Signed BDA vintage costume jewelry
Signed BDA vintage costume jewelry (1943-1986)
The history of the BDA jewelry brand began in Providence, Rhode Island, founded by three partners in 1943. Among them, in particular, Frank Rhodes Budlong (1889-1956), Edgar Milton Docherty (born August 8, 1883, Canada), and George A. Armstrong (b. in Cranston, RI).
Founded in 1905, Budlong, Docherty & Armstrong, Inc. was formerly known as William C. Greene Co., the oldest jewelry firm in Providence, founded in 1849 by William C. Greene.
Renamed Budlong, Docherty & Armstrong Inc. in 1905, the company continued the glorious traditions of its predecessor.
BDA President Frank Rhodes Budlong (born July 22, 1889 in Cranston) was a hereditary jeweler whose father, Robert, owned the S.K. Merrill in Providence. After graduating from college, Frank began his career as a gem dealer for H. Nordlinger’s Sons. In 1905, he joined his father’s business as New York office manager of S.K. Merrill. Aged 26 he became the president of Budlong, Docherty & Armstrong, Inc., and Edgar Milton Docherty became the company’s secretary and treasurer.
Extremely rare and highly collectible, BDA classic designs most often include cameo brooches, pendants and rings made of handcarved carnelian or shell. The company’s craftsmen made high quality pieces with the use of 10 K gold, silver, pewter, cultured pearls, natural gems, as well as precious stones – sapphire, opals and emeralds.
Signed BDA vintage costume jewelry
Budlong, Docherty & Armstrong marked their jewelry with the initials BDA and the purity of the metal – gold, silver, or pewter. They sold BDA jewelry in beautifully designed boxes in major US department stores. The boxes themselves are also collectible.
Noteworthy, there is another B.D.A., Inc jewelry company, registered in Providence in 1987, which ceased to exist in 1995. However, it has nothing to do with Budlong, Docherty & Armstrong, Inc. For the short period of its existence, B.D.A., Inc owned four jewelry trademarks. Among them – BDA (1978-1985), Prelude (1980-1987), Elan (1978-1985) and Profiles Of Love (1978-1984).
