Robert Limon, Inc. is a family owned and operated firm founded in 1950, with roots back to 1920. It was in 1920 that Jacob Limon, Robert's father, opened his own "trade shop", designing and manufacturing the finest handmade jewelry in platinum and gold for retail jewelers in the Washington, DC and Richmond, VA areas.
After twenty years of training and experience in his father's shop, Robert Limon, by then a well qualified platinum and gold craftsman who had completed the gem courses offered by the Gemological Institute of America, and had earned membership and the title "Certified Gemologist" in the prestigious American Gem Society, left his father's firm and opened his own trade shop and gemological laboratory in 1950.

During the next ten years, Mr. Limon developed a clientele of fine retail jewelers, at the same time opening his business to the public for gemological services (appraising, gem identification and grading) only.


During this period, also, he devised a unique method of grading the "make" (quality of cutting) of diamonds, and invented three instruments required to ascertain those grades. He was elected to the board of directors of the American Gem Society from 1959 to 1966, and 1975 to 1981, serving on the Diamond Grading Committee, The Appraisals Committee, and the Organization and Procedures Committee.

In 1960, Mr. Limon moved in to the jewelry retail business, buying a Washington store from Ferrucio Pini. Mr. Pini, a superb craftsman in gold and silver, had depended on Mr. Limon for all his customers' custom orders in platinum. At that time, Mr. Pini wished to retire and return to his native Florence, Italy, while assuring his clients continuation of the superior craftsmanship and ethical business practices he had afforded them for forty years.

In 1968, the firm was incorporated and moved to its present location at 7909 Norfolk Avenue, Bethesda, Maryland. Here, the firm continues to provide platinum and gold jewelry handmade to the highest standards of materials and craftsmanship, as well as restoration and repairs of fine jewelry. The firm specializes in the sale of diamonds cut to ideal proportions and finish, colored gems of high quality, high quality jewelry from other manufactures, and antique and estate jewelry, and provides accurate, dependable gemological services.

In 1977, Clifford F. Limon, Jr., Robert's grandson, joined the firm. He undertook several years of training and experience at the bench, is a Registered Jeweler, American Gem Society, and is now the President of the firm. Under his direction, the firm is continuing to maintain the highest standards of craftsmanship, selection of gems and manufactured jewelry for sale, and personal service to its clients.