Jay Strongwater began jewellery making in 1981 while he was studying at the Rhode Island School of Design. After everyone raved about a necklace he had made for his mother, he took a selection of samples to some of New York?s department stores, and the business grew from there.

His designs have been seen on magazine covers and jewellery counters across the USA.

Home furnishings began with a jewel-encrusted picture frame he created in 1995 using items from his jewellery collection and by 1998, Jewels for the Home had grown bigger than his fashion business.