The Garfield Legacy
From a King Street storefront to a century-long institution — the story of how a family became synonymous with the Lowcountry's finest jewelry.
Chapter One
In 1922, Louis Garfield established Garfield Jewelry Company on King Street — in the heart of a city that had been building things to last for two centuries. He chose his address wisely: King Street was then, as it is now, Charleston's beating commercial heart.
Louis understood that a jeweler's most important commodity wasn't gold or diamonds — it was trust. He built his business on the straightforward principle that every customer deserved honest guidance, unhurried time, and craftsmanship they could hand to their grandchildren.
That principle hasn't changed in 103 years.
The Chronicle
Louis Garfield opens Garfield Jewelry Company in the heart of Charleston's commercial district. The Lowcountry's newest jeweler quickly earns a reputation for honest pricing and exceptional craft.
Louis's son Allen completes a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration at The Citadel — the same institution whose cadets would become some of Garfield's most devoted customers for generations to come.
Allen earns a Juris Doctor from the University of South Carolina School of Law. He begins a solo law practice — while simultaneously stepping in to help his father at the jewelry store. The trade was already in his blood.
After the birth of his third child, Allen phases out his law practice to devote himself entirely to the family business. His energy and vision would transform a well-loved local shop into a Lowcountry household name — with multiple locations across Charleston County.
Under Allen's leadership, Garfield Jewelers grows to multiple locations in West Ashley, James Island, and North Charleston. The family name becomes synonymous with trusted, personal jewelry service across the entire region.
The Garfield family continues its legacy at 1711 Savannah Hwy in West Ashley — the same unhurried, no-pressure approach. New technology, the same timeless values. A third generation keeping what the first generation built.
In Memory
Allen Garfield — Citadel graduate, Army Captain, musician with the Charleston Symphony Orchestra, and the man who built a beloved jewelry company into a Lowcountry institution — passed in June 2025 at the age of 90. His nearly 50 years of dedication to the craft, and to the people of Charleston, left a mark that no stone can measure.
"He single-handedly built a highly successful enterprise — a local household name." — Obituary, Post and Courier
What We Believe
01
We tell you what a piece is worth — not what we need to say to make a sale. After 103 years, our reputation is the only inventory that truly matters.
02
Browse for an hour or five minutes. Ask every question you have. Come back three times before deciding. The right piece is worth finding at your own pace.
03
Our on-site jeweler doesn't just sell jewelry — they make it, repair it, and restore it. Every piece that leaves our hands is built to survive a century, like the business itself.
04
We've always believed extraordinary jewelry isn't a privilege of the wealthy. Any size, any shape, any price — the Garfield philosophy since Louis first opened his doors in 1922.
We're open Tuesday through Saturday at 1711 Savannah Highway, West Ashley. Drop in anytime — no appointment necessary.