Kurt Wayne was born in 1909 in Vienna, Austria.  By ten years old he was placed into the care of a jeweler and he learned the craft.  As an apprentice he learned gold and silversmithing, diamond setting and even dabbled in watchmaking.  He married and shortly thereafter sought to move to the US and in 1937 together they immigrated to New York City.  Upon his arrival he began working for a series of jewelers before opening his business in 1945.  While on his own he built a vast customer base and his business grew nicely.  Wayne passed away in 1990.