EditorsDec 22, 2020
Retail Rewind: The Year of Chapter 11MajorsJun 11, 2021
Alex and Ani Files for Bankruptcy
The jewelry company, hampered by a rapid expansion and several legal battles, is on the hunt for a buyer.
The Alex and Ani “Armenian Flower” bangle, which benefits The Armenia Fund. The jewelry company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection late Wednesday.
East Greenwich, R.I.—Alex and Ani filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection late Wednesday and is looking for a buyer, according to court documents.
The jewelry company, famous for its collectible, low-cost bangles, has been struggling under the weight of a rapid expansion and various legal battles.
The company’s estimated assets and liabilities both range from $100 million to $500 million, according to a filing in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware.
Mall owners Simon Property Group and Brookfield Property Partners are among its largest unsecured creditors, with each owed more than $3 million.
The company has entered into a restructuring agreement with debt and equity holders, looking to bolster its online and wholesale channels. There should be “little to no disruption” in operations, the company said.
Chief Restructuring Officer Robert Trabucco, who was formerly the chief financial officer of Signet-owned Sterling Jewelers, will head the company’s restructuring process.
In a court filing, Trabucco noted the company has suffered from “adverse macro-trends driving customers away from brick-and-mortar retail.”
Alex and Ani currently holds 74 leases, which will be under review as part of its restructuring plan. Approximately 25 stores are currently closed as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The pandemic took its toll on the company, exacerbating problems that took root a decade ago.
“Alex and Ani’s explosive growth in the early 2010s resulted in certain operational challenges as the company’s existing infrastructure struggled to keep up with demand for its products, and significant turnover in management disrupted key business relationships,” said Trabucco in a court filing.
Trabucco gave a rundown of the management changes, beginning with the departure of then-CEO Giovanni Feroce in 2014.
Shortly after, either voluntarily or by request, the company lost its chief financial officer, chief technical officer, chief strategy officer, chief digital officer, acting chief operating officer, assistant general counsel, and its vice presidents of transitional operations, retail, and wholesale.
The turnover led to “a significant loss of institutional knowledge” and employment-related litigation.
Feroce was briefly succeeded by Harlan Kent, whose official title was president, while company founder Carol Rafaelian took over the CEO position.
Kent was there less than a year before he departed and Chief Operating Officer Cindy DiPietrantonio stepped into the role for a brief period.
After that, Rafaelian was both president and CEO until her departure in 2019. Trabucco followed as interim CEO.
Related stories will be right here …
The jewelry company, famous for its collectible, low-cost bangles, has been struggling under the weight of a rapid expansion and various legal battles.
The company’s estimated assets and liabilities both range from $100 million to $500 million, according to a filing in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware.
Mall owners Simon Property Group and Brookfield Property Partners are among its largest unsecured creditors, with each owed more than $3 million.
The company has entered into a restructuring agreement with debt and equity holders, looking to bolster its online and wholesale channels. There should be “little to no disruption” in operations, the company said.
Chief Restructuring Officer Robert Trabucco, who was formerly the chief financial officer of Signet-owned Sterling Jewelers, will head the company’s restructuring process.
In a court filing, Trabucco noted the company has suffered from “adverse macro-trends driving customers away from brick-and-mortar retail.”
Alex and Ani currently holds 74 leases, which will be under review as part of its restructuring plan. Approximately 25 stores are currently closed as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The pandemic took its toll on the company, exacerbating problems that took root a decade ago.
“Alex and Ani’s explosive growth in the early 2010s resulted in certain operational challenges as the company’s existing infrastructure struggled to keep up with demand for its products, and significant turnover in management disrupted key business relationships,” said Trabucco in a court filing.
Trabucco gave a rundown of the management changes, beginning with the departure of then-CEO Giovanni Feroce in 2014.
Shortly after, either voluntarily or by request, the company lost its chief financial officer, chief technical officer, chief strategy officer, chief digital officer, acting chief operating officer, assistant general counsel, and its vice presidents of transitional operations, retail, and wholesale.
The turnover led to “a significant loss of institutional knowledge” and employment-related litigation.
Feroce was briefly succeeded by Harlan Kent, whose official title was president, while company founder Carol Rafaelian took over the CEO position.
Kent was there less than a year before he departed and Chief Operating Officer Cindy DiPietrantonio stepped into the role for a brief period.
After that, Rafaelian was both president and CEO until her departure in 2019. Trabucco followed as interim CEO.
Rafaelian started Alex and Ani in 2004, with its first store opening in Newport, Rhode Island in 2009.
Within just a few years, the company’s wire charm bracelets were a hit and more than 100 Alex and Ani stores popped up across the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico.
In 2018, Rafaelian and private equity firm Lion Capital LLP, then a minority shareholder, worked out a restructuring plan to prevent the jewelry company from defaulting on its credit obligations.
When Lion Capital increased its stake in the company in 2019, Rafaelian stepped down as CEO.
Prior to Rafaelian’s departure, the company filed a lawsuit against Bank of America in July 2019, accusing the bank of discriminatory lending practices against a women-led company and asking for $1 billion in damages.
The bank disputed the allegations and the case was dropped the following month.
The jewelry company also found itself in a complicated legal battle with Sterling Jewelers, which included more than a year of litigation and back-and-forth breach of contract claims.
That case was dismissed with prejudice in February 2019.
The bankruptcy case is Alex and Ani LLC, 21-10918, U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware.
Within just a few years, the company’s wire charm bracelets were a hit and more than 100 Alex and Ani stores popped up across the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico.
In 2018, Rafaelian and private equity firm Lion Capital LLP, then a minority shareholder, worked out a restructuring plan to prevent the jewelry company from defaulting on its credit obligations.
When Lion Capital increased its stake in the company in 2019, Rafaelian stepped down as CEO.
Prior to Rafaelian’s departure, the company filed a lawsuit against Bank of America in July 2019, accusing the bank of discriminatory lending practices against a women-led company and asking for $1 billion in damages.
The bank disputed the allegations and the case was dropped the following month.
The jewelry company also found itself in a complicated legal battle with Sterling Jewelers, which included more than a year of litigation and back-and-forth breach of contract claims.
That case was dismissed with prejudice in February 2019.
The bankruptcy case is Alex and Ani LLC, 21-10918, U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware.
Editors' Picks
Sponsored by
More on Majors
The Latest
SurveysApr 24, 2026
Mother’s Day 2026 Jewelry Spending to Top $7B, NRF SaysNRF’s annual survey found that 45 percent of consumers plan to purchase jewelry for a loved one this Mother’s Day.
TechnologyApr 24, 2026
TwentyFour’s Digital-Age Locket Is a Virtual VaultThe “Vault” charm, our Piece of the Week, expands on the memories that can be stored in a locket by connecting to your phone.
Events & AwardsApr 24, 2026
Hamptons Jewelry Show to Return in JulyThe open-to-the-public luxury jewelry and timepiece show, in its second year, is slated for July 23-26.
Brought to you by
Discover Timeless Treasures: A Showcase of Antique Jewelry & Timepieces in Las VegasGain access to the most exclusive and coveted antique pieces from trusted dealers during Las Vegas Jewelry Week.
IndependentsApr 23, 2026
Meet the Real Moms of Day’s JewelersThe jeweler’s Mother’s Day campaign highlights the women who work there—mothers, grandmothers, women who want to be mothers, and dog moms.
Weekly QuizApr 23, 2026
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
Supplier BulletinApr 23, 2026
JM® Shipping Solution: Smarter Shipping for High-Value GoodsSponsored by Jewelers Mutual
Lab-GrownApr 23, 2026
Charles & Colvard May Sell Assets for $1.5MThe proposed agreement follows the moissanite maker’s Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection filing last month.
Brought to you by
Las Vegas Antique Jewelry & Watch Show: Showcasing the Most Collectible Merchandise from Across the GlobeGain access to the most exclusive and coveted antique pieces from trusted dealers during Las Vegas Jewelry Week.
AuctionsApr 23, 2026
John Jacob Astor IV’s Titanic Pocket Watch Fetches $1MThe Patek Philippe for Tiffany & Co. timepiece Astor brought aboard the ill-fated ship sold for double its estimate at a Freeman’s auction.
CollectionsApr 23, 2026
Adam Neeley’s High Jewelry Collection Steps Into Salvador Dalí’s GardenThe “Dalí’s Garden” collection was inspired by a surreal dream Neeley had after cooking a recipe from Salvador Dalí’s 1973 cookbook.
IndependentsApr 23, 2026
Windsor Jewelers Names New Buying DirectorNatalie Feanny has been appointed to the role.
CrimeApr 22, 2026
New Mexico Couple Pleads Guilty to Selling Fake Native American JewelryThe pair falsely claimed their jewelry was made by Navajo artists, but it was imported from Vietnam.
AuctionsApr 22, 2026
Roberta Flack’s Jewelry Is Going Up for AuctionJulien’s Auctions is selling the musician’s fine and fashion jewelry alongside her clothing, gold records, and other memorabilia.
CollectionsApr 22, 2026
British Museum Curator Pens Book on ‘The Tudor Heart’Rachel King’s book dives into the history of the pendant believed to have belonged to Henry VIII and his first wife, Katherine of Aragon.
Events & AwardsApr 22, 2026
Here’s What Sy Kessler Has on Tap for Las Vegas The company will have deals on precious metals testers as well as the latest in lab-grown diamond detection technology and security.
WatchesApr 21, 2026
Coco Chanel Enters the Game with New Watch CollectionGabrielle “Coco” Chanel is a character in the “Coco Game” collection of watches and the queen in its first haute horlogerie chessboard.
IndependentsApr 21, 2026
Meet Jewelers of America’s 2026 ‘20 Under 40’ ClassThe annual list honors rising professionals on the retail and supply sides of the jewelry industry.
CrimeApr 21, 2026
Customs Nabs 1,500 Pieces of Counterfeit Jewelry Bound for NYCSeized in Kentucky, the packages include fake Cartier, Tiffany & Co., Chanel, and Fendi jewelry.
CrimeApr 20, 2026
Queens Man Convicted in Bludgeoning Death of Pawn Shop OwnerRodolfo Lopez-Portillo faces 25 years to life in prison after being found guilty in the March 2022 beating death of Arasb Shoughi.
TrendsApr 20, 2026
Beth Bernstein, Sonia Esther Soltani Pen New Jewelry Book“Jewelry Creators: Dynamic Duos and Generational Gems” highlights the relationships among 22 influential designers, brands, and gem dealers.
Events & AwardsApr 20, 2026
Atlanta Jewelry Show’s Spring Event Is Hitting the RoadThe AJS Spring 2027 show will be held in Savannah, Georgia, with future shows taking place in other Southeast cities.
TrendsApr 17, 2026
New (Groundbreaking) Floral Jewelry for Spring 2026Flower motifs are the jewelry trend blooming amongst the new collections that debuted this spring.
CollectionsApr 17, 2026
Edina Kiss’ Earrings Are the Devil on Your ShoulderThe “Devil” drop earrings, our Piece of the Week, are part of designer Edina Kiss’ new namesake jewelry line that she will show at Couture.
CrimeApr 17, 2026
FBI Issues Warning to Refineries, Retailers Due to High Price of GoldThe alert states that burglary crews are targeting jewelry businesses and details how jewelers and refineries can protect themselves.
WatchesApr 16, 2026
Cartier Brings Back the RoadsterThe “watchmaker of shapes” debuted the reworked version of the vintage sports car-inspired timepiece at Watches & Wonders.
IndependentsApr 16, 2026
Edge Retail Academy Updates Leadership TeamAs demand for jewelry retail coaching grows, the company has established a dedicated business coaching leadership team.
MajorsApr 16, 2026
Stuller’s Latest Mountings Catalog Is Out NowThe “Mountings 2026-2027” catalog showcases Stuller’s largest and most diverse assortment to date with more than 400 new mounting styles.
