below to learn about major jewelry makers and their distinctive hallmarks.

ALL JEWELRY MAKERS

Tiffany & Co.

Founded in 1837 by Charles Lewis Tiffany in New York City, Tiffany & Co. is one of the most iconic luxury jewelry houses in the world. The brand became synonymous with American elegance through its signature blue boxes, landmark diamond acquisitions, and the enduring cultural impact of 'Breakfast at Tiffany's.' Now owned by LVMH, Tiffany continues to set standards in fine jewelry craftsmanship.

Cartier

Founded in Paris in 1847 by Louis-Francois Cartier, the Maison Cartier rose to become the jeweler of kings and the king of jewelers. The house pioneered the modern wristwatch, created some of history's most celebrated jewelry designs including the Love bracelet and the Panthere collection, and served virtually every royal court in Europe. Cartier remains one of the most prestigious and recognizable luxury jewelry brands worldwide.

Georg Jensen

Georg Jensen founded his eponymous silversmithing workshop in Copenhagen in 1904, quickly gaining international acclaim for blending Scandinavian design principles with Art Nouveau and later modernist aesthetics. The brand became Denmark's most celebrated silver house, producing everything from jewelry and hollowware to flatware and decorative objects. Jensen's legacy of organic, sculptural forms and exceptional craftsmanship endures as a benchmark in silver design.

David Yurman

David Yurman launched his jewelry brand in 1980 in New York, quickly becoming one of America's most successful contemporary jewelry designers. He is best known for the Cable bracelet, a twisted helix motif inspired by a rope that became his signature design element. Together with his wife and creative partner Sybil Yurman, the brand grew into a luxury powerhouse recognized for blending artisanal craftsmanship with a modern, wearable aesthetic.

Pandora

Pandora was founded in 1982 in Copenhagen, Denmark, by goldsmith Per Enevoldsen and his wife Winnie. The brand popularised affordable luxury jewelry with its customizable charm bracelet system, which became a global phenomenon in the 2000s. Today Pandora is the world's largest jewelry brand by volume, known for accessible pricing, extensive retail presence, and a wide range of charms, rings, and earrings.

James Avery

James Avery Artisan Jewelry was founded in 1954 by James Avery in Kerrville, Texas, beginning as a small garage workshop. The brand built a devoted following across the American South and Southwest with designs rooted in nature, faith, and personal symbolism. Known for handcrafted sterling silver and gold pieces at accessible price points, James Avery has grown into one of the most beloved regional jewelry brands in the United States.

John Hardy

John Hardy is a luxury jewelry brand founded in 1975 on the island of Bali, Indonesia, by Canadian-born designer John Hardy. The brand is celebrated for its hand-woven chain techniques and artisanal Balinese craftsmanship, with each piece taking hours of skilled handwork to create. John Hardy has become synonymous with bold, textured designs inspired by Balinese art and culture, and the company is also recognized for its commitment to sustainable and ethical practices.

Lagos

LAGOS was founded in 1977 by master jeweler Steven Lagos in Philadelphia. The brand is known for its signature Caviar beading, a textured micro-bead finish inspired by the luxury of caviar, which appears across virtually all of their collections. LAGOS occupies a distinctive position in the American jewelry market, offering bold, sculptural designs in sterling silver and gold that bridge the gap between fine and fashion jewelry.

Mikimoto

Mikimoto was founded by Kokichi Mikimoto, the Japanese entrepreneur who pioneered cultured pearl cultivation and created the first commercially viable cultured pearl in 1893. The brand fundamentally transformed the pearl industry by making high-quality pearls accessible beyond the natural pearl market. Mikimoto remains the world's most prestigious pearl jewelry brand, renowned for stringent quality grading and classic Japanese design sensibility.

Van Cleef & Arpels

Van Cleef & Arpels was founded in Paris in 1906 by Alfred Van Cleef and his father-in-law Salomon Arpels. The Maison became legendary for its technical innovations, including the Mystery Set technique that conceals stone settings entirely, and for whimsical, nature-inspired designs that captured the imagination of royalty, Hollywood stars, and collectors worldwide. Now part of the Richemont group, Van Cleef & Arpels remains at the pinnacle of haute joaillerie.