Jewelry manufacturer B. A. Ballou has purchased the jewelry firm Nancy B. & Co. The acquisition was effective May 27. Financial details of the acquisition were not disclosed.

Nancy Brewer, founder of the Culver, Cal., jewelry design firm, best known for its gold earrings and colored stone jewelry, told JCK that discussions with Ballou, the 135-year old Providence, R.I., about acquiring her company began two years ago, when she first approached them to see if they would be interested.

“It’s time,” said Brewster, who is in her early 60s.

Brewster said Nancy B. & Co. will continue as “a separate company” of Ballou, and that she and several of her people will stay with it. She said she will be doing product design and that she expects to continue with the company for at least “five more years.”

The company will be relocated to Ballou’s Providence, R.I., headquarters, and be part of its jewelry division, headed by Michael Poissant. Brewester herself isn’t relocating, but will work from her home and travel to her company’s new site several times a year.

The acquisition, she said, provides the Nancy B. & Co. brand and products “greater resources,” in terms of materials, shelf stock, and delivery. It also will give the brand, which sells primarily to department stores and jewelry retailers, “deeper penetration” and the ability to offer more ‘dating.’ “Currently, we offer fall dating, now we’ll be able to do Spring, too,” she said.

She added that the acquisition has advantages for Ballou, too. “We are known for our gold earrings and beautiful colored stone jewelry, where they don’t have a presence.”

JCK