GENERATION OF GEMS

Early in 1837, Elijah Peacock and his wife, Rebecca Haylock, immigrated to Chicago from the Isle of Chatteris, Cambridgeshire, England. Soon after arriving Peacock opened the House of Peacock on Lake Street, a jewelry store that still stands as the oldest and most enduring retailer in Chicago’s history.

Elijah eventually handed control of the company to his son, Charles Daniel, who renamed it C.D. Peacock, and subsequent generations of Peacocks ran the company for well more than a century. The company eventually fell on hard times under new ownership and was slated to shut down in 1993 when jewelry industry veteran Seymour Holtzman took ownership and revived CD Peacock with the same multi-generational, family-owned vision of its founder and original owner.

Seymour’s son, Steven Holtzman, a watch industry veteran, joined CD Peacock. In 2022 he assumed the role of Vice Chairman. Steven’s daughter, Chelsea Holtzman Lawrence, joined CD Peacock in 2017 as Vice President of Communications and Marketing.

“When my father called and asked me to join the business, my wife and I, along with our youngest daughter, were living in Switzerland,” Steven says. “At the time my eldest daughter, Chelsea, was already working for CD Peacock. As I considered joining the company and relocating, I realized that I was not simply being asked to build a business, but to carry on a legacy, much like the Peacock family had done before ours.”

Chelsea Holtzman Lawrence’s husband, Brandon Lawrence, worked with CD Peacock in 2016 when her grandfather, Seymour, brought him in to redesign the company’s online presence and marketing.

“I was drawn to the opportunity to learn from my grandfather’s extensive history in the industry and my husband’s ability to bridge that into current technology,” Chelsea says. “I knew it was a special opportunity to have multiple generations of the family working together to elevate the company.”

Steven has extensive experience in the watch industry, having been involved in sales, manufacturing, distribution, the creation of his own brand, and collecting high-end timepieces for most of his life.

“The world of luxury has always fascinated me, and I find jewelry complements watches perfectly,” he says. “Like watches, I greatly admire the artistry and dedication of jewelry craftsmen, and I appreciate the beauty of a perfectly conceived piece—few things are as elegant as flawless jewelry.”

“The first time I experienced a true reverence for quality jewelry was when I was planning my wedding. My engagement ring belonged to my mother-in-law, and it has always felt like I’m carrying a piece of family with me,” Chelsea says. “Jewelry and watches are life milestones that carry memories, which is why I feel so honored when clients allow us the opportunity to be part of their story.”

CD Peacock plans on opening a new flagship Mansion at Oakbrook Center in 2024, which Steven says is a testament to the company’s commitment and perseverance. He says CD Peacock has always been a part of Chicago and plans to continue that tradition.

Furthering its commitment to Chicago, Chelsea spearheaded and manages the multi-year partnership as the Official Jeweler of the Chicago Cubs, which includes the naming rights to Wrigley Field’s Premier Entrance and sponsorship of the Cubs’ Player of the Month Award.

“It’s both awe inspiring and humbling to be entrusted with the responsibility of preserving CD Peacock. Chelsea and I, along with the rest of the family working in the business, do not take this responsibility lightly,” Steven says. “Overseeing CD Peacock is important to our family, but it is also integral to our multi-generational clients.”

“It’s incredible to work with my father and learn from his years in the industry,” says Chelsea. “My father is someone who just genuinely loves timepieces and jewelry, and that kind of passion is contagious.”

Visit CD Peacock at cdpeacock.com.