Fred Leighton

The proprietor of a bohemian clothing store in 1960s Greenwich Village, his was an unlikely start for a purveyor of fine jewels. But with a curator’s eye and connoisseur’s taste, Leighton focused his business on vintage jewelry and moved to the Upper East Side in the 1970s.

Soon, his boutique was attracting international celebrities, socialites and tastemakers – and giving new life to their erstwhile gems. Josephine Baker, Diana Vreeland, Elizabeth Taylor, Brigitte Bardot and Jackie Onassis are just a few style icons whose extraordinary jewels have been sold by Fred Leighton.

Today, Fred Leighton’s experts in gemstones and period design work closely with clients to find just the right piece, whether a party-perfect pair of Art Deco earrings or an extraordinary old mine diamond engagement ring.

Although important period jewelry is the heart and soul of Fred Leighton, the house also creates new pieces that draw inspiration from historical periods – but are never reproductions. Designed by an in-house team, everything in the collection is signed Fred Leighton and is limited edition or one-of-a-kind.