From the Gray & Davis Archives

Below are a few of the fabulous jewels of Gray & Davis past. We’re glad these pieces went to good homes, but that doesn’t mean we can’t reminisce!

From top to bottom:

A selection of antique gemstone rings and bracelets. 

A Victorian demi-parure in original fitted case.

A fun Edwardian "flip" ring in rubies, diamonds and sapphires. 

Nineteenth-century archaeological revival earrings in gold and banded agate. 

Black on Black

When an occasion arises where one must appear mysterious & intriguing (and we all have these moments), there's nothing quite like the elegant blackness of jet and onyx jewels to get the point across:

Antique onyx intaglio set in yellow gold ring, featuring a miniature scene of Poseidon. 

Extra-long Victorian drop earrings of carved jet with saw-tooth gold caps.

Art Deco earrings of polished onyx with platinum & diamond embellishment.

Victorian collar of carved jet beads. 

234 West 13th Street

We are so thrilled to be all set up at our forever-home: 234 West 13th Street. 

The new Gray & Davis boutique occupies the spacious ground floor of a lovely old Victorian brick apartment building c. 1890. 

Before the current building was erected, the land was occupied by a stable. It was sold for development along with 7 two-story brick buildings along the same block for $25,000 back in 1882.

Over the years the apartments were occupied by working-class New Yorkers: dressmakers, masons, clerks, grocers, machinists and their families have all called 234 W. 13th their home. 

The ground floor, where Gray & Davis is today, was originally the business place of a marble importer. By 1909 the space was occupied by A. Berni, who sold "Organs for Carnivals, Merry-go-Rounds, Skating Rinks and Moving Picture Theaters."

In 1919, it was a grocery store, and in the 1930s a Ford dealership. Most recently, 234 W. 13th was a vitamin shop.

We are very excited to be the next chapter in the life of a great old New York building. 

A Victorian Gate Bracelet

Gate bracelets--link bracelets with a heart-shaped padlock closure--were a popular gift around the turn of the twentieth century. 

English gate bracelet in 9k yellow gold, c. 1900. Currently available at Gray & Davis. 

Traditionally, a gentleman would place the bracelet on the wrist of his paramour and lock the clasp with a matching key, thus ensuring that he was the only one able to open the "gate" to his lady love's heart. 

The clasp on our gate bracelet functions quite well without it's key, so whoever wears it is able to to open and close their heart's gate according to their own free will. 

Say Yes to Wednesday: Unique Art Deco Diamond Ring

This ring is a stunning example of Art Deco craftsmanship, and features a 0.25 carat old European cut diamond of F color and VS2 clarity set within a bombe of diamond-studded platinum piercework. The shoulders of the platinum mounting are further embellished with engraved detail, and taper gracefully to a rounded band. Total diamond carat weight of the ring is 0.72 carats.

Currently available in the Gray & Davis online shop!

Would you say yes?