History of Raymond Yard

Raymond Yard started as a doorboy at the age of thirteen working for Marcus & Co. in New York, considered one of the top rated jewelry firms in the United States. One day, those clients he opened doors for would be his clients. Yard moved up through the firm learning jewelry craftsmanship, production and salesmanship. Thirty years later, he was known as one of the best salesmen at Marcus & Co. Rockefeller, one of his clients suggested and encouraged Yard to open his own firm and he followed through creating some of the most beautiful jewelry for friends and Rockefeller family members. Some of his other clients were the Woolworths, the Flaglers, the Duponts and the Vanderbilts. Movie stars such as Joan Crawford and Douglas Fairbanks were also his customers. He created jewelry with gem quality stones and platinum mountings. His high end jewelry, combined with his high standards, was very popular during the Art Deco period. Yard retired in 1958 and the firm was taken over by Robert Gibson who became the President. In 1989 he passed the firm to his son, Bob Gibson, and his father later retired finishing his 52 year career in the jewelry industry. Today, the firm still carries on the tradition of high quality designs and craftsmanship of Raymond Yard and is considered one of the finest jewelry houses then and now.