The Western star’s 14-karat gold signet ring sold for six times its low estimate following a bidding war at U.K. auction house Elmwood’s.
Ostbye Celebrates 100th Anniversary with 100 Acts of Kindness
The jewelry manufacturer will spread goodwill in a new area each month, from elderly appreciation to the environment.

Minneapolis—Jewelry manufacturer Ostbye will celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2020 with 100 acts of kindness.
Founded in 1920 by Walter Ostbye and E. Gust Anderson, the company got its start in a sub-basement in downtown Minneapolis, later relocating to a 20,000-square-foot factory in a nearby suburb.
To celebrate its centennial, the company aims to complete 100 good deeds beginning in January and continuing throughout the year.
“We have selected 88 acts of kindness and are asking our retailors to help us finalize the remaining 12,” said President Craig MacBean in an email to National Jeweler.
The list of kind acts includes donating to charities, planting a tree, leaving a large tip for a server, and volunteering at a local animal shelter.
The company will choose a different area to focus on each month.
January: Elderly Appreciation
February: First Responder Appreciation
March: Simple Acts of Kindness
April: Community
May: Environment
June: Neighborhood
July: Children
August: Support Our Troops
September: Encouragement
October: Animals
November: Food Drive
December: Month of Giving
“We are humbled by the number of people, employees and customers past and present who have supported Ostbye over the years,” MacBean said in a press release about the company’s celebration.
The kindness initiative is a token of thanks.
“We have been so fortunate these past 100 years to be a small part of such a special industry.”
Ostbye will be sharing its progress via its social media accounts and encouraging retailers to join in on spreading kindness throughout the year.
For more information about 100 Acts of Kindness, visit the Ostbye website or call 866-553-1515.
The Latest

The discussion, "Rebuilding the Jewelry Workforce," will take place on Saturday, May 16, in Troy, Michigan.

The jewelry industry is reassessing its positioning as Gen Z reshapes the retail landscape and lab grown continues to gain market share.

With the trade and customer trust in mind, GIA® developed NextGem™ – on-demand training designed specifically for retail.

A matching pair of 18.38-carat, D-color diamonds from Botswana’s Jwaneng mine sold for $3.3 million, the top lot of the jewelry auction.


Sponsored by A Diamond Is Forever

The next generation of lapidarists are entrepreneurial, engaged online, and see the craft as a means for artistic expression.

Gain access to the most exclusive and coveted antique pieces from trusted dealers during Las Vegas Jewelry Week.

It was the second auction appearance for the fancy vivid blue-green diamond, which sold for $7.8 million at Christie’s Geneva 12 years ago.

Members of the U.S. Marshals Task Force took a 22-year-old man into custody. He was charged with tampering with evidence.

While the overall number of crimes was down, there were more incidences in which robbers pulled out guns, mace, or rammed cars into stores.

Jack Sutton Fine Jewelry is closing its store inside the downtown shopping center after 40 years in business.

Reena Ahluwalia’s painting of the rare red diamond is the first contemporary painting to join the National Gem Collection.

The price of gold has risen, affecting the number of pieces designers make, the materials they use, and how they position themselves.

Peter Smith gives tips on leading meetings, developing marketing, and making trade show appointments in the age of short attention spans.

The 11-piece “Medallions” capsule collection features five motifs: a crying eye, a heart on fire, a spiral, a flower, and a swallow.

From Gen Z’s view of luxury to “doom spending,” these are the six consumer trends to note this year.

The partners have announced the second cycle of the program, which has expanded to include a $25,000 student scholarship.

The owners of Staats Jewelers are heading into retirement.

Jeffrey Gennette, who retired in 2024 after 41 years with Macy’s, is the newest member of the jewelry retailer’s board of directors.

May babies are lucky to have emeralds, a gemstone admired for centuries, as their birthstone, writes Amanda Gizzi.

The new module allows retailers to plan, promote, and measure the success of events from a single dashboard.

NDC said in an open letter that Pandora’s statements about the carbon footprint of lab grown versus natural diamonds are inaccurate.

The diamantaire and industry leader succeeds Feriel Zerouki and said he will focus on being a “champion” for natural diamonds.

She wore our Piece of the Week, Glenn Spiro’s “Old Moghul Golconda” earrings, featuring fancy brown-yellow diamonds totaling 51.90 carats.

Two pieces were named “Best in Show,” one from the retail category and one from the supplier category.

The jewelry retailer noted resilience among its higher-end customers while demand softened for its lower-priced offerings.























