The Past and the Future
Barthman, born in Germany in 1840, opened up his first jewelry store at 43 Maiden Lane after marrying the daughter of jeweler William Stratt and began working for his father-in-law thus entering the jewelry business.I In 1884, Barthman moved the business to the corner of Broadway and Maiden Lane and there it stayed for well over a hundred years. A century ago, this was the heart of New York City’s diamond, jewelry and watchmaking district. It had survived 113 plus years and became one of the oldest jewelry establishment in one location in the city.
At the time, a stroll through the store revealed not only an amazing array of jewelry and watches, but also a glimpse into the past. The decor was almost the same as it was at the turn of the century, dark rosewood fixtures, mahogany and glass cabinets adorned the showcase, a tiny balcony at the rear of the store served as an office that could only be reached by a ladder; a working pneumatic-tube system installed in the 1920s that delivered money placed in cylinders, shot up to the balcony office for change, but the story does not stop there.
The Legacy Continues
When the Barthman family was nearing retirement, they looked for a buyer who would respect the tradition that William Barthman had established. In turn, the Barthman family found Jerry Natkin. Jerry didn’t want to tamper with Barthman’s history, decor or with its success, so to keep up the tradition, he also protected the beauty of the exterior of the building by forgoing the use of security gates. A few of the original Barthman Family members stayed on to help with the transition, and Jerry Natkin ended up keeping all of the employees for well into a decade. It was his mission to restore the clock in the side walk with the help of Cartier.
Today, William Barthman is still synonymous with luxury. Two locations are open to serve in New York City. One remains near the heart of the financial district at 20 Broad Street, while the other is in its original location at 1118 Kings Highway, Brooklyn. The Natkin family and Barthman staff continue the legacy of providing exceptional service to the New York City community. “We have served the financial district for well over a century. We are only pleased when our customers are.” - Jerry Natkin.
While the legacy continues to remain strong, there was a surreal time when the future was uncertain due to the acts of 9-11.