Our History
Fine jewelers Since 1854
A Chicago jewelry house, three centuries of silversmithing experience, and one small idea — first imagined in 1915 — that became an American tradition.
Add-A-Pearl, a division of Juergens & Andersen Chicago, IL
More than 170 years after Paul Juergens opened his first workshop, we remain the nation's largest importer of natural oriental pearls — and the sole owner of the original Add-A-Pearl.
1854 — 1893 · The Founding
A workshop on State Street
The Juergens family arrived in Chicago with nearly three centuries of silversmithing experience. In 1854, Paul Juergens opened a small workshop, and when fellow German silversmith Sebastian Andersen joined him three years later, Juergens & Andersen Manufacturing Jewelers was born.
The partnership survived the Great Chicago Fire of 1871 — which destroyed their shop and $37,000 worth of inventory. By 1893, the company had incorporated and moved into the landmark Steward Building at State and Washington.
H.P. Juergens went on to become only the third jeweler in American Gem Society history to earn the title of Certified Gemologist.
1871
The Great Chicago Fire destroys the shop and $37,000 of inventory. Juergens & Andersen rebuilds — and emerges stronger.
ARCHIVE A century of the necklace, marked in 2015 — one hundred years after the first pearl was strung.
Early 1900s · The Pearl Years
A tradition takes root
C. 1930s Original Add-A-Pearl brochures — "The Ageless Gift," "Cost-Less Plan," and the assembly guide for a complete strand.
By the early 1900s, Juergens & Andersen had established itself among the country's premier pearl houses — sourcing natural oriental pearls alongside legendary names like Tiffany, Cartier, and Van Cleef & Arpels through their longtime supplier, the Julius Raunheim Company of New York.
In 1915, the company created something entirely new: the Add-A-Pearl necklace. The idea was simple and powerful — start a girl's necklace with a single pearl, then add another for every birthday, holiday, and milestone until she has a complete strand.
It was an accessible way to build something genuinely valuable over time, and it quickly became a cherished American tradition.
1915
The Add-A-Pearl necklace is born. One pearl at a time, gift by gift, a complete strand built across a childhood.
Jewelry Created For
Chicago's most prominent families — the Florsheims, Kelloggs, McCormicks, and Walgreens.
1975 — Today · Carrying the Tradition Forward
A 170-year-old idea, still beginning
In 1975, the owners of the Julius Raunheim Company — longtime pearl suppliers to Juergens & Andersen — purchased the company and the Add-A-Pearl brand, bringing the tradition to a new generation. Today, Juergens & Andersen is fourth-generation owned and operated from 29 E. Madison Street in Chicago.
More than 170 years after Paul Juergens opened that first workshop, the company remains the nation's largest importer of natural oriental pearls and the sole owner of the original Add-A-Pearl — a tradition that has been bringing families together since 1915.
Today
170+ years on, the tradition continues — one pearl, one milestone, one family at a time.
ARCHIVE An original Juergens & Andersen Add-A-Pearl envelope and order form — mailed to and from Chicago.
An Enduring Legacy
Through every era, unwavering.
Since 1854, our legacy has endured through generations of American history — from the Civil War and the Great Depression to two World Wars, the Jazz Age, Art Deco elegance, and beyond. Through every era, our family's commitment to craftsmanship, tradition, and meaningful gifting has remained unwavering.
Today, with the fourth generation leading the way, Add-A-Pearl continues to grow while honoring the timeless traditions that made it an icon. Each pearl represents a memory, a milestone, and a lasting symbol of love — meant to be treasured close to the heart for generations to come.
A tradition that has been bringing families together since 1915.
From a small Chicago workshop to four generations of leadership, the Add-A-Pearl necklace remains what it has always been — an heirloom built one pearl at a time.