Fred Leighton

Fred Leighton is an American antique and estate jewellery dealer founded in New York in 1959. It sells Georgian to contemporary jewels from its Madison Avenue boutique and is known for red carpet loans.

What is Fred Leighton?

Fred Leighton is a New York jeweller specialising in vintage and antique jewellery, with a boutique at 773 Madison Avenue and a store at the Wynn in Las Vegas.

History

The business was founded in 1959 by Murray Mondschein, who bought a Mexican arts and crafts shop called Fred Leighton in Greenwich Village and later took the name himself. It moved to the Upper East Side and, in 1986, to Madison Avenue. The company was sold in 2005, and its assets were acquired in 2009 by a group that included the New York jeweller Kwiat.

Products and positioning

The collection spans Georgian, Victorian, Art Deco and contemporary pieces, including signed jewels by houses and designers such as Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels, Boucheron, Suzanne Belperron and David Webb. Alongside antique stock, it offers signed Fred Leighton jewellery inspired by historic styles, as well as engagement rings and wedding bands.

Red carpet and film

Fred Leighton pieces have appeared on the red carpet since 1996, when Nicole Kidman wore one of its necklaces to the Oscars, and later at the Golden Globes and the Met Gala. Its jewellery has also featured in Marie Antoinette, The Devil Wears Prada and Sex and the City.

Why it matters

Fred Leighton helped establish antique jewellery as a red carpet staple and remains one of the best-known estate jewellery names in the United States.

Frequently asked questions

Who founded Fred Leighton?

Fred Leighton was founded in 1959 by Murray Mondschein, who bought a Greenwich Village shop of that name.

What does Fred Leighton sell?

Fred Leighton sells antique, vintage and estate jewellery from Georgian to contemporary periods, plus its own signed pieces.

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