The Napier Co.

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The Napier Co. History Revealed

11 Years of Research Unveil a Meriden Legacy ­­­­

Melinda L Lewis along with former Meriden resident, Henry Swen, have just released the presale of their 1000+ page book titled, The Napier Co.: Defining 20th Century American Costume Jewelry. The book is the first in its genre to document decade by decade the history of The Napier Co. and tell the untold story of this great American Fashion Jewelry Manufacturer. 
 
Lewis traveled around the country and interviewed over 50 former Napier employees from Meriden, Florida, New York, California, North Carolina, and Illinois to get an inside look of the company’s history, culture, and product. She was also assisted by the Meriden Journal, the Meriden library, and the Meriden Historical Society to garner data for her project from their archives. During her research, she collaborated almost daily for 8 years with former Napier salesman, Henry Swen, who Lewis later asked to be her co-author. 
 
Lewis, a former licensed pharmacy technician, lost her ability to work due to chronic pain and migraines in 2001. However, shortly thereafter, as a vintage jewelry enthusiast, she became interested in Napier jewelry when she had an opportunity to purchase a number of Napier pieces. When her research turned up almost no in-depth history about the company, she began her own research deciding to focus her efforts on a book project and not her physical condition or work limitations. As Lewis states, “it gave her a sense of purpose turning something challenging into something good.” 
 
The book was never intended to be over 1000 pages with 4000 images. However, according to Lewis, “I couldn’t tell the story properly in just 300 pages. It was done, when I felt it was done!” 
 
Lewis is self-publishing and needs to presell 450 copies to print the book; a goal she has set to achieve by Dec. 31, 2012. 
 
Lewis is a mother of two grown girls, and resides with her husband in California. She is also co-founder of Costume Jewelry Collectors Int’l (CJCI) an international jewelry club for jewelry historians, collectors, and dealers. You can join her on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/thenapierbook or follow her on Twitter at https://twitter.com/thenapierbook or visit her site at http://www.TheNapierBook.com.

The Napier Co. Jewelry Componets

Misinformation: "The Napier Co. avoided using more expensive materials like aurora borealis rhinestones to keep costs down." Accuracy: FALSE with clarification.

Correct Information: The Napier Co. used only the finest in rhinestones, cabochons, beads, stampings and findings to produce a superior quality product. In fact it  probably spent more on findings, crystals and beads than most companies. The company didn't just do "metals." It used the finest the market had to offer including Swarovski rhinestones.

The company did not use "aurora borealis" crystals or beads per se but used a superior product it called the "iridescent" crystal bead or rhinestone.  However,  it is untrue to say that The Napier Co. avoided the use of certain stones due to the expense of said stone.   The use or non-use of any stone was determined by nature of the design and if used, it was that of superior quality--such as the use of the  "iridescent" crystal or rhinestone vs the typical "aurora borealis" crystal or rhinestone.  It worked closely with the Swarovski Co. to develop special "iridescent" crystals  and beads that Napier used exclusively in its designs.

If Mr. Napier were to read this statement which has proliferated over the Internet he would have been appalled. The employees who are still living from the Golden Years of Napier find this an insult to the beauty and quality of the product.  Every piece that left the factory was made to the highest standards.  It was one of the few companies that actually produced spectacular "Museum" pieces to promote the line.  These pieces  were expensive and labor intensive to produce.

Special note about the terminology of "aurora borealis" vs "iridescent crystal."  The term aurora borealis has come to be a generic term for a particular coating that was applied to rhinestones and beads whether is was made by Swarovski (known for its outstanding stones) or other companies.

According to a leading authority on the history of The Napier Co., the company never used the term "aurora borealis" to describe its stones.  "Napier did not use the cheap and oily looking glass beads or crystal rhinestones called 'aurora borealis.'  Napier used 'iridescent crystals.' Napier was never associated with the term 'aurora borealis' because it looked like 'dime store' jewelry."

The Mamie Eisenhower Bracelet

The Mamie Eisenhower Bracelet

Misinformation: The Mamie Eisenhower bracelet is a charm bracelet made with green glass elephant charms. Accuracy: UNTRUE

FACT: The Mamie Eisenhower bracelet was not a charm bracelet but rather a four panel sterling silver bracelet with each section depicting an elephant in a jungle. Currently the bracelet once owned by former First Lady Mamie Eisenhower is housed at the Smithsonian.