King`s Journal May June 2013

Countdown to 100!
This issue of The King’s Journal begins
the countdown to our 100th anniversary
celebration in 2015.
We invite you to join us for the next 10
issues as, decade by decade, we will
share our family history, as well as world
history, fads and fashions that happened
as The King’s Jewelers grew from a small
one-man shop into a fourth generation
family jewelry store.
The King’s Jewelers 1910-1919
The story of The King’s Jewelers began with Andrew “Andy”
Raust, who was born May 25, 1896, in Oakland, California. He
began engraving at the early age of 13, to help support his mother
and siblings. By 1915, he had his own thriving business in the old
Maxwell Hardware building at 10th and Washington, where he did
engraving on a contract basis for jewelry stores in Oakland and San
Francisco.
It was in this office where
our heritage of customer
service, attention to
detail and the pursuit of
excellence began. 1915
was also a memorable
year when Merle Elizabeth
Raust was born to Andy
and his wife Ruth. The
famous picture of Andy
we often show was taken
shortly after her birth. Her
birth solidified in Andy
the importance of family
and how the engraving
of jewelry was such an
integral part of making a
families memories. And it
was Andy who first began
“Spreading The Joy”.
Andy Raust’s business card
Andy Raust, proud new father, in his office in 1915
It crossed our minds...
The first crossword puzzle was published on December 12, 1913.
In addition to the founding of The King’s Jewelers, many other historic events happened in the 1910s.
How many do you know?
9
10
4
2
14
7
12
8
5
6
16
15
17
3
1
19
Down:
2. Canal which opened in 1914 after 34 years
of building
4. City where the first flights for the US
Airmail Service originated
5. Winner of the first Indianapolis 500
7. Inventor of the first pop-up toaster
9. Archduke whose assassination started World
War 1
16. Starting place of the Titanic’s maiden
voyage
17. Site of the Summer Olympic Games of the
V Olympiad in 1912.
19. Subject of the 19th Amendment to the
Constitution
13
18
11
Across:
1. Publisher of the first crossword
puzzle (3 words)
3. Created by Harry Brearley by adding
chromium to an iron-carbon mix (2
words)
6. Location of Grand Canyon National
Park, which was established in 1919
8. State where “The Big Burn” began
on August 20, 1910
10. Prizes given for outstanding work in
journalism, fiction and non-fiction
11. Treaty that ended World War 1
12. Service established in 1915 which
is a combination of the Revenue Cutter
Service and the US Life-Saving Service
(2 words)
13. Site discovered by Hiram Bingham
in 1911 (2 words)
14. City that received the first
Transcontinental telephone call
15. Object of the Federal Trade
Commission’s protection
18. Incorporated by Chicago publisher
W.D.Boyce on February 8, 1910 (2
words)
Photo courtesy of
Filson Historical Society
ANSWERS:
Across: 1. New York World 3. Stainless Steel 6. Arizona 8. Idaho 10. Pulitzer 11. Versailles 12. Coast Guard 13. Machu Picchu 14. San Francisco
15. Consumers 18. Boy Scouts
Down: 2. Panama 4. Washington 5. Harroun 7. Strite 9. Ferdinand 16. Southampton 17. Stockholm 19. Suffrage
Crossword provided by TheTeachersCorner.net
Fashion in the 1910’s
In 1910s fashion women were beginning to think more
of comfort. Fabrics became lighter, colors brighter,
and styles looser. Lower necklines became popular,
and sales of cold cream and lemon extract grew. Furs
and head gear became more common. The wellknown “Made in America” theme began this decade.
Suffragettes started a more comfortable fashion – no
more hobble skirts, lots of pockets, and hemlines
inched up to show ankles! For men, a striped trousers,
morning coat, and starched white shirt were common,
in addition to a top hat and frock coat. At home,
informal lounge suits, tweed jackets and striped blazers
were popular with dinner jackets in the evening.
rainbow of colored gems were in vogue. Amethyst,
turquoise, Montana sapphires, opals, and demantoid
garnets breathed new life into jewelry styles.
The outbreak of World War 1 vastly changed peoples
societal attitude towards jewelry, as precious metal
became scarce, and platinum - which was used in the
manufacturing of armaments - virtually disappeared.
(Sources: Wikipedia, kclibrary.lonestar.edu)
In 1910s, the changing necklines in women’s fashions
left little room for pins and brooches, thereby placing
an increasing importance of necklaces. Simple chains
suspending a delicate pendant or gemstone grew
in popularity. Tiaras were essential for the well to
do, and the advent of platinum allowed them to be
elaborate and large without begin heavy and unwieldy.
Fashion turned to “black and white” - platinum and
diamond jewels were pinned to black ribbons and
accented by black enamel or onyx. Their jewels
served double duty as they could be worn for any
occasion and did not violate mourning etiquette.
A stylistic about face with a distinct Oriental
influence emerged with the historic performance of
Scheherazade in Paris. Suddenly peacock feathers,
lotus blossoms, and aigrettes all studded with a
1910 Sears’ Catalog
Mother’s Day
I thank thee, Mother dear,
for ears that heard my cries,
for eyes that saw my needs,
for lips that spoke to me of God’s truth,
for hands that comforted and controlled,
fed and clothed.
But most of all - I thank thee for
the life you gave me,
and for making me the person I want to be...
McCalendar of Events
Mother’s Day
May 12
Father’s Day
June 16
From Dave’s Desk
On behalf of all of us at The King’s Jewelers,
we’d like to wish a very Happy Mother’s Day
and Father’s Day to all our clients.
A quick note
about June 14th
& 15th - the store
will be open
during regular
hours, but Craig
and I will be out
of the office as
we join the rest
of our family
in celebrating
our parents’
50th Wedding
Anniversary!
The King’s Journal
is a publication for the clients of
The King’s Jewelers
925-938-1030
Fax: 925-945-0956
info@thekingsjewelers.com
www.thekingsjewelers.com
Store Hours: Tuesday - Friday 10am - 6pm
Saturday 10am - 4pm Closed Sunday & Monday
Our Creed: As respected, innovative industry leaders,
we take pride in our dedication to integrity, quality,
value and personal service. Our profound commitment challenges us in our pursuit of excellence in each
aspect of jewelry service. Using experience and technology we give our clients assurance of complete, accurate information. We fulfill dreams and aspirations
with our unique variety of fine jewelry.
President
Dave McConnell
Vice-president & Gemologist
Craig McConnell
Client Services
Diana Bentley
Client Services
Patty Hargreaves
Newsletter by Good News, www.goodnewsnc.com