IndependentsApr 28, 2021
After 72 Years, This Philly-Area Institution Is Closing IndependentsMay 06, 2021
Harris Jewelry Closes All Locations
The jeweler will continue to operate online and via phone.
Harris Jewelry closed its remaining locations last month as the COVID-19 pandemic weighed on sales. (Image courtesy of Harris Jewelry’s Facebook page)
Hauppauge, N.Y.—Harris Jewelry has shuttered all of its stores in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, shifting its business online.
The New York-based chain, which caters to members of the military and their families, closed all 18 locations as of last month, according to a weekly alert from the Jewelers Board of Trade.
The retailer closed six locations earlier in the year, recently followed by the 12 remaining stores in Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, New York, North Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia.
“On or about April 11, Harris made the difficult decision to close all of our remaining retail locations,” the company said in a statement to National Jeweler. “Our stores were hit particularly hard by the pandemic, resulting in a steep decline in sales.”
The jeweler, founded in 1955 by U.S. Marine and World War II veteran Jerome L. Harris, will continue to operate online and via phone.
“For over 65 years, Harris has been providing military personnel and their families memorable gift- giving experiences, convenient payment options, and exceptional customer service. That remains our mission to this day,” said the company.
The closures follow a string of legal battles, including an ongoing complaint from the New York State Attorney General’s office.
Related stories will be right here …
The New York-based chain, which caters to members of the military and their families, closed all 18 locations as of last month, according to a weekly alert from the Jewelers Board of Trade.
The retailer closed six locations earlier in the year, recently followed by the 12 remaining stores in Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, New York, North Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia.
“On or about April 11, Harris made the difficult decision to close all of our remaining retail locations,” the company said in a statement to National Jeweler. “Our stores were hit particularly hard by the pandemic, resulting in a steep decline in sales.”
The jeweler, founded in 1955 by U.S. Marine and World War II veteran Jerome L. Harris, will continue to operate online and via phone.
“For over 65 years, Harris has been providing military personnel and their families memorable gift- giving experiences, convenient payment options, and exceptional customer service. That remains our mission to this day,” said the company.
The closures follow a string of legal battles, including an ongoing complaint from the New York State Attorney General’s office.
An October 2018 lawsuit filed by the state attorney general alleged the retailer marked up its jewelry between 600 and 1,000 percent and misled service members so they would sign financing agreements with high interest rates.
About 90 to 95 percent of all transactions at Harris Jewelry were financed through its “proprietary” financing, as per court documents. The service was provided under the name Consumer Adjustment Corp. USA, which was an “alter ego” of Harris Jewelry rather than an outside company, a fact that was “never clearly disclosed to the consumer.”
In response, Harris called the lawsuit “broadly inaccurate, baseless, and overreaching” and said it “operates in full compliance with the laws that regulate its industry.”
Though six of the eight counts against Harris Jewelry were tossed out in April 2019, one was reinstated on appeal. That count alleged the jeweler “operated a ‘credit services business’ in a manner that violated general business law.”
The company settled another lawsuit in June 2020 with the Tennessee Attorney General’s Office that also accused the jeweler of misleading credit practices.
A court filing stated that the jeweler misled service members into “believing that their products are an easy way to build and restore credit” and that the jeweler “profited significantly as a result of these misrepresentations.”
The terms of the settlement included $800,000 in debt relief and refunds to its customers.
Harris Jewelry neither admitted to or denied the allegations in the Tennessee suit, but said it hoped the settlement would put an end to the matter.
More on Independents
The Latest
ColumnistsMar 31, 2026
Q1 Clues That Reveal Where Your Jewelry Store’s Sales Are Heading These customer behavior patterns say a lot about how successful your jewelry store is going to be this year, Emmanuel Raheb writes.
CollectionsMar 31, 2026
Mejuri Adds Silver to ‘Puzzle’ CollectionMejuri’s popular collection of 18-karat yellow gold vermeil rings debuted in sterling silver alongside new “Puzzle” slider charms.
CollectionsMar 31, 2026
Buddha Mama, Ashley Longshore to Host Pop-Up in DallasThe Miami-based jewelry brand and the NYC-based artist will be in Dallas from April 9-11.
Brought to you by
Protect Your Customers and Your BusinessYou deserve to know what you are selling–to protect your customers as well as your business and your reputation.
SourcingMar 31, 2026
NDC Designates April 8 as 'World Diamond Day'The initiative invites those in the industry to share stories on social media highlighting the meaning and impact of natural diamonds.
Weekly QuizMar 26, 2026
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
SourcingMar 31, 2026
GIA VP Jillian Wolk to Take Over at Tracr Wolk’s first day on the job as CEO of Tracr, De Beers Group’s blockchain platform, will be May 1.
EditorsMar 30, 2026
Tom Moses Looks Back on His Decades at GIA Moses, who will leave the lab in May after nearly 50 years, discusses his start in the business, gemstones that stand out, and what’s next.
Brought to you by
Is This You? Every Jeweler Has This Problem; We Have the Solution.Every jeweler faces the same challenge: helping customers protect what they love. Here’s the solution designed for today’s jewelry business.
TrendsMar 30, 2026
Oscar Heyman Debuts First Spring CatalogThe new catalog, which showcases 35 one-of-a-kind pieces of jewelry, is a compliment to the company’s popular holiday catalog.
SourcingMar 30, 2026
Rio Tinto Hauls Last Load from DiavikProduction has ceased at the Canadian diamond mine, which has yielded more than 150 million carats of rough diamonds in its 23-year run.
MajorsMar 30, 2026
Tanishq Opens First New England LocationThe store opening marks the 10th United States location for the India-based jewelry retailer.
MajorsMar 27, 2026
Saks Global Has Changed Its Mind About Closing These 3 StoresTwo Saks Fifth Avenue locations, one in Florida and one in California, and one Neiman Marcus store are off the chopping block.
CollectionsMar 27, 2026
Itä’s ‘Yarí Whirl’ Ring Tells Every Side of the StoryIn the “Tesoro” version of the ring, our Piece of the Week, each side of the gold hexagonal nugget has a unique colored gemstone design.
WatchesMar 26, 2026
Q&A: Citizen Watch America President Jeffrey Cohen on Eco-Drive’s 50th AnniversaryCohen discusses the evolution of Citizen’s light-powered technology, the brand’s cross-generational appeal, and tariffs.
CollectionsMar 26, 2026
Lionheart Celebrates 13 Years of ‘Cassandane’The collection features symbols of love, luck, and light, based on the story of Queen Cassandane and Cyrus the Great of Persia.
Events & AwardsMar 26, 2026
NAJA, Instappraise Introduce New ScholarshipIt’s the third scholarship to be launched as part of the partnership to help appraisers advance their professional credentials.
Events & AwardsMar 26, 2026
JA Still Accepting Entries for 2026 CASE AwardsThe deadline for entries in the jewelry design competition has been extended to April 3.
SourcingMar 25, 2026
Rob Bates Steps Down as JCK News Director After 28 years with JCK, the veteran industry journalist is launching his own publication on Substack called The Jewelry Wire.
GradingMar 25, 2026
New York’s Natural History Museum, Wiley To Build Minerals DatabaseWiley said the project will give scientists worldwide access to the American Museum of Natural’s History renowned mineral collection.
CollectionsMar 25, 2026
Boochier Turns Flower Friendship Bracelets Into Fine JewelryThe “Flower Puff” collection looks to beaded flower friendship bracelets from childhood, turning the silhouette into nostalgic fine jewelry.
Policies & IssuesMar 25, 2026
Community for Ethical Jewelry to Host Bench Jeweler Shortage WebinarSet for April 2, the webinar will discuss how the jewelry industry can address the workforce gap.
IndependentsMar 24, 2026
Lisa Bayer, Illustrator and Beloved Member of the Muse Family, Dies at 64Bayer, founder of Lisa Bayer Designs, is remembered as “a bright light in every room.”
AuctionsMar 24, 2026
White Diamonds Shine In Christie's Jewels Online SaleThe highest-grossing lot was a Tiffany & Co. ring set with a flawless, emerald-cut diamond of 10 carats.
SourcingMar 24, 2026
AGTA Solidifies Tucson Dates For 2027-2029The next three editions of AGTA GemFair Tucson will feature a five-day show that includes Sunday.
WatchesMar 24, 2026
Christie’s Names New Senior Specialist, WatchesFormer Sotheby’s executive Tom Heap has taken on the London-based role.
CrimeMar 23, 2026
NYPD Looking for 3 Jewelry Store Robbery SuspectsThe group of women allegedly robbed two Catbird stores and one Gorjana location on the afternoon of March 9.
FinancialsMar 23, 2026
Movado’s Q4 Sales Rise As Demand Grows From Younger Shoppers, WomenMovado CEO Efraim Grinberg noted continued strength in the fashion watch and accessible luxury segments in the U.S.
