Hamilton Jewelers celebrates 100 years
By Christian Kirkpatrick, Special Writer
Hank Siegel says he always knew what he wanted to be when he grew up. Even as a child, he enjoyed helping out at his family’s jewelry store: arranging display shelves, working in the stockroom, even cleaning up at the end of the day.
”The lure of the gemstones always attracted me,” he explains. “When other kids were outside playing, I made a little display in my house with Dick Tracy watches and matching gumball rings.”
Today, he is the president and CEO of Hamilton Jewelers, which is celebrating 100 years in business.
Mr. Siegel is clearly proud of the company’s past and his family’s role in it. Named for one of its founders, Hamilton Jewelers was originally a single store in Trenton. Mr. Siegel’s grandfather, who had started out as an errand boy at a similar store, bought the shop in 1927. His son, Martin, joined the business in 1951, and Hank Siegel came on about 30 years later.
In 1973, the Lawrenceville branch was added. Soon afterwards, Hank Siegel’s grandfather moved to Florida, where he quickly gave up ideas of retirement and established a store in Palm Beach; one in Palm Beach Gardens was added later. The Princeton store opened in 1985, and one in Red Bank in 2003. A member of the Siegel family is still involved at each location.
Throughout its history, Hamilton Jewelers has moved with the times. In its early years, it sold such items as silver dresser sets, fancy cigarette lighters, pocket watches and, of course, jewelry. By mid-century it had expanded into home décor, boasting the largest bridal registry in Mercer County and stocking thousands of pieces of crystal, silver and china.
Today, says Hank Siegel, tastes and lifestyles are more practical and casual. The Princeton store does a vibrant business in baby gifts; glassware by Simon Pearce, Baccarat and Hermes; and whimsical yet functional items for the home.
Tastes in jewelry also have changed.
”Today’s customers want something that is wearable and enjoyable,” says Mr. Siegel. So in addition to glittering pieces suitable for a gala reception or charity ball, Hamilton offers simple yet elegant jewelry that people can wear anywhere.
Styles have changed the least, he says, in engagement rings, and a significant proportion of the ones Hamilton sells are contemporary interpretations of its own past designs.
Mr. Siegel and his employees have collected them for years because the store’s archive of designs was destroyed in fires in 1947 and 1957. To reconstruct it, they have searched for images of past pieces in old catalogues, drawings and photographs. Occasionally a customer has come into Hamilton with an unknown piece and out come the cameras to document this discovery.
Hamilton designs and creates all of its engagement rings. It also offers its own lines of earrings, bracelets, and necklaces. Some of these items have a contemporary look, and some were inspired by vintage styles. Hamilton designers have been inspired by the innocence of the very early 1900s, the art deco style of the 1920s and ‘30s, the bold use of yellow gold in the ‘40s, the love of platinum in the ‘50s and ‘60s, and the funky spirit of the ‘70s and ‘80s.
Many of the store’s designs call for hand engraving or unusual settings — work that most jewelers haven’t been able to do for years. At the Princeton store, a polisher and six jewelers, each with different skill sets, are all on staff.
Hamilton prides itself on providing a full array of in-house services, including jewelry design, repair and appraisal; gem cutting; bead and pearl restringing; polishing and cleaning of jewelry and timepieces and the repair of silver hollowware. Although most jewelry stores no longer even employ a watchmaker, says Mr. Siegel, Hamilton’s were trained in Switzerland and use the most up-to-date skills and equipment.
Hamilton offers its staff members extensive in-house training, and every year some are asked to attend Hamilton University, a weeklong, offsite program that provides classes on jewelry design elements and the philosophy of design, grading gemstones and determining their origin, the role of Hamilton’s partner suppliers and building relationships with customers. By helping employees to learn about the business and encouraging them to treat it as their own, Mr. Siegel says, Hamilton serves them and its clients.
Mr. Siegel says he believes in nurturing relationships. Many of his employees have been with the organization for 15 to 25 years, and some of the company’s suppliers have worked with it for even longer. In 1938, his grandfather began Hamilton’s relationship with Patek Phillipe, which is now one of the world’s last family-owned watch-making companies. And the same family in Antwerp has cut diamonds for Hamilton since Mr. Siegel’s grandfather headed the organization.
Another element of Hamilton’s success is its long-standing commitment to honesty and social responsibility. In 1941 Readers’ Digest ran a series of columns titled “Repairmen Will Get You if You Don’t Watch Out.” Its author traveled the country, asking repairmen to fix items that were in good condition. Most agreed to and charged him for their “work.” However, when he came to Hamilton, Mr. Siegel says, his grandfather told him that the gold watch he had brought in did not need service.
When Mr. Siegel was learning the business, both his father and grandfather stressed the importance of behaving ethically and setting a standard for others in the industry, he says. This year, the Council for Responsible Jewelry Practices certified that Hamilton obtains its gold, silver and gems in a manner that is socially and environmentally responsible. Hamilton is the first family-owned and independent jeweler to receive this certification.
Another Hamilton tradition is giving back to the community, says Mr. Siegel. Each year, the jeweler gives back to about 100 nonprofits in various ways. It donates earrings and necklaces to be auctioned off at charity events; Mr. Siegel serves on various community boards — as, he notes, his father and grandfather did — and Hamilton employees receive up to two paid days to volunteer with the nonprofits of their choice.
The Princeton store always has celebrated its connection with the town and Princeton University. Over the years, it has designed and sold a wide range of Princeton-themed items, including charms in the shape of Nassau Hall, the Mercer Oak and the Princeton zip code; Princeton-related Christmas tree ornaments and a range of university-themed items for the house.
Mr. Siegel relishes his firm’s long-standing association with Princeton. When asked about Hamilton’s history in the town, he always seems to know the answer. For example, when was the store’s building constructed? 1896. What was it before it was a jewelry store? First a dormitory for Princeton students, then a post office and finally a bus depot.
He also seems to enjoy serving the people of the area.
”Nothing is more satisfying than serving the son or grandson of a customer,” he declares. “We’re proud to call Princeton our home.”
In commemoration of the significant milestone of celebrating 100 years as a family-owned and operated business, Hamilton Jewelers is having its largest sale ever. From now through Sept. 24, this exclusive Sale of The Century will feature more than 1,000 items including diamond jewelry, gemstones, Swiss timepieces and home décor.
More information about Hamilton can be found on the company’s website: www.hamiltonjewelers.com

