CIRO started in 1917 as a mail order company but in 1920 the first retail outlet opened. Throughout the 1920's business flourished and in 1928 the company went public and began a major restructuring programme, developng the product mix to include all areas of gold, costume jewellery and cultured pearls.

CIRO expanded further with stores opening in America on Fifth Avenue, New York followed by Beverley Hills and San Francisco followed by shops in the Middle East, Israel, Australia and latterly Germany, Austria, Monaco and throughout the world.

In November 1994 the UK business went in to Receivership but was bought by John Shannon a well-respected retail figure and it is now a family owned and managed business with a very loyal and established workforce.