Angel Ross

1958

I, Angel Rozencvaig (to some Angel Ross or Jack Ross), am born in Marianao, Cuba. My father, Miguel known to me as Papi, is working alongside his brother Simon in the Diamond Industry as diamond polishers and cutters. All is well in the “Free Cuba” of the day. We prosper yet “Papi” and “Mami” feel that we have more opportunity in “America”.

1959

The family embarks on our “long” journey to New York. We enter the U.S. with a tourist visa good for only 6 months. Enough time to gauge our New York life in this English-speaking land. Papi enters the Jewelry scene in downtown New York City referred to as the Canal Street Jewelry District. He opens a jewelry casting shop with jewelry craft personnel and begins his jewelry manufacturing and distribution. Time is up – Do we leave and comply with the visa, or do we stay illegally? Guess what? We leave and go back so that we can retain the proper status for a permanent and legal move in the future.

1960

My father rejoins his brother Simon (my uncle). Simon has a casting operation in Downtown Havana. I recall two things from this operation and only two. One, is the large quantity of burnt-out empty cans with openings on both ends trashed into a corner. The other was an abundance of chickens running around their place of business. As a young boy I could not figure out what castings had to do with the chickens, or what the chickens had to do with the castings. And what about those empty burnt out cans? I later discovered that one thing did not have anything to do with the other. In addition to earning a living by selling jewelry castings, they sold chickens and eggs. The empty cans were the flasks used to create the castings. They could only be used once and the best cans to use were the condensed milk type. I miss running after the baby chickens.

1961

“La Revolucion” (Communist Cuban Revolution) our family plans to leave Fidel Castro’s dream and every Cuban’s nightmare. Several months later we were able to secure visas and transports to Israel, known as the “Holy Land”. During that time the United States had an embargo with Cuba which did not allow us to enter the U.S.A. So, the options for an immediate escape and a good future were left to immigrating to the State of Israel (founded in 1948). Papi is now in Israel struggling to make a living in Jewelry Manufacturing and business is a bust. Israel at the time was not a place to sell jewelry. He tried his luck in government service and became a fireman. Not being able to make ends meet to support a family that included four children, plans began to leave Israel to “the great city on the hill”.

1962

Papi leaves us behind in Israel to set up a business in America again and while sending us money. He goes to work at Barton’s Candy in New York as a chocolate mixer, while starting his beloved jewelry business on the side.

1963

Papi saves enough money to purchase the entire family passage to New York City and we are finally reunited. My aunt (mum’s sister) sponsors us in America. We rent a modest flat in Brooklyn. All four of us kids are enrolled in a modest private school. Spanish and Hebrew are our only languages. Time to catch up! And we do. English gets picked up with all of us by the time 1964 appears.

1964

My father is now in the business for a couple of years in Manhattan’s Canal Street area. He has set up again a casting and jewelry manufacturing operation. Business is brisk and we experience a middle-class existence. To assist in the family’s welfare and earn a little change, Papi sends us Instructors to teach my older brother Jaime and I how to polish jewelry, set stones and repair jewelry. Every night, after homework we toil for a few hours. We produce great results for the family. My mom would produce the wax at home, my father would cast it in the shop and bring it back to his boys which would complete the cycle of production. He then would sell the jewelry through the “Spanish” jewelry stores belonging to former Compatriots, Puerto Ricans, and Dominicans.

1967

We become citizens of the U.S.A and we officially change our old European last name Rozencvaig to a new modern American one – Ross. The Ross family is now officially renamed.

1970

My father continues to forge his concept of Jewelry Sales and Production. There are other competitors. His brother Simon arrives and has a different philosophy on how to conduct their business. Papi’s philosophy was to produce inexpensive rings (100 at a time $3-$4 each) yes, in 14k gold. Then pushing the product in mass to his wholesale customers. Uncle Simon’s philosophy was to have a large range of products and “take orders” and then sell them. Both ideas work until they don’t. While Papi’s way fizzled out for various reasons, it brought about new ways of making money in the trade. Uncle Simon’s way was steady and more controlled with less ups and downs. It turns out that having many small customers is better than having a handful of larger ones! Both men and their families prosper.

1977

Angel Ross arrives on 47th st. as “J.Ross Gold”.

1978

Jimmy Carter is President and chaos ensues in America. Inflation is ravaging all Americans. Iran’s new revolution takes American hostages, oil embargo and crisis. Disco is the rage. Gas lines a way of life. But what hurts the Ross family most is the increase of the price of gold. The business of selling gold jewelry slows down – price of gold doubles. No one can afford the new price. No more production in any serious way. My father gives me the unproduced gold and asks me to sell the scrap to get money in these hard times.

1979

I need money to go out and do this new thing… scrap buying. I figured that I needed $500 to start, I only had $150. This economic crisis produces a new idea… the purchasing of scrap gold or gold jewelry from the stores that we used to sell to. Everyone was selling their “old gold” and receiving generous returns due to the market price being so high. All the stores put up signs – “We Buy Gold”. I confront my mother and ask her if she can help me go into the “The Scrap Buying Business” and I promised her that I would not co-mingle any loan she would provide me with my dad’s web of finance. My mother tells me that money she has not but can give me some of her personal jewelry to sell to acquire the $500 I requested, I promise her that I would return this debt when I achieve my $5000 goal in profit. With this $500 and the casting facility turned into a Foundry, I am able to provide scrap smelting, purchasing and assaying. My father and I go to all the stores soliciting scrap. Paying the highest prices for a small percentage. We had “Cash” we had “Service”. I was aggressive and I had no expenses. I grew the $500 to $5000 to $10,000 and beyond. (My mom never wanting to take back her initial loan). We had the inside track with the entire Latin jewelry scene and became successful and so popular. They all called “Miguel” for business and got “Miguelito”, which was me to negotiate with. They got me to pick up and pay them at the store. They got me to sell the scrap to the “refinery”. My father taught me everything on the fly. I listened, I observed, I was hungry, and I evolved. While I was watching the scrap business, my father was eyeing real estate in the Diamond District.

1980

Ross Metals is born. The father-and-son duo names their business “Ross Metals” and goes on to become the most reputable gold buying business on the 47th street, skillfully smelting and melting gold in the same building where Ross Metals operates today.

1981

But first; my scrap customers are now requesting wire and plate in gold, silver and platinum. I oblige with the purchase of rolling machines to the foundry and I begin the “Wire and Plate” business.

1982

The wire and plate customers are now requesting findings and chains…so we do what I do best and oblige.

1983

Ross Metals opens its new digs at 54 w 47th street 1st floor. We are now selling wire, plate, findings, castings, charms, as well as chains and other jewelry related items. We also continue to buy, melt, and refine gold and silver. Papi goes back to manufacturing like in the old days before the “Carter” years.

1984

Our popularity now finds new clients beyond our 50-mile New York City radius. Our loyal Cuban, Puerto Rican, and Dominican customers create our base that now adds American, Jewish and Italian descent Jewelers.

1990

The Expansion. Ross Metals begins manufacturing findings, mountings, chain, wire, plate and solder. Now, a household name not only locally on 47th street but businesses from the entire tri-state area now consider it their one stop shop for all jewelry parts.

1992

Most Cubans are now leaving New York to sunny Florida. Some retire, some continue. But Ross Metals under Angel Ross continues in New York, and we grow and flourish.

Early 2000's

The 3rd generation begins. Ian, my son begins working for me every summer exactly where his father and grandfather started, melting gold and learning the refining process. After graduating from Syracuse University in 2016, Ian began “digitizing” Ross Metals and rossmetals.com was born a few years later. We are debuting our 30th edition catalogue with a huge assortment of products. Catalogues and Jewelry shows dominate the growth scene. If you wanted to grow your company that was required. I begin to see what the internet has to offer.

2005

Ross Metals online store opens. It takes us four years to create. Lots of bounty spent. Only 10% of our business is internet derived.

2013

My son Ian is interested in what I do. He begins to come in during his summer vacations from school. I put him to work and train in the dirtiest and physically hardest place in the company, which is the refinery. He learns to process polishing sweeps, melt gold and silver, assay and refine precious metals. He says “wow Papi, I love this! (imagine that?!)”. Those words would simmer in his psyche while going to high school and then Syracuse University. He gets his bachelor’s degree in finance.

2018

My son Ian joins the firm. He continues to learn the landscape and is fascinated by it. He takes the helm of the website and kicks it another notch. Internet is 20% of our business.

2019

By now we are producing over 1000 variations of chain styles. We are an Omni business, distributing Chains, Mountings as well as Findings and Mill Products in our brick-and-mortar store and online. My son is inserting himself as my top player in all things sales and distribution in our website, rossmetals.com. The coming of the next Cuban generation is here!

2021-2025

Internet sky is limitless. The internet is 30 percent of our business, and our brick-and-mortar store becomes the largest entity in the Diamond District. Our Original Leaders of Ross Metals staff since the 1980’s is still working together as a family, Karin, Sally, and Armida. The new generation is in training. Ian at the helm, Angel is always watching…

2025

A proud family. As Ian ushers in the newest version of the website, Ross Metals enters into a new era of becoming a nationally recognized and one of the most respected wholesale jewelry stores in the USA. My daughters, Tara and Ivy, are now also very involved in the business and serve as Head of Marketing and Product Design Consultant, respectively. Thus completing the 3rd generation as we continue to grow and serve customers from not only all 50 states but over 75 countries worldwide. Angel is still operating all facets of the refining department and finances of Ross Metals. Ian is hungry, smart and committed. The lion is unleashed! Internet is 50% of our business. Our brick and mortar business expands with new customers in the largest Wholesale Finding’s showroom in New York City.

2026 and Beyond

I pray that all our success continues and we carry on and provide the finest products with greatest service. I hope to see you all soon.