Some of America’s most poignant history is engraved on swords and poured into medals presented to our countries, greatest military heroes. It is cast in the precious metals of serving pieces found in the estates of America’s oldest families, and it is cut into the faces of diamonds that are the hallmark of story, personal moments.
Such are the volumes of history recorded in the works of Bailey Banks & Biddle, one of America’s oldest find Jewelers this most revered name in jewelry and gifts emerged on September 10, 1832 at Bailey & Kitchen the vision of two enterprising Silversmith.
With a mere $28 in Jewelers tools and an unwavering commitment to excellence Joseph T. Bailey set the course of uncompromising standards and craftsmanship that have made the name of Bailey Banks & Biddle synonymous with national symbols, such as the Great Seal, Presidential gifts, honorary metals, and heirloom jewelry.
Since 1878 Bailey Banks & Biddle has operated under its current name and it’s has only increased as it near completion of a second century in creating the treasure that recognize and celebrate life‘s most meaningful events, Bailey Banks, & Biddle honors division and commitment of our fonder Joseph T. Bailey.
In September 1832, Joseph T. Bailey and Andrew B kitchen opened Bailey & Kitchen Company in Philadelphia with only $4100 in the bank and $28 worth of jewel terms the two Silversmith forged what is today one of the nations oldest Fine Jewelers.
With the growing reputation for excellence Bailey & Kitchen soon became well now across the nation and the globe. In 1844 the firm was awarded a large silver metal by the Franklin Institute of Pennsylvania for skill and integrity, and creating beautiful displays of silverware. This early award recognized only Bailey and kitchen fine craftsmanship, but also an ongoing practice of setting and meeting the highest standards of quality Bailey & Kitchen was one of the first firms in America to introduce silver of full British standard – 925–1000 as opposed to the lower American standard of 900. By raising the standard and personally overseeing the production of all pieces, Bailey & Kitchen, elevated their reputation to those of the finest silver producers in England.
On November 18, 1846 the Pennsylvania Public Ledger announced the retirement of Andrew Kitchen. At this time Joseph T. Bailey’s brother Eli Wescott Bailey of New York joined the firm along with partner Jeremiah Robbins and James Gallagher. The name of the reorganize company was Bailey & Company. Five years later Bailey & Company was to welcome another Bailey, Joseph T. Bailey’s son Joseph Bailey II.
In 1953 the firm that Joseph T. Bailey founded received a coveted silver metal from the Exhibition of the Industry of All Nations for its reputation as America’s finest silversmith. The tremendous achievement heralded the passing of Bailey Banks & Biddle‘s founder Joseph T. Bailey just one year later on March 12, 1854.
In 1860 the first Japanese embassy to the United States of America visited Bailey & Company in Philadelphia. To mark the momentous occasion, the firm created a pure gold medal commemorating the Ambassadors visit. This worldwide reputation for quality put the firm in an interesting position during the Civil War in 1860 Bailey & Company produced a silver mug and plate set for President-elect Abraham Lincoln. Only a few months later Bailey & Company was contracted by the Confederate States of America to design and craft a die for the Confederate cent. Bailey & Company went on to furnish Sabres and Swords for the government and product produced high-quality presentation sources for such Civil War notables as General‘s Grant and Meade.
In 1866 Eli Bailey retired and Joseph Bailey II assumed the head of house. Until 1900, the younger Bailey would purchase all goods abroad to ensure the highest quality and would cross the Atlantic 140 times.
Two years later Joseph Bailey II moved the firm to a new home on Chestnut in Philadelphia and continued to expand the repertoire of Bailey & Company with pieces of art in addition to the firms established fine jewelry and silver trade.
On March 1, 1878 the Philadelphia Evening Bulletin announced a new partnership between Joseph Bailey II of Bailey & Company, George W. Banks of JE Caldwell & Company and Samuel Biddle of Robbins, Biddle & Company as well as special partners, Eli Bailey and Clayton French. This new endeavor was to be named Bailey Banks & Biddle.
Bailey Banks & Biddle was incorporated in March 1894. The name changed to Bailey Banks & Biddle Company. Biddle had retired in 1893 and Banks retired in 1894. Joseph T. Bailey was named president and his son Charles Weaver Bailey was named vice president and treasurer.
Beginning in 1878 and continuing through the 1900s Bailey Banks & Biddle produced heirloom class rings for America’s finest military academies, including West Point and Annapolis. Recipients of the Bailey Banks & Biddle class ring have gone on to become famed authors, generals and even presidents.
In 1903, the United States government commission Bailey Banks & Biddle to furnish a die for the Great Seal of the United States, the design of the Great Seal consists of the national coat of arms surrounded by two concentric rings , commemorate our country‘s birth, and is the only seal fixed to the countries most important historical documents.
Originally designed by Dr. Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson and Sean Adams. The first die of the Great Seal was cut in brass in 1782. From 1825, Several new dies were cut, most were mistakes and omissions. In 1903, Bailey Banks & Biddle was contracted to produce a new die. First used on January 27, 1904, It was engraved on hardened steel by renowned craftsman Max Zeitler.
In 1904, the Philadelphia Press described Bailey Banks & Biddle as “the oldest business of its line in the United States.”
In the same year, Bailey Banks & Biddle receive a new honor from the United States government in the form of a contract to produce what would become known as the Congressional Medal of Honor or the Type III Medal of Honor Initially conceived by President Lincoln during the Civil War, the Medal of Honor is the highest distinction that can be earned by a member of the US armed services. Bailey Banks & Biddle metals were awarded to courageous soldiers in World War I and World War II and are fixed to the uniform of the six soldiers in the Tomb of the Unknown.
In addition to the Medal of Honor and Military Academy rings Bailey Banks & Biddle has enjoyed a long relationship with several branches of the American military over the years. Bailey Banks & Biddle has produced military insignia, regimental coats of arms, naval academy crests, campaign medals, the Distinguished Service medal, the Navy Cross and the Distinguished Flying Cross.
The Distinguished Flying Cross has been presented to such legends names in aviation as the Wright Brothers and Amelia Earhart.
When the Purple Heart originated by George Washington was revived after 150 years Bailey Banks & Biddle received the commission established by Washington in New York on the seventh day of August 1782. It was reestablished by the President on February 22, 1932 and is awarded to any person wounded in action against the enemy while serving in the Armed Forces of the United States.
Bailey Banks & Biddle produced 40,000 purple hearts in 1932 and it went on to design the military’s Silver Star by an Act of Congress in the same year. The Silver Star is awarded by all branches of the armed forces to anyone who while serving in any capacity is cited for gallantry in action against an enemy of the United States. It is the third highest medal for valor.
On October 2, 1961, Bailey Banks & Biddle joined the Zale Corporation as it’s fine jewelry brand. Yet after over 100 years in business, Bailey Banks & Biddle Company headquarters remained on Chestnut in Philadelphia, just doors down from where Joseph T. Bailey began Bailey Banks in 1832.
In 1969, Bailey Banks & Biddle worked with Wedgewood to create the Philadelphia Bowl designed to commemorate the cities illustrious past. Museums and the Historical Society of Pennsylvania were consulted on the design which eventually became a group of four scenes around the outside of a border, with a single engraving on the inside. It is traditionally given to notable visitors to Philadelphia.
In October 1981, during the first term in office, President Ronald Reagan hosted the World Affairs Council of Philadelphia. At the gathering of the world leaders, Mayor Greene of Philadelphia presented President Reagan with an inkwell set created by Bailey Banks & Biddle for the occasion. The pewter inkwell is a reproduction of the one used by the founding fathers to sign the Declaration of Independence in Philadelphia on July 4, 1776.
Upon examination, the Bailey Banks & Biddle 1903 design for the Great Seal was at last declared the official and final version of the Seal. Today the design by renowned craftsman Max Zietler is used to emboss only the most important government documents and can be seen on the back of the one dollar bill.
In 1988, Bailey Banks & Biddle designed struck and donated the Liberty Bell Medal to We The People 2000, a civic organization that administered the medal to individuals or organizations that demonstrate leadership and vision and the pursuit of liberty, and conscience of freedom from oppression, ignorance, or deprivation.
For nearly two centuries, Bailey Banks & Biddle has built a reputation on unparalleled quality attention to detail and singular innovation. It is in this spirit that Bailey Banks & Biddle chose in 2003 to become an exclusive provider of the “Arctic Ideal” diamond culled from the Northwest Territory diamond mines in Canada. The “Arctic Ideal” is cut to form a suite of symmetrical hearts, and arrows this important addition ideally reflects Bailey Banks & Biddle’s commitment to America’s most important moments be a historical or personal.
In 2007, Zale Corp. sold the 175-year-old upscale Bailey Banks & Biddle store chain, which it has owned for 45 years to Finlay Enterprises for $200 million in an attempt to stave off bankruptcy of the chain. This transaction added a Fine Jewelry Group to Finlay’s more than 1,000 locations.
Finlay Fine Jewelers managed the jewelry counters in most department stores across North America and France since 1887. The department space is leased to Finlay. The number of showrooms Finlay operated in 2009 totaled 182, including 72 Bailey Banks & Biddle, 34 Carlyle and four Congress specialty jewelry stores and 77 licensed departments with The Bon-Ton earning just over $1 billion annually.
Finlay operated in major department store groups such as Macy’s Inc. (Formerly Federated Department Stores), Bloomingdale’s, Bon Ton Department Stores, Lord & Taylor, Dillard’s, and Gottschalks. The largest privately-held jewelry group in North America has long been converting its brick & mortar operations to a new digital platform growing its 30 retail brands internationally in the new economy.