Lee Michaels Has a New 10,000-Square-Foot Store on the Way
The independent retailer will move its New Orleans store to a new location, slated to open in the fall of 2022.

The retailer announced recently it has broken ground on a 10,000-square-foot store at the Lakeside Shopping Center in Metairie, a suburb of New Orleans.
The new, freestanding location will be more than double the size of the current store, which is located inside the mall, allowing Lee Michaels to grow its market presence and add new merchandise lines.
The new store will have two entrances.
One will be for the fine jewelry section of the store which will include shop-in-shops of brands like David Yurman, Roberto Coin, and Mikimoto, as well as a bridal selection.
The other entrance will be for the watch section of the store, including a Rolex corner as well as Tudor and TAG Heuer spaces.
Lee Michaels said it expects to open its new location in the Lakeside Shopping Center, where it has been doing business for 25 years, in the fall of 2022.
Lee Michaels operates nine stores across four states, opening its most recent in Albuquerque, New Mexico, earlier this year.
The company is a member of both Jewelers of America and the American Gem Society, and is currently in the second generation of ownership and management, led by Ryan Berg, Scott Berg, and Chad Berg.
“We are constantly looking to innovate and grow. We have enjoyed our Lakeside location for the last 25 years, but it is time to enhance our customer experience and the environment in which they shop,” said Lee Michael Berg, founder and chairman of the board.
“We are excited not only for our customers to see the new store, but also for our sales associates, who are our greatest asset. This is just as exciting for many of them who have been with us for 20-plus years.”
The Latest

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.

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.

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.

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.

Led by the 6.59-carat sapphire, the sale garnered $9.7 million, a record total for a Heritage jewelry auction.

In his new role, sales specialist Billy Welshoff will focus on the eastern United States.



























