The retailer’s new collection of engagement rings and fashion jewelry is set with natural diamonds that are traceable via blockchain.
Steven Kaiser, Watch Industry Veteran and Beloved Mentor, Dies at 68
Kaiser, whose illustrious career spanned decades, died suddenly on Friday.

He was 68.
Kaiser’s career spanned decades, and his commitment to the industry was seemingly inexhaustible.
He worked with Baume & Mercier for more than 16 years, serving as both president and CEO during the course of his tenure.
In 2000, he sold his interest in Benedom Inc., a subsidiary of LVMH, to the luxury conglomerate and launched his own company, Kaiser Time Inc.
Kaiser Time did consulting, business development, executive recruiting, and mergers and acquisitions, all drawing upon its namesake’s experience in the Swiss watch market.
Kaiser Time partnered with dozens of companies over the years, becoming the go-to organization for any business that wanted to ingratiate itself into the luxury watch market.
In 2005, with the aid of his longtime associate and “veritable right hand” Diane James, Kaiser launch a new trade show, Swiss Watch by JCK, creating a platform for Swiss timepiece brands to enter the U.S. market.
After a decade, the two joined the Couture show as consultants, helping it grow its luxury watch exhibitor list.
In 2020, Kaiser and James made another career move, joining Kennedy Luxury Group, an Australian jewelry and watch retailer with 14 stores. Kaiser became the company’s U.S. president and CEO.
He also gave his time to numerous organizations, serving on the boards of Jewelers for Children, Jewelry Information Center (now part of Jewelers of America), Jewelers Vigilance Committee, and Jewelers’ Security Alliance, where he had been serving as chair since 2019.
In 2007, he received the Women’s Jewelry Association’s Ben Kaiser Award—an accolade named after his father—and just this past March, the JVC awarded him its Stanley Schechter Lifetime Achievement Award.
In addition to being a knowledgeable professional as well as friend and mentor to many in the industry, Kaiser was a devoted husband and father.
He was married to his wife, Vivian, for 39 years, and together they had two children, Jeff and Emily. He was also the proud father of a pet tortoise, Mikey.
Kaiser was an avid New York Giants fan. When he couldn’t attend games in person, he watched them at Blondie’s on the Upper West Side. A regular at the popular sports bar, Kaiser had his own stool.
Services are scheduled to take place this Wednesday, May 25, at 11 a.m. at Riverside Memorial Chapel, 180 W. 76th St. in New York City. Burial will take place at Sharon Gardens in Valhalla, New York at 1:30 p.m.
Shiva will be held Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday from 3-7 p.m. at 545 West End Avenue, Apartment 12A, New York.
In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting donations be made in Kaiser’s name to an organization near and dear to his heart—Jewelers for Children.
The Latest

The champagne colorway in her newest “Ombré” collection combines white and trendy brown diamonds, a departure from her usual vibrant hues.

Kosann partnered with the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, to create a set of necklaces inspired by the artwork on samurai sword handguards.

The upcoming show provides savvy retailers with the opportunity to stock their cases with best sellers in advance of the holiday season.

Carlos Jose Hernandez and Joshua Zuazo face life in prison for the October 2024 murder of 72-year-old Detroit-area jeweler Hussein Murray.


The brand’s first high jewelry collection, “Tempest” plays with movement while calling to mind the folklore of the sea.

Proceeds from its jewelry raffle will go to a volunteer-run fire and rescue group in the Lightning Ridge area of New South Wales, Australia.

Stuller said the recipients embody the company’s core values, which include community participation and personal and professional growth.

The “Mercedes Gleitze Rolex Oyster,” named for the British endurance swimmer who made it famous, will go up for sale next month.

Amit Pratihari was previously the managing director of De Beers India and Forevermark India.

Members of the Jewelers 24 Karat Club of Southern California will gain access to expanded services, resources, and connections, DCWC said.

Gomez’s jewelry included Tiffany & Co. drop-style earrings while Blanco stacked diamonds from Jacob & Co. on his wrist.

Diamond industry banking veteran Paul De Wachter will take on the role in January 2026.

Taylor Swift flaunts an Elizabeth Taylor-esque gemstone in promo for her new album, “The Life of a Showgirl.”

Its “Quantre Sand” capsule was made using a 3D sand printing technique borrowed from the automotive and aeronautics industries.

Four individuals have been charged in the “takeover-style” robbery of Heller Jewelers last month, and additional charges are expected.

“Radiance and Reverie” will showcase more than 150 jewels from Lane’s personal collection by Tiffany & Co., Cartier, and more.

The month’s birthstones, tourmaline and opal, complement the palette of autumn.

Smith shares the importance of looking at your company with openness and honesty to identify opportunities you may be missing.

Associate Editor Natalie Francisco visited Italy to spot jewelry trends at the September Vicenzaoro show and share her top finds.

Respondents were concerned about job availability and rising prices.

Its latest interim financials revealed a challenging first half due in part to production troubles at its mines.

Alexander Lacik has led Pandora since 2019. Berta de Pablos-Barbier will succeed him, the first woman to head the company.

Two men allegedly used counterfeit bills to purchase luxury watches and jewelry from a North Carolina jeweler.

The “Lovestruck” collection, designed with the Academy and Grammy award-winning siblings, is the brand’s first lab-grown diamond offering.

The brand, celebrating its 15th anniversary, has popped up at Market, a luxury fashion destination in Highland Park Village.