JEWELRY CATALOGUE
 

J. R. Wood & Sons
Dated 1919

Old catalogues are wonderful references for dating jewelry and illustrating how and with what it was worn. This one not only displayed the jewelry, but also described with pride the owners, workers, and the factory itself.
 

The J. R. Wood & Sons catalogue dated New York, 1919, describes the company as, "Diamond cutters, wedding ring makers and manufacturers of fine gold and platinum jewelry". On the inside cover is a hand-typed label which specifies 1919 as their 69th year in business.

  "America's most up-to-date jewelry plant" located in the 1300 block of Atlantic Avenue in Brooklyn, New York.
Owned and occupied entirely by J. R. Wood and Sons.

   Founder John R. Wood, 1825-1897
Sons Rawson L. Wood and St. John Wood

Workers at the jewelry plant.

"Our Policy"

 
The jewelry plant is described in the catalogue as follows: 
 
"The construction is of steel and concrete. Practically all of the walls are glass. The interior is white enameled throughout.

"Thirty-five telephones connect the various departments together with electric elevators, signal horns and bells. Automatic electric clocks and time stamps are installed in all departments so that accurate costs of manufacturing can be determined on all work.

"The steel vault is twenty-five feet wide by eighteen feet deep with a door weighing seven tons.

"The factory contains approximately fifty-thousand feet of floor space with ample accommodations for one thousand workmen.

"Shower baths, reading and recreation rooms are provided as well as a grocery store and restaurant where all food is sold at cost to our employees."
 

 "Fine Platinum Brooches and Bar Pins set with fine snappy Wesselton blue white diamonds."
The prices of these pins in 1919 were, from top, $336.50, $255.40 and $409.12.
Page 35

    EDWARDIAN DIAMOND 14 karat  filigree  2-1/4"  bar pin with a delicate swirled design.  View   View  #Q14551 

    EDWARDIAN filigree 14 karat 1-3/4" oval pin with a delicate scroll and flower design.   #Q6618

"Special Order Work
with a definite air of superiority".
Page 50

Similar designs are often found in jewelry, and they cross over from fine jewelry to costume pieces. This STARET clear rhinestones dress clip with gold tone and silver tone leaves, 3-1/8", circa 1940, shares design elements with the earlier Edwardian brooch shown at left.  View   #S22410

Evidentially platinum was difficult to obtain during the war years, as a note at the bottom of the page states, "Until government embargo on unmanufactured platinum is withdrawn, all special orders must be executed in white, green or yellow gold."
 

"14K Hand Made La Vallieres.
Complete with 15 inch neck chain."
Priced in 1919 between $24.00 and $75.00 each.
Page 44

   LAVALIERE 14k, diamond and seed pearl, circa 1910.  #Q12473

 "Exquisite Platinum La Vallieres.
Complete with 15 inch platinum neck chains."
Priced in 1919 between $121.00 and $462.00 each.
Page 41

 LAVALIERE 14k, diamond and seed pearl, circa 1910.

   LAVALIERE ruby and pearl.   #Q22924

   LAVALIERE sapphire, diamond and pearl.   #Q22925

LAVALIERES

   LAVALIERE diamond and seed pearl.   #Q22926

   "10K LAVALLIERES
Complete with 15 inch neck chains.
Set with reconstructed sapphires, rubies and diamonds. Pearls are baroque."
Priced in 1919 from $22.00 to $24.00 each.
Page 143

   LAVALIERE 14k, ruby and seed pearl, circa 1910.  #Q12410
 

  "Special Order Work"
Page 58

    PENDANT 10 karat white gold filigree 2" pendant with green rhinestone, 16" chain.   View   View   #Q21839

Filigree jewelry and dainty lavalieres complimented the light, airy, feminine fabrics and fashions of the early 1900's.

   "Special Order Work".
Page 53

    EDWARDIAN filigree 14 karat 1-3/4" oval pin with a delicate scroll and flower design, circa 1910.   #Q6618

 "Special Order Work".
JR Wood & Sons, 1919 Catalogue, Page 55

    10k diamond yellow gold filigree ring, size 6-1/4.   #G17545

   "Solid Bangle Bracelets.
They will not dent.
The strongest bracelet made- will last many generations."
Page 84

   BANGLES, 14 and 18 karat with diamonds, rubies, amethysts, and garnets.

   14k and gypsy set 3-diamond bangle, one small ding on the side.  View   View   View  #Q2169

  "Scarf Pins in 14k combinations of yellow, green and white gold."
Page 48

   Enameled SHAMROCK and seed pearls stick pin.   #Q20736

"The carved wedding ring...
fortunate is the bride who receives one."
Page 77

 14k DIAMOND filigree ring with an approximately 15 point diamond, size 7-1/2, circa 1910.   VIEW   #G16734
  
14k DIAMOND filigree ring, very dainty, size 5.  VIEW    #16737

"Platinum mounting, also in combination of platinum and 14k gold."
Page 66

     14K FILIGREE white gold ring with a .16 carat diamond, size 5. This is a new ring, made in a vintage style.   View   #G17718

         Diamond rings
Page 27

Bride admiring her new rings.

  Diamond Rings
"Set with snappy blue white Wesselton diamonds, platinum or white gold top mountings with 14k yellow gold shanks."
Page 31

Charming old wedding picture of my husband's grandparnets.

"Signet rings in 10k and 14k gold."
Page 119

14k GOLD signet ring with nude lady on each side, initials engraved on top.   View  
Courtesy of Ann Crandall

14k SIGNET ring circa 1900.   View  #G22936

  VICTORIAN  14k gold ring with three gypsy-set diamonds, size 9-3/4.   View    #G21499

  SIGNET RING Gold shell  (gold filled) with shield shaped front, not engraved. It is a size 10-1/4, and has scrolls designs on the shank.   #G6246

Page 95

    GOLD ladies cuff buttons with initials "AJK".

   "Cuff Buttons, Cuff Links and Hinged Post Cuff Buttons, 10K and 14K."
Page 106

   This lady wears a shirtwaist with wide cuffs for cufflinks.

   "Lingerie pins in 10k and 14k gold, plain or engraved."
Page 111

    14k & AQUA ENAMEL  tiny delicate lingerie pins.  View  #Q19842

"Bar pins, plain, hand engine turned and hand engraved."
Page 114

  10 KARAT bar pin with my Great Aunt's initials on it, "CBN".   View   View   #QCBN

"Lockets carried in 10k and 14k gold for neck chains."
Page 113
J.R. Wood & Sons Catalogue, 1919

  FM Co 1-1/8" round locket with smoke rhinestones and etched design.  View    View  #Y21476
 
HEART-shaped 1-1/2" locket engraved "MLK" with charming photos of a couple inside. The chain is 16" long.  View   View   #Y21474

"20-year gold filled watch cases.
More thoroughly wrought gold, better wearing qualities."
Page 158

  LADY'S 14 karat gold pocket watch with wonderful floral and ribbon enameling on the case.  View    View    #w18611

ELGIN lady's open face 14 karat gold pocket watch engraved with the initials "AJK", my grandmother's.  View   #w20423

  
Note: These items were photographed from private collections, and are for reference only.  Jewelry that is available for sale can be accessed at the links below.
 

JEWELRY AVAILABLE FOR SALE accessible below.