John Lemmon

Schwarzschild Jewelers

The history of Schwarzschild Jewelers began in the early 1890's in the newly re-constructed City of Richmond. With four major railroads using Richmond as their hub, new people and new opportunities were arriving in the city every day. William Harry (WH) Schwarzschild, a clothing salesman at the time, perceived a great need for high caliber timepieces. Dependable, accurate timepieces were mandatory equipment for the railroad men, and essential to keeping the trains running on schedule. Even the townspeople relied on their accuracy, setting their own watches by the arrival of the Baltimore Express or the Apple Blossom Special. In his off-hours, WH began selling high caliber timepieces to the men at the Richmond rail hubs and soon to others in search of fine watches. Business thrived and by 1896, he was named as Richmond's exclusive representative for one of finest watch manufactories of the day. WH quit his day job to concentrate on building his firm, the Old Dominion Watch Company. In 1902, with his reputation for fine quality wares and emphasis on customer service firmly established, WH, celebrated his 22nd birthday, officially changed the company name to Schwarzschild Brothers Watchmakers and Jewelers and moved the burgeoning business to a new location at the corner of Broad and Second Streets. There, joined by his brothers Gus, Solomon and Henry, Schwarzschild Brothers officially made the transition from a watch shop to a fine jewelry establishment featuring fine diamonds, precious stones and exquisite jewelry, as well as gold, silver, glass, pottery, jewelry and "novelties" of all kinds. Schwarzschild Jewelers, the oldest luxury retail business in the city, is a founding member of the Greater Richmond Retail Merchants Association. The firm remains committed to the traditions established by the Schwarzschild brothers, supporting numerous local organizations such as Massey Cancer Center and the American Heart Association.