Black, Starr & Frost
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Jewelry retail |
| Founded | 1804 |
| Founder | Isaac Marquand |
| Headquarters | Phoenix, Arizona , United States |
Area served | United States |
Key people | Alfredo J. Molina (Chairman and CEO) |
| Products | High-end jewelry |
Black, Starr & Frost, originally known as Marquand and Co., holds the distinction of being the longest-operating jewelry firm in the United States, established in 1810. Throughout its extensive history, it has primarily functioned as a retailer and earned a prestigious standing within the high-end jewelry sector.
History
The company was established in 1804 by Isaac Marquand, a silversmith from Connecticut, and experienced significant growth under his son Frederick Marquand, who assumed control in 1824. Based at 166 Broadway, it was recognized as one of the foremost jewelers in America, rivaling contemporaries such as Tiffany & Co.
During Frederick Marquand’s leadership in the Gilded Age era, the firm crafted distinguished silver pieces including helmet-shaped gravy boats and intricately designed tea sets. Several of these creations are now preserved in renowned institutions like the Metropolitan Museum of Art and Savannah’s Telfair Museums.
Henry Gurdon Marquand, initially an employee who later became a Wall Street financier and served as the second President of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, enhanced the company’s reputation through his significant contributions to the arts.
In 1838, Frederick Marquand sold the enterprise to his former apprentices William Black and Henry Ball. This transition initiated a sequence of rebrandings: Black, Ball & Co., Ball, Tompkins & Black (1839), and Ball, Black & Company (1851). The business expanded its presence by opening a New York City location at Broadway and Prince Street in 1860.
The firm adopted its present-day name in 1876 following the addition of partners Cortlandt Starr and Aaron Frost. A merger with Gorham Manufacturing Company in 1929 resulted in the name Black, Starr & Frost — Gorham and a move to Fifth Avenue and 48th Street. By 1960, the company returned to operating under Black, Starr & Frost.
Throughout the late 19th century and into the Gilded Age, Black, Starr & Frost became synonymous with luxury jewelry for prominent American dynasties such as the Rockefellers, Vanderbilts, Carnegies, and Guggenheims.
Timeline
1804: Isaac Marquand establishes Marquand and Co.
1820: Frederick Marquand broadens the company's reach to Savannah, Georgia.
1838: Ownership transfers as Frederick Marquand sells the business to former apprentices William Black and Henry Ball.
1851: Black, Starr & Frost displays a pure gold four-piece tea set at the London Crystal Palace Exhibition.
1859: Supplied pearls and diamonds valued over $100,000 for the “Diamond Wedding” event at St. Patrick's Cathedral.
1860: Received a $12,000 commission from Edward, Prince of Wales; constructed a fire-resistant store at Broadway and Prince Street, pioneering modern secure vault technology.
1863: Produced the Gillmore Medal, an early version of the Congressional Medal of Honor, along with the Kearny Cross recognizing wartime bravery.
1865: At the time of Lincoln’s assassination, Mary Todd Lincoln owed the firm $64,000, equivalent to approximately $11 million today.
1876: Cortlandt Starr and Aaron Frost join the company; renamed Black, Starr & Frost; inaugurates its first combined apartment and jewelry showroom on 28th Street and Fifth Avenue.
1911: Crafted the ceremonial key for the New York Public Library's grand opening.
1912: Moved operations to the C.T. Cook residence on Fifth Avenue, contributing to the formation of New York’s “Diamond District.”
1915: Designed the Astor Cup trophy for automobile racing.
1917: Sold a $200,000 diamond necklace to stage star Peggy Hopkins Joyce, which inspired Lorelei Lee in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes.
1921: Created the silver platter awarded at the Davis Cup tennis competition.
1928: Sold the 127-carat Portuguese Diamond for $373,000.
1929: Merged with Gorham Corporation and adopted the name Black, Starr, Frost-Gorham.
1939: Showcased jewel-adorned Mystery Clocks at the New York World's Fair; one of only five jewelers invited.
1962: Purchased by Marcus and Company; original name restored; acquired Cartier USA.
1972: Became part of Kay Jewelers; expanded presence to 33 stores.
1986: Opened a boutique within New York’s Plaza Hotel.
1990: Sterling Inc. acquired both Kay Jewelers and Black, Starr & Frost.
1991: Ownership transferred to Paul Lam of Costa Mesa, California.
2006: The Molina Group acquired Black, Starr & Frost; headquarters relocated to Phoenix; Alfredo J. Molina appointed chairman and CEO.
2012: Auctioned the Archduke Joseph Diamond—a 76-carat D-color internally flawless Golconda diamond—at Christie’s Geneva for $21.5 million, setting three world records for colorless diamonds.
2014: Chairman Alfredo J. Molina authors 1810: Celebrating Two Centuries of American Luxury.
2015: Created The Empress necklace—a $4.5 million masterpiece featuring 30 untreated Burmese sapphires (11.9 carats), 34 oval diamonds (10.56 carats), and 404 round diamonds (82.61 carats) mounted in platinum.