About Us
Our History
The Kenyon Jewelers story began in the early 1920’s when two brothers, Bret and Leonard Kenyon Sr. traveled from N.Y State to Pittsburgh in search of careers in the clock and watch making trades. Before coming to Pittsburgh, the brothers, studied at the Bowman School of Clock and Watch making in Lancaster Pa. here they excelled and mastered the trades.
Upon arriving in Pittsburgh the brothers worked for others for several years, repairing watches and clocks. In 1924 they joined forces creating the Kenyon Brothers Co. Which opened its doors on Collins Ave. in East Liberty. Here the brothers worked strictly as a repair shop. The following year the company moved to Penn Ave. in neighboring Wilkinsburg where they took over the trade of the Herman Lindeman Company. Wilkinsburg was a burgeoning middle class community with a developing Main Street and a railroad station. Here the brother began to develop the store into a retail business heavily engrained in repair services.
As Wilkinsburg prospered so did the brothers, in need of help they called for their brother Lesley to join them. Lesley was a wiz at fixing and building just about anything. Lesley lived right in the store and worked on clocks but would fix umbrellas, radios, cameras or just about any thing.
In the 1950’s Leonard Kenyon Jr. joined the company after training in hand engraving and watch repair. Although trained in these hand skills Leonard’s real talent was for retailing and he began to help his father and uncle move the store toward a stronger sales driven retail base. In 1964 Leonard Jr. moved the store to its present location across the street and one block up from the old store. Here Leonard renovated an old bank building not only to house his premier jewelry show room but also building a spacious modern apartment for his family to live. Here Leonard lived and worked tirelessly developing one of the Pittsburgh areas premier jewelry stores, with a large selection of sterling silver, watches, bridal jewelry, a tremendous diamond trade, and a service center employing both goldsmiths and watch makers. Leonard loved this business and was extremely dedicated to his customers. He was loved and trusted by generations of loyal customers throughout his career.
Leonard retired in 1996 entrusting his business to two long time employees, David Virostek and Douglas Duffus. David and Doug are trained and experienced goldsmiths and have continued the great traditions of two generations of the Kenyon family. Kenyon Jewelers continues to serve the Pittsburgh and it’s eastern suburbs specializing in diamonds, handmade jewelry, general jewelry repairs and antique jewelry restorations.
