History for Invitation

The history of Schwarzschild Jewelers is itself the story of an American Dream that began in the early 1890's in the newly re-constructed City of Richmond. Richmond was once again bustling with commercial enterprise with four major railroads using Richmond as their hub, new people, new ideas and new opportunities were arriving in the city every day.

William Harry (WH) Schwarzschild was among the many looking for their opportunity. What young WH, who was working as a clothing salesman at the time, perceived was the need for high caliber timepieces, Dependable and accurate timepieces were mandatory equipment for the railroad men, essential to keeping the trains running on time and 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 manufacturers of the day. With the means in place to establish a strong foundation for his business, WH quit his day job to concentrate on building his firm, then named 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, leatherware, pottery, jewelry and "novelties" of all kinds.

For 110-years, Schwarzschild Jewelers has served generations of families in Central Virginia as their trusted resource for exquisite diamonds and jewelry, Swiss watches and fine gifts. One of the few remaining independent, family-owned luxury jewelers in the country, Schwarzschild represents couture jewelers such as Hearts on Fire, John Hardy, David Yurman, Wellendorff, Slane & Slane and Chimento; as well as important Swiss watch manufactories like Baume & Mercier, IWC, Omega and Jaeger-LeCoultre.  Schwarzschild Jewelers stores are located at Short Pump Town Center, Alverser Plaza in Midlothian, and at Cary Court in Richmond.



















1200 Alverser Plaza • Midlothian • 804-344-0150 • 3144 W. Cary Street • Richmond • 804-355-2136 • 11800 West Broad St., Suite 1214 • Richmond • 804-967-0800
Schwarzschild
close