CARDOW JEWELERS
Our Story
Cardow Jewelers is one of the most storied jewelry houses in the Caribbean — a business shaped by heritage, innovation, and global vision.
The Cardow name was formed from a historic partnership between Caron and Dowling. The Caron family brought European elegance and cultural depth to St. Thomas; Claude Caron was the father of celebrated film actress Leslie Caron, and the family remains closely connected to the French community on the island today. Cardow Jewelers first opened in 1954, under C&M Caron, laying the foundation for what would become one of the most influential jewelry enterprises in the region.
In 1962, William Dowling Jr. and Claude Caron entered into a joint venture to open a perfume, gift, and jewelry store in a historic Main Street building leased by William Dowling Sr. The new venture combined Caron’s access to fine jewelry and personnel — much of it sourced from Italy — with Dowling’s entrepreneurial vision. The name Cardow was created by merging both families: “Car” from Caron and “Dow” from Dowling.
Although the partnership was dissolved shortly after its inception, William Dowling Jr. continued as sole proprietor, retaining the Cardow name — a decision that would define the brand for generations.
The Birth of Cardow
An Historic Home of Trade & Diplomacy
Cardow’s flagship store is located in the historic district of Charlotte Amalie, in a building dating back to the early 1800s. Long before becoming a jewelry store, the building served as the headquarters of the British Trading Company, functioning at the time as the island’s unofficial British ambassadorship — a center where trade, diplomacy, and international commerce converged.
The structure survived a series of devastating fires between 1804 and 1832, when much of the town was destroyed. When the lease was finalized in 1963, William Dowling Sr. personally led the transformation of the former warehouse into Cardow Jewelers — including the demolition of interior partitions to create an open retail space. In 1971, a second story was added, expanding the sales floor and solidifying Cardow’s presence as a Main Street landmark.
The seal outside the building reads:
“Dieu est mon Droit” — “God Is My Right”, the historic emblem of England
— a quiet nod to the building’s layered colonial and commercial past.
A Pioneer in Global Jewelry Manufacturing
William Dowling was not only a retailer — he was a manufacturer, designer, and innovator.
Initially sourcing jewelry in Paris and Italy, Dowling soon made a bold and visionary move. In 1974, he opened a Cardow-owned jewelry manufacturing facility in Hong Kong, employing up to 200 craftsmen at its peak.
This vertically integrated approach eliminated middlemen and allowed Cardow to offer exceptional quality at unprecedented value — a strategy so effective that even the CEO of Van Cleef & Arpels famously questioned how Dowling was able to produce such refined designs at such competitive prices.
Many of Cardow’s most iconic pieces were designed under Dowling’s direct supervision, including:
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The one-carat pyramid ring
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The reversible ring
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Early panther-inspired collections
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Gucci inspired puff mariner link chain – distributed not designed
At its height, Cardow was the largest jewelry store in the Caribbean, with ambitions so significant that the company explored bidding on Tiffany & Co. in the 1980s — a testament to its scale and confidence.
Visit Us
We work with the world’s best jewelers to create fine jewelry at a fair price.
Smart shoppers often stop in to speak to our trained diamond experts before navigating the promises of bigger and better. As a model of industry standards, we carry the largest selection of certified GIA diamonds and can help create the perfect ring in an hour’s time. There’s something for everyone starting from $19.95 in the Clearance Boutique to our world famous Virgin Islands watches. With our family name, comes an incredible customer service: unconditional 30 Day return policy, free one-year jewelry repair guarantee, diamond upgrade policy and a certificate of appraisal. As the only local member of Preferred Jewelers International, we also provide guarantees with a network of over 106 service centers around the United States and Canada.
Supporting Culture, Sport, and Community
Cardow gives back to the Virgin Islands.
The company:
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Helped support the passage of Bill 0411, establishing the U.S. Virgin Islands as duty-free
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Was a major sponsor of the America’s Cup Challenge, backing Peter Holmberg
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Sponsored the Rolex Regatta and continues to support the St. Thomas International Regatta
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Supported the U.S. Virgin Islands Olympic bobsled team
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Has been a long-time sponsor of Carnival, local schools, and scholarship programs
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Partners with community organizations, giving back a portion of proceed
A Living Family Legacy
Cardow Jewelers remains family-owned, stewarded by the family of William Dowling — including his godson Louis de Lyrot, with guidance from Master GIA Gemologist Odile Alby de Lyrot, and the next generation, Paul and Carolina de Lyrot.
The company continues to design and manufacture its own branded jewelry, drawing inspiration from international fashion trends while remaining committed to quality, authenticity, and honest value.
With team members celebrating decades of service, Cardow is not simply a store — it is a living institution, woven into the milestones and memories of generations.
Today & Beyond
Today, Cardow Jewelers continues its tradition of offering beautiful, high-quality jewelry at exceptional duty-free value, while evolving thoughtfully and remaining deeply rooted in Virgin Islands heritage.Our story is still being written — and we are honored to share it with you.