Sriram “Ram” Natarajan is now GIA’s senior vice president of laboratory operations and is based out of the lab’s headquarters in Carlsbad.
Manfredi, a refuge in Manhattan
Coming from California, I'm used to even the fanciest stores maintaining a laid-back feel, and now that I live in the Williamsburg district of Brooklyn, I find the stores have a similar quality. But when I head to Manhattan's Upper...
Coming from California, I'm used to even the fanciest stores maintaining a laid-back feel, and now that I live in the Williamsburg district of Brooklyn, I find the stores have a similar quality. But when I head to Manhattan's Upper East Side, it's another story—I feel out of my element amongst modern-day chic. But Manfredi's new New York City flagship store on Park Avenue, wedged between 57th and 58th Streets, reveals a cozy atmosphere that is easy to relax in. The store even has a guest book.
While the fine-jewelry store is very chic, fitting with the company it keeps, it's also very comfortable, exuding a ski lodge mixed with an upscale lounge feel. The lighting is soft as is the music (think Norah Jones). The store also uses a mixture of interesting materials to generate this cozy feeling; for example, the floor is made of both stone and leather.
It's not so surprising that the store employs different materials in its design since jewelry designer Giulio Manfredi is known to mix the type of gold used in his pieces. The cuts and shapes of the stones are eclectic too, as are the chains, with many pieces reflecting movement.
Luxury jewelry stores could just be the latest place to relax if they follow Manfredi's example. Watch out Starbucks.
The Latest

The one-of-a-kind collar represents the beauty of imperfection and the strength to rebuild.

Three C-suite executives, including former CEO Tom Nolan, have resigned as part of what the company describes as a “transition.”

Jewelers of America is leading the charge to protect the industry amidst rising economic threats.

The retailer, which recently filed Chapter 11, inked a deal to sell its North American business and intellectual property.


Target CEO Brian Cornell will step down in February and be replaced by the company’s chief operating officer, Michael Fiddelke.

The group met with the president's senior trade advisor earlier this week to express the industry’s concerns about the effects of tariffs.

As a leading global jewelry supplier, Rio Grande is rapidly expanding and developing new solutions to meet the needs of jewelers worldwide.

The pop-up will display this year's Tiffany & Co. Singles Championship trophies along with a diamond-encrusted tennis racket and ball.

The New Hampshire-based store has expanded to Boston, propelled by the success of Alex Bellman’s TikTok page, “The Truthful Jeweler.”

The latest incident happened Monday at a store in Oakland, California, continuing a pattern JSA first warned about last month.

The new aqua green New York Harbor Limited Edition II is the watchmaker’s second collaboration with the Billion Oyster Project.

Participants who attend any three Rings of Strength events will be awarded a special medal.

The investment company, founded by Dev Shetty, has acquired the struggling miner and its assets, including the Lulo mine in Angola.

Smith shares wisdom he gleaned from a podcast he was listening to one morning while being walked by his dog, a Malshi named Sophie.

The counterfeit Van Cleef & Arpels jewels would have been worth more than $30 million if genuine.

The MJSA Mentor & Apprenticeship Program received the Registered Apprenticeship Program designation by the U.S. Department of Labor.

Casio executive and watch enthusiast Masaki Obu is the new general manager of its U.S. timepiece division.

Barabash, Verragio’s client relations representative, was a vital member of the team and is remembered as being warm and full of life.

Originally introduced in 1992, the “Dot” collection is back with a capsule featuring five archival designs and three new creations.

Allison-Kaufman has received the honor for the fourth year in a row.

The company had a solid second quarter, with sales of non-charm jewelry outpacing sales of pieces in its core collections.

Its investment in micromechanics expert Inhotec will preserve skills essential to the watchmaking industry as a whole, said the company.

Nicolette Bianchi joins the wholesale provider with more than 15 years of cross-industry experience in marketing and product development.

Her new “Ocean” collection was inspired by Myanmar’s traditional articulated fish jewelry, with depictions of flounder, catfish, and more.

Longtime Casio executive Yusuke Suzuki is the new president and CEO of Casio’s U.S. subsidiary.

The full-day sourcing and networking event, slated for Aug. 18, will be followed by the fifth annual Mega Mixer Summer Soirée.