Back in 1867, before the electric light and the telephone, in the days of hoop skirts and horse cars, Daniel Low opened a little jewelry store on the corner of Central and Essex streets in Salem, Massachusetts. To this store came the gentility of Salem for gifts in gold and silver and fine articles for their own use—silver for their tables and jewelry for their personal adornment. Little did these early customers know the name ''Daniel Low'' would help carry the fame of their city around the world. Before another generation had passed, this same small store and its reputation grew so much that it was known from Salem to the most remote islands of the sea.

Nor did Daniel Low himself dream of this. He was simply a Salem jeweler. He conducted his business with sincerity and enjoyed the confidence of his patrons and the respect of his fellow townsmen. 

At the end of six years, Mr. Low found it necessary to move to a larger store. He relocated to the most prominent business corner of Salem, settling in a little section of the building that held the First Congregational Meeting House. On the second floor, Daniel Low overlooked Town House Square, where once stood the pump made memorable by Hawthorne.

In this new store, Mr. Low continued to prosper. He was a man of clear vision. He studied his business and was surprised to learn a large number of his products were used as gifts. "A gift" he reasoned, "must be of the best material. It must be honestly made. It must be daintily packed." Thus, he conducted business believing those who received gifts in boxes bearing his name should know that they were being favored with an article of the finest quality, purchased from a store of unquestioned integrity. 

The store’s fame spread. Folks from Salem and surrounding towns thought of Daniel Low when they wished to buy a gift or jewelry for themselves: A young man brought his blushing sweetheart to be fitted with her engagement ring. Then he came for the gold band that would symbolize so much to them. Later, their friends would come to purchase wedding gifts for the young couple. Daniel Low became a part of neighborhood life.

1893: The First Catalog

It seemed to Mr. Low that there was a large number of people who found it difficult to get to a reliable and well-stocked jewelry store. With this in mind, he issued a catalog in 1893—the first Daniel Low Year Book—giving his son charge of creating the catalog and directing its distribution. It was a success from the start. Daniel Low’s mail-order business was filling a genuine need. 

Since then, the Daniel Low Year Book has come to be a national institution. Hundreds of thousands of people in all parts of the country, and indeed the world, have come to depend upon it to solve their gift problems and to shop for themselves.

1995: Daniel Low Closes its Doors 

In 1911, Seth Low took over the company after his father passed away from a heart attack. Years later, Florence Low (Seth’s widow) operated the store in her husband’s place until 1955, when William Follet purchased the company. Follet would run Daniel Low until it closed in 1995. 

2022: Our Grand Re-Opening 

James McCluskey became the owner of the company in 2019 and reopened the store in 2022. He directs the business under Mr. Low’s founding principles of high-quality products and service. With plans to revive and pay homage to the Daniel Low name, the store still works with some of its original suppliers. The current gift and jewelry collections showcase designs with antique and modern features.