Adler's Jewelry was founded in New Orleans in December 1898. It is located at 722 Canal Street in the city's historic shopping district.

Early history

Adler's began as Coleman Adler Jewelry in 1898 in a two-story shop on Royal Street in the French Quarter.Times-Picayune, November 6, 1898. In its early years, Adler's designed call-out favors and other jewelry for Mardi Gras krewes.Monzon and Munster. “History and Origins of the Call-Out Favors,” Mardi Gras Collectors Club, 2008. www.cointradingpost.com.

In 1902, the store moved to 810 Canal Street.City Directory for New Orleans, Louisiana. 1902. Canal Street, New Orleans was the shopping district of the region during the first half of the 20th century, and Coleman E. Adler was active in the Canal Street Commission for over thirty years.Branley, Edward. “When Canal Street was ‘The Mall’,” GoNOLA.com. December 2, 2013.New Orleans Item, January 17, 1902; December 21, 1907; January 8, 1908; February 18, 1911. Times-Picayune, August 1, 1913; October 28, 1913; September 24, 1926; February 23 and 25, June 1 and 21, and November 26, 1930; May 16, 1931; March 20, 1935.

In 1904, Adler's was chosen to create the Times-Picayune Loving Cup awarded to educator Sophie B. Wright.Times-Picayune, May 1, 1904. Adler's designed and crafted the silver service of the State of Louisiana presented to the navy's U.S.S. Louisiana upon its first arrival at the port of New Orleans in December 1906.New Orleans Item, July 7, 1906. Times-Picayune, December 12, 1906.

The firm moved to its current location at 722-724 Canal Street in 1909.New Orleans Item, March 18, 1909. In 1912, the State of Louisiana chose Adler's to design and manufacture the official Louisiana Centennial coin.McMains, Frank. "Adler's Jewelry: Louisiana Bicentennial Coin," The Cultural Life, January, 2012. The New York Metropolitan Museum of Art houses one of Adler's Centennial Coins in their permanent collection. Adler's also designed the perpetual silver football trophy awarded to the winner of the annual Thanksgiving Day football game played between Tulane University and Centenary College during the 1920s.Times-Picayune, November 24, 1925.

The second generation of Adler's Jewelry began in 1932 when Coleman's sons Milton and Walter Adler joined the company as vice-president and secretary-treasurer. The firm officially changed its name to Coleman E. Adler and Sons.Times-Picayune, November 8, 1931; and February 12, 1932. All three of the Adlers contributed regularly to local charitable causes, including the local Red Cross, the Tuberculosis League, Touro Infirmary, the Community Chest, and the annual Doll and Toy Fund.New Orleans Item, August 13, 1905; May 12 and June 12, 1909; February 14, 1911. New Orleans States, June 5, 1921. Times-Picayune, October 19, 1911; December 17, 1923; September 24, 1926; June 1 and November 26, 1930; February 16 and November 7, 1931; October 23, 1935; April 10, November 12 and 14, 1936; February 3 and November 17, 1937; November 9, 1938; July 9, October 28, and December 31, 1941; December 4, 1942; October 1, 1943; December 24, 1944; August 3, September 16, October 20 and 29, 1945; February 18, and April 9, 1946; May 18 and June 8, 1947; March 2, 1948; March 16, and November 11, 1952; February 6, April 15, August 6, September 14, 1953.

A New Orleans tradition

Items from Adler's Jewelry have had local favor over the years, including Vacheron-Constantin pocket watches and picayune frog spoons at the turn of the century. Later favorites included crystal oyster plates, sterling silver souvenir spoons, Oscar Heyman pieces, Marcel Boucher moonstone jewelry, Georg Jensen silver, and a series of souvenir plates by Crown Ducal.“Julia Street with Poydras Parrot.” New Orleans Magazine. October, 2011.

Since the 1930s, the store's gift gallery has hosted art and cultural events. The 1937 “Exhibit of Old Masters” featured works by Van Dyck, Reubens, Goya and others on loan from the Metropolitan Art Gallery of New York.Times-Picayune, November 15, 1937. Adler's hosted the New Orleans Garden League's annual flower show for many years, as well as a Steuben glass exhibit in cooperation with the Institute of International Education in 1961.Times-Picayune, November 10 and 19, 1961. The gallery has showcased gems from around the world, including the Maximilian diamondTimes-Picayune, November 23, 1948. and the Black Star sapphire of Queensland.Times-Picayune October 17, 1949.

In 1953, Tiffany and Co. of New York chose Adler's as its sole local representative.Times-Picayune, June 7, 1953. That same year, Adler's designed the official 14-carat gold plaque commemorating the 150th anniversary of the Louisiana Purchase presented to President Eisenhower.Times-Picayune, October 18, 1953.

Adler's regularly coordinated their window displays with events in civic life. The store created a special display for the local Association of Commerce's “Made in New Orleans Week.”Times-Picayune, August 1, 1913. Adler's displayed local high school students’ work spotlighting the field of social work in 1935,Times-Picayune, November 9, 1935 and created a window display of special medals awarded by the branches of the U.S. armed services for National Defense Week in 1937.Times-Picayune, February 3, 1937. In 1953, the New Orleans Chamber of Commerce awarded Adler's a plaque for the best store window display during "World Trade Week."Times-Picayune, May 24, 1953.

Adler’s today

Adler's Jewelry is now owned and run by third and fourth generation members of the Adler family. Coleman E. Adler II, the founder's grandson, is president of the firm. His children Tiffany, Mickal, Coleman III, and Mildred Ann Adler are on the executive team. The company creates signature designs for Mardi Gras krewes each year, and Adler's is the local dealer for Patek Philippe watches, Gien tableware, and Royal Copenhagen china.http://www.gien.com , www.patek.com, and www.royalcopenhagen.com In 2012, Adler's minted the Louisiana Bicentennial coin using its original press from the 1912 Centennial coin.Baton Rouge Advocate, August 7, 2011.The New Orleans Gambit. February 28, 2011.

The National Jeweler. May 28, 2014. www.nationaljeweler.com

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