From tech platforms to candy companies, here’s how some of the highest-ranking brands earned their spot on the list.
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 “Khol” ring, our Piece of the Week, transforms the traditional Indian Khol drum into playful jewelry through hand-carved lapis.

The catalog includes more than 100 styles of stock, pre-printed, and custom tags and labels, as well as bar code technology products.

Launched in 2023, the program will help the passing of knowledge between generations and alleviate the shortage of bench jewelers.

The chocolatier is bringing back its chocolate-inspired locket, offering sets of two to celebrate “perfect pairs.”


The top lot of the year was a 1930s Cartier tiara owned by Nancy, Viscountess Astor, which sold for $1.2 million in London last summer.

Any gemstones on Stuller.com that were sourced by an AGTA vendor member will now bear the association’s logo.

Criminals are using cell jammers to disable alarms, but new technology like JamAlert™ can stop them.

The Swiss watchmaker has brought its latest immersive boutique to Atlanta, a city it described as “an epicenter of music and storytelling.”

The new addition will feature finished jewelry created using “consciously sourced” gemstones.

In his new column, Smith advises playing to your successor's strengths and resisting the urge to become a backseat driver.

The index fell to its lowest level since May 2014 amid concerns about the present and the future.

The new store in Aspen, Colorado, takes inspiration from a stately library for its intimate yet elevated interior design.

The brands’ high jewelry collections performed especially well last year despite a challenging environment.

The collection marks the first time GemFair’s artisanal diamonds will be brought directly to consumers.

The initial charts are for blue, teal, and green material, each grouped into three charts categorized as good, fine, and extra fine.

The new tool can assign the appropriate associate based on the client or appointment type and automate personalized text message follow-ups.

Buyers are expected to gravitate toward gemstones that have a little something special, just like last year.

Endiama and Sodiam will contribute money to the marketing of natural diamonds as new members of the Natural Diamond Council.

The retailer operates more than 450 boutiques across 45 states, according to its website.

The new members’ skills span communications, business development, advocacy, and industry leadership.

The jeweler’s 2026 Valentine’s Day campaign, “Celebrating Love Stories Since 1837,” includes a short firm starring actress Adria Arjona.

The new features include interactive flashcards and scenario-based roleplay with AI tools.

Family-owned jewelry and watch retailer Deutsch & Deutsch has stores in El Paso, Laredo, McAllen, and Victoria.

The Italian luxury company purchased the nearly 200-year-old Swiss watch brand from Richemont.

Micro-set with hundreds of diamonds, these snowflake earrings recreate “winter’s most elegant silhouette,” and are our Piece of the Week.

Ella Blum was appointed to the newly created role.























