[3] In 1954 he headed to New York to study dance with Alwin Nikolais, but decided to focus on jewelry design and in 1958 set up a small business in Murray Hill, Manhattan.
[3][4][5] Whilst studying dance, he worked part-time soldering and casting for a jewelry company, which gave him technical and artisan knowledge to support his designing.
[3] In June 1968, Bill Smith was made vice-president of Richelieu, at that time the second largest jewelry firm in America, after only two months with the company as their head designer.
[1][7] Bill Smith was one of six jewelry designers honoured with a special Coty Award in 1970 alongside Daniel Stoenescu and Steven Brody of Cadoro, Alexis Kirk, Marty Ruza and Cliff Nicholson.
[3] Alongside more traditional jewelry, he offered chignon covers and belts, including one in fringed suede fastened with an eight-inch gilded mermaid, and a range of architectural ethnic-style crosses, titled "Peacemakers", hanging from silk cords.