The Story of American Ring and Providence Vintage Jewelry

How did a family of Italian immigrants become the makers of some of the most exquisite vintage rings in America? That's the story behind Providence Vintage Jewelry, a company that has been crafting and preserving beautiful jewelry for over four decades. Here is a journey through our history, from our humble beginnings in a war-torn country to our success in the jewelry capital of the world.

Our story begins with Antonio Calandrelli, an engineer who worked on torpedoes for the Italian government during World War II. In 1942, he was invited to join a group of 11 other engineers who were hired by the American government to develop torpedoes for their navy. They left Naples on a perilous voyage across the Atlantic, dodging German submarines along the way. They finally arrived in Newport, Rhode Island, where they set up a workshop and contributed to the war effort.

After the war ended, Antonio was granted American citizenship and brought his wife Emilia and their children to join him in 1947. He found a job in a local jewelry factory, where he applied his engineering skills to making rings. His son Renato followed in his footsteps and became a tool maker, learning the trade from his father.

The father and son duo soon realized that they had a passion and a talent for creating beautiful jewelry. They decided to start their own business in 1973, along with Renato's brother Gino. They named it American Ring Company, the parent company of Providence Vintage Jewelry.

They set up their factory in Providence, Rhode Island, which was well known as the jewelry capital of the world at the time. They had access to the best materials, machines and tools available. They also had a vision: to create vintage-style rings that would stand the test of time and appeal to customers who appreciated quality and elegance.

They designed and produced rings in various styles, from Art Deco to Victorian to Modern. They used gold, silver and platinum metals, as well as precious and semi-precious stones. They paid attention to every detail, from the shape and size of the stones to the engraving and polishing of the metal. They also made sure that every ring was stamped with their trademark.

Still operating out of Providence, in the 1970s and 80s American Ring continued on it's journey to become the single largest producer of jewelry in they world and produced high-quality jewelry for the most prestigious department stores in the country! Not bad for a family business!

Our designs were unique and innovative, and our craftsmanship was impeccable. We had a talented team of designers and artisans who created stunning pieces using the finest materials and techniques.

We loved what we did, and so did our customers. But things changed in the early 1990s, when the jewelry industry moved overseas. We unfortunately had to stop making jewelry in Providence, but we didn't want to lose our legacy. We decided to preserve our inventory, our designs, and our molds for future generations. We kept them in a safe place for over 20 years.

During that time, we continued to operate as American Ring, the largest importer of jewelry in the country. We also welcomed the new generation to our family business. Anthony Calandrelli, the son of our founder, joined us in 1978 after graduating college. He brought fresh ideas and energy to our company. He also had a vision: to bring back our vintage jewelry and share it with the world!

In 2013 he launched Providence Vintage Jewelry, our online store on Etsy. There, we offer our original pieces from the 1970s and 1980s, as well as new designs inspired by our vintage collection. We were amazed by the response from our customers. They loved our jewelry and appreciated its quality and uniqueness. They also loved the fact that it was handcrafted in the USA using old-fashioned techniques and materials that are no longer used today.

We expanded our online presence to our own website and Amazon. We also welcomed the third generation of our family: Daniel Calandrelli, who joined us in 2015.

But don't wait too long to browse our collection and find your perfect match. Our vintage jewelry is rare and irreplaceable. Once it's sold out, it's gone forever. We don't make this jewelry anymore and we haven't for decades. So hurry up and get your hands on a piece of history before it's too late.

We are thrilled to share our passion for vintage jewelry with you. We hope you enjoy browsing through our collection and finding your perfect piece. Thank you for supporting our family business and keeping our history alive.