IndependentsMar 08, 2022
Day’s Jewelers Announces New VP FinanceSourcingMar 09, 2022
Joe Menzie to Retire After Nearly 5 Decades in the Industry
But his eponymous gemstone business will carry on under new owner Nash James Enterprises.
Industry veteran Joe Menzie will retire at the end of the month. Starting April 1, Nash James Enterprises will become the owner of Joseph M. Menzie Inc. (Image courtesy Menzie.com)
New York—Longtime industry veteran and fine gemstone specialist Joe Menzie will retire at the end of the month, but he won’t be leaving the trade altogether.
Menzie started in the industry in 1973, leaving a job as a social worker in Yonkers to begin his jewelry career at his grandfather’s fine gemstone business.
“Back then, there were only about 10 guys my age in the business. Everybody else was much older,” he told National Jeweler in a recent interview.
He left his grandfather’s company to run the gemstone division for a Swiss company called Golay Buchel in the early 1980s prior to opening his own company.
In addition to providing fine gemstones to the industry, Joseph Menzie Inc. also performs appraisals, sells estate jewelry, offers stone cutting and lapidary services, and creates custom jewelry.
During his career, Menzie was vital in opening gemstone markets in Korea, Dubai, and China.
He served as president of the International Colored Gemstone Association from 2003-2007 and was also on the ICA board for more than a decade. In 2013, the organization honored him with its Lifetime Achievement Award.
He was also a founder of think tank New York Jewelers Group, which has been around for more than two decades and continues today.
One of the biggest changes to the industry since he started, Menzie noted, is the digital aspect. Among other things, it has decreased the time and money spent shipping items to clients now that trade members can show them digital images of a product.
“Before, we would use language and descriptive vocabulary to talk about stones, and we still do that, don’t get me wrong. But now everybody wants to see a picture of something first before we ship it. I think, as we do better with digitalization and these types of communication tools (like Zoom), it’s going to really change it up. For the better.”
Menzie said he’s had the timing of his retirement planned for at least the past eight years, picking it to coincide with several factors: his birthday, the lease ending on his office, and a favorable real estate market for sellers so he can sell his apartment at a profit.
But even as he retires, his business isn’t coming to an end.
Starting April 1, Nash James Enterprises will become the owner of Joseph M. Menzie Inc.
Menzie said Nash James owner Bryan Aderhold, who already operates out of the same office space, had always been the person to whom he wanted to leave his company.
“He’s super at what he does. I have complete faith in him, and all my salesmen like him. He’s very service-oriented, like I was. He’s very knowledgeable. He’s got good inventory.”
He also noted Aderhold’s strength in making his business present in the digital space and across social media channels.
Menzie will stay on through the end of the year to help with the transition and introduce Nash James to his accounts.
“When I formed Nash James Enterprises in 2016, I was starting from scratch with not much more than a vision and a passion for colored gemstones. Joe offered me a place to operate from and has taught me a lot about the business over these past few years,” Aderhold said.
“With a similar business model and approach, we are excited to incorporate Joseph M. Menzie Inc. into our operations, and we look forward to continuing Joe’s legacy as a provider of colored gemstone solutions for our clients and partners. It’s an honor and a privilege, and I’m excited to carry the torch for this industry legend, mentor, and friend.”
Menzie said he’ll still be around the industry with a few projects, like marketing and promoting colored stones to consumers to make them a “demand item” and working with overseas manufacturers to establish Permanent International Jewelry Exhibitions in the U.S., set up in response to the challenges COVID-19 brought and offering permanent spaces for them to have goods stored and displayed to allow purchasing to happen without the necessity of travel.
He also will continue the trips to gemstone source regions he started a few years ago through a separate company, Gemstone Expeditions. This year, it will include a trip to Montana sapphire mines and California’s Pala mine, with international trips eventually coming back online.
“I had a good run. I made a lot of friends in the industry,” Menzie said. “I always tried to tell the truth and be ethical, so I can walk around with my head held high. And I have a lot of respect from my peers, which is something you can’t buy. You have to just earn it.”
More on Sourcing
The Latest
CrimeFeb 27, 2026
Man Charged in Murders of Father, Son Jewelers in ChicagoChicago police and members of the U.S. Marshals Service tracked down the 35-year-old suspect earlier this week in St. Louis.
MajorsFeb 27, 2026
Jewelers Mutual to Donate $10M to Savannah College of Art and DesignA 10-year alliance has also begun to address the shortage of bench jewelers through scholarships, enhanced programs, and updated equipment.
CollectionsFeb 27, 2026
Renato Cipullo Turns Gold into HardstonesThe “Splendente” collection has evolved to feature hardstone letter pendants, including our Piece of the Week, the onyx “R.”
Brought to you by
Is This You? Every Jeweler Has This Problem; We Have the Solution.Every jeweler faces the same challenge: helping customers protect what they love. Here’s the solution designed for today’s jewelry business.
AuctionsFeb 26, 2026
Noonans to Auction Lady Wardington’s JewelryThe jewelry collection belonged to “one of society's most glamorous and beautiful women of the mid-20th century,” said the auction house.
Weekly QuizFeb 26, 2026
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
ColumnistsFeb 26, 2026
Practical Ways Jewelers Can Leverage AI in 2026Emmanuel Raheb discusses the rise of “GEO” and the importance of having well-written, quality content on your website.
CrimeFeb 26, 2026
Three Sentenced in California Jewelry HeistEach received around four years for burglarizing a jewelry store and a coffee shop in Simi Valley, California, last May.
Brought to you by
DCA Enters a New Chapter in Jewelry EducationWith refreshed branding, a new website, updated courses, and a pathway for growth, DCA is dedicated to supporting retail staff development.
Events & AwardsFeb 26, 2026
GIA Names 2026 Jewelry Design Contest Winner, Retires Annual AwardCatherine Aulick, a GIA graduate, received the ninth and final Gianmaria Buccellati Foundation Award for Excellence in Jewelry Design.
TrendsFeb 25, 2026
Engagement Ring Trends 2026: What’s In, and WhyWe asked a jewelry historian, designer, bridal director, and wedding expert what’s trending in engagement rings. Here’s what they said.
SourcingFeb 25, 2026
7 Trends That Could Define the Diamond Industry’s FutureExperts from India weigh in the politics, policies, and market dynamics for diamantaires to monitor in 2026 and beyond.
EditorsFeb 25, 2026
Q&A: Brilliant Earth’s CEO on the New Beverly Hills StoreBeth Gerstein discusses the vibe of the new store, what customers want when fine jewelry shopping today, and the details of “Date Night.”
PodcastsFeb 25, 2026
Episode 2: Jewelry Trends & Does the Red Carpet Matter?Are arm bands poised to make a comeback? Has red-carpet jewelry become boring? Find out on the second episode of the “My Next Question” podcast.
WatchesFeb 25, 2026
Private Equity Firms Write Down Value of Breitling, Report SaysThe Swiss watchmaker is battling declining sales amid a rapid retail expansion, according to a Financial Times report.
CollectionsFeb 25, 2026
Rahaminov Diamonds’ New Campaign Honors Its MatriarchThe campaign celebrates Giustina Pavanello Rahaminov, the co-founder’s wife and matriarch of the family-owned brand, for her 88th birthday.
IndependentsFeb 25, 2026
Borsheims Names 2025 ‘Ike-It’ Award WinnerRachel Bennett, a senior jeweler who has been with Borsheims since 2004, earned the award.
Policies & IssuesFeb 24, 2026
IEEPA Tariffs Terminated, New 10% Tariff Already ImposedAfter the Supreme Court struck down the IEEPA tariffs, President Trump imposed a 10 percent tax on almost all imports via a different law.
IndependentsFeb 24, 2026
Sherry Smith Now Principal Partner at The Retail SmithsThe industry veteran, who was with The Edge Retail Academy for 14 years, joins her husband at the company he founded in 2022.
IndependentsFeb 24, 2026
Yafa Signed Jewels to Open Store in MiamiThe vintage signed jewelry retailer chose Miami due to growing client demand in the city and the greater Latin American region.
WatchesFeb 24, 2026
Chrono24 Names New VP, U.S. General ManagerFormer Flight Club executive Jin Lee will bring his experience from the sneaker world to the pre-owned watch marketplace.
SourcingFeb 23, 2026
Designer Eddie Sakamoto, a Humble Artist, Dies at 72Sakamoto, who died in mid-January following a sudden illness, is remembered for his humility and his masterful, architectural designs.
Events & AwardsFeb 23, 2026
NYCJAOS Announces Four-Day Spring ShowThe April event will feature a new VIP shopping day requiring a special ticket.
TrendsFeb 23, 2026
Dua Lipa Is Bulgari’s New AmbassadorBulgari chose the British-Albanian singer-songwriter for her powerful and enduring voice in contemporary culture, the jeweler said.
Policies & IssuesFeb 20, 2026
Supreme Court Rules Against Most of President Trump’s TariffsIn a 6-3 ruling, the court said the president exceeded his authority when imposing sweeping tariffs under IEEPA.
ColumnistsFeb 20, 2026
Peter Smith: Happiness, Cavemen, and Jewelry SalesSmith encourages salespeople to ask customers questions that elicit the release of oxytocin, the brain’s “feel-good” chemical.
MajorsFeb 20, 2026
Jewelers Vigilance Committee Names Julie Yoakum Board ChairJVC also announced the election of five new board members.
CollectionsFeb 20, 2026
Boucheron’s ‘Faisceaux’ Brooch Heads to V&A MuseumThe brooch, our Piece of the Week, shows the chromatic spectrum through a holographic coating on rock crystal.
