Lab-GrownSep 21, 2022
An Updated Look at the Lab-Grown Diamond Market: Size, Pricing, and More SourcingSep 21, 2022
A Day in the Life: Daniel Namdar, Fancy Color Diamond Specialist
Namdar joins a long line of diamond experts, but his love of the trade was learned rather than inherited.
Daniel Namdar, director of Namdar Diamonds, shares what an average day is like in his role and what he loves most about his job.
New York—The story of Namdar Diamonds began nearly a century ago in Italy, when Rafael Namdar got his start as a gemstone supplier.
His son, Sammy, headed to New York in 1984 to start his own company. His eye for opportunity led him to shift gears from gemstones to colored diamonds, a then-burgeoning market in America.
Now, those who know colored diamonds know the Namdar name.
Sammy’s sons, Joe and Daniel Namdar, joined their father to carry on the family business.
In a recent Q&A with National Jeweler, Daniel, now director of Namdar Diamonds, shared what a day in his life is like and what drew him to the family business.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
National Jeweler: Your family has a long history in the jewelry business. Why did you decide to join them?
Daniel Namdar: I never really had a calling for jewelry when I was younger, but the business was growing and there was potential, so I decided to do it.
I didn’t have a great passion for it in the beginning, but it developed a couple of years in.
You start learning more about stones and get an appreciation for what you’re doing.
In the beginning, it was a family business so it just made sense, but now it’s something I really love and enjoy doing.
NJ: How did you get started in the family business? What was your first job?
DN: I started doing all the grunt work, which I think is important for any business owner to do.
I did everything from licking envelopes to doing the shipping, picking up packages, and sorting diamonds.
When I started becoming more active in selling and buying, I showed that I had a good eye. The stones I was buying for the company were selling quickly, so I started transitioning more into buying and selling.
Now, I try to focus only on dealing with suppliers and customers.
NJ: Fast-forward seven years, you’re the director of Namdar Diamonds. What are your daily responsibilities?
DN: I oversee what kind of merchandise we’re buying, how we’re allocating our funds, and what we’re investing in.
I also look for new business, new clients, and new stores. I still do a little bit of everything.
I make sure our inventory and money are where they should be. I see how the market is going, what’s selling and what’s not.
His son, Sammy, headed to New York in 1984 to start his own company. His eye for opportunity led him to shift gears from gemstones to colored diamonds, a then-burgeoning market in America.
Now, those who know colored diamonds know the Namdar name.
Sammy’s sons, Joe and Daniel Namdar, joined their father to carry on the family business.
In a recent Q&A with National Jeweler, Daniel, now director of Namdar Diamonds, shared what a day in his life is like and what drew him to the family business.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
National Jeweler: Your family has a long history in the jewelry business. Why did you decide to join them?
Daniel Namdar: I never really had a calling for jewelry when I was younger, but the business was growing and there was potential, so I decided to do it.
I didn’t have a great passion for it in the beginning, but it developed a couple of years in.
You start learning more about stones and get an appreciation for what you’re doing.
In the beginning, it was a family business so it just made sense, but now it’s something I really love and enjoy doing.
NJ: How did you get started in the family business? What was your first job?
DN: I started doing all the grunt work, which I think is important for any business owner to do.
I did everything from licking envelopes to doing the shipping, picking up packages, and sorting diamonds.
When I started becoming more active in selling and buying, I showed that I had a good eye. The stones I was buying for the company were selling quickly, so I started transitioning more into buying and selling.
Now, I try to focus only on dealing with suppliers and customers.
NJ: Fast-forward seven years, you’re the director of Namdar Diamonds. What are your daily responsibilities?
DN: I oversee what kind of merchandise we’re buying, how we’re allocating our funds, and what we’re investing in.
I also look for new business, new clients, and new stores. I still do a little bit of everything.
I make sure our inventory and money are where they should be. I see how the market is going, what’s selling and what’s not.
NJ: What is your typical day like at work? How do you start your day?
DN: I start my day with a coffee. Our business is 24 hours because we deal with people in Hong Kong and India.
We’re very much in the service industry. The bulk of our business is yellow diamonds and that’s all special order. It’s not something a retail jeweler will readily have in stock. It’s something that when they get a call for it, they right away reach out to someone like us.
They ask, “What do you have in this? Can I get a price on that?”
So, a lot of the time, throughout the night, I’ll get texts and calls from different customers. I try not to work when I’m home with my wife and kids, so I write it down and then when I get to the office, I have a list of people to get back to.
A lot of the business is sending out quotes. People want to know how much it would cost for this eternity band or what they can get for this budget.
I have a list on my phone of who I need to get back to and [I] start [my day] by getting back to them.
Once my list is clear, then it’s a little bit of everything. The phone rings throughout the day and then there’s email.
When I have free time, I look through our goods and our shipments.
NJ: So, this isn’t your typical 9-to-5 job?
DN: No, it’s all over the place. This is definitely not a 9-to-5.
NJ: What is your favorite part about your job?
DN: The corny answer is to make people’s dreams happen.
The real answer is, and this is how to do well in our sector of the jewelry industry, finding value.
It’s all about finding something for a good price that maybe here this stone is not appreciated, but you can find somewhere it will be.
For example, in America there isn’t much demand for a chameleon (color change) diamond. If someone has a tough time selling it overseas, we can buy it at a good price, knowing that it’s rare. We can find a person who can appreciate its rarity. If we can make that sale with a fair but healthy margin, that’s very rewarding.
Whenever you create value and create a sale where there wasn’t one, that’s rewarding.
Related stories will be right here …
DN: I start my day with a coffee. Our business is 24 hours because we deal with people in Hong Kong and India.
We’re very much in the service industry. The bulk of our business is yellow diamonds and that’s all special order. It’s not something a retail jeweler will readily have in stock. It’s something that when they get a call for it, they right away reach out to someone like us.
They ask, “What do you have in this? Can I get a price on that?”
So, a lot of the time, throughout the night, I’ll get texts and calls from different customers. I try not to work when I’m home with my wife and kids, so I write it down and then when I get to the office, I have a list of people to get back to.
A lot of the business is sending out quotes. People want to know how much it would cost for this eternity band or what they can get for this budget.
I have a list on my phone of who I need to get back to and [I] start [my day] by getting back to them.
Once my list is clear, then it’s a little bit of everything. The phone rings throughout the day and then there’s email.
When I have free time, I look through our goods and our shipments.
NJ: So, this isn’t your typical 9-to-5 job?
DN: No, it’s all over the place. This is definitely not a 9-to-5.
NJ: What is your favorite part about your job?
DN: The corny answer is to make people’s dreams happen.
The real answer is, and this is how to do well in our sector of the jewelry industry, finding value.
It’s all about finding something for a good price that maybe here this stone is not appreciated, but you can find somewhere it will be.
For example, in America there isn’t much demand for a chameleon (color change) diamond. If someone has a tough time selling it overseas, we can buy it at a good price, knowing that it’s rare. We can find a person who can appreciate its rarity. If we can make that sale with a fair but healthy margin, that’s very rewarding.
Whenever you create value and create a sale where there wasn’t one, that’s rewarding.
NJ: If you couldn’t have this job, what would you be instead?
DN: I would be a principal of a school. I’m good at running the show and I like working with kids. It’s meaningful.
It’s something I have a knack for and something I’ve wanted to do since I was a kid, but the honest truth is in Great Neck, New York [where I live], prices are very high.
We live in a community where there’s a level that people are accustomed to living and teachers don’t make that much money.
I got married at a very young age. I got married at 23. I’m currently 28 with three kids, so money needs to always be coming in.
At the end of the day, I needed to do something where I could support my family and live the life I wanted to live.
NJ: It may be too early to say, but do you think your children will carry on the family business?
DN: It’s something that’s impossible to answer because our business is based in New York City and the climate in New York City is changing so drastically every day.
Really, I don’t know what’s going to be in another 15 to 20 years, but if everything stays the same, I’m sure my kids would like it.
My oldest kid is 4, so right now it’s impossible to say. His passion is fighting crime and saving the world, like the Avengers.
NJ: I’m sure if the Avengers have an opening, they’ll let him know. Lastly, if you could give one piece of advice to someone aspiring to be in your field, what would you say?
DN: The key to being successful in fancy color diamonds is learning to find value. You have to learn how to find X and turn it into 1.5X.
You have to learn who buys what, who needs what kind of merchandise, what sells, what doesn’t. You really have to stay in tune with the market and know what’s moving and what’s not.
If you’re good at it and execute properly, it’s rewarding and you can make a good living.
Editors' Picks
Sponsored by
More on Sourcing
The Latest
WatchesApr 10, 2026
These Watches Have Increased in Value the Most Since 2018, Says Chrono24The top-performing watch models may be surprising, with Rolex and several popular pandemic-era picks notably absent from the top 20.
CollectionsApr 10, 2026
Ophelia Eve’s Toggle Pendant Holds Your SecretsThe “Scroll” toggle pendant, our Piece of the Week, opens to reveal a hidden message, mantra, or love letter written on washi paper.
ColumnistsApr 09, 2026
Jewelry Demand Isn’t Stronger, Prices Are Just Higher Jewelers who misinterpret the state of the jewelry market risk employing the wrong retail strategy, cautions columnist Sherry Smith.
Brought to you by
Protect Your Customers and Your BusinessYou deserve to know what you are selling–to protect your customers as well as your business and your reputation.
MajorsApr 09, 2026
Tiffany & Co. Promotes Nathalie Verdeille to SVP, Chief Artistic OfficerIn her newly expanded role, she will continue to oversee the jewelry category, as well as watches, home, and accessories.
Weekly QuizApr 09, 2026
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
WatchesApr 09, 2026
Jacob & Co. Rolls Out Its Sequel to ‘The Godfather’ Musical Watch“The Godfather II” watch plays two melodies from the mob film’s score, “The Godfather’s Waltz” and “The Godfather Love Theme.”
Events & AwardsApr 09, 2026
JCK Announces Jesse Itzler as 2026 Keynote SpeakerOrganizers have also introduced the new JCK Talks Signature Series, as well as an offering of watch-focused workshops and lectures.
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.
WatchesApr 09, 2026
Oris Names New CEO, CFOThe Swiss watchmaker is changing up its executive leadership team as part of a restructuring.
CollectionsApr 08, 2026
Hearts On Fire Celebrates 30 Years By Asking a QuestionThe “What’s Your Signature?” campaign invites women to think about how they see themselves.
Events & AwardsApr 08, 2026
AGS Confluence Returns with AI, Sustainability SessionsRob Bates of The Jewelry Wire will also moderate a panel on the state of the jewelry industry during the virtual event.
Events & AwardsApr 08, 2026
TJS to Honor 2 Longtime Former Stuller EmployeesThe Jewelry Symposium will honor two industry veterans with lifetime achievement awards at its upcoming May event.
TrendsApr 08, 2026
Amanda’s Style File: April’s Brilliant Birthstone With their durability, brilliance, and beauty, diamonds are the perfect stone for everyday birthstone jewelry.
MajorsApr 07, 2026
QVC Group’s Latest Filing Calls Its Future Into QuestionThe retailer failed to file its annual report on time and said it may issue a going concern warning.
ColumnistsApr 07, 2026
Peter Smith: A Tip to the Post Office on Workplace CultureSmith recounts a recent trip to the post office that included an uncomfortable, embarrassing, and public exchange between two employees.
GradingApr 07, 2026
GIA CFO David Tearle to Retire in June John Cowley, who has more than 30 years of experience, is succeeding Tearle as the lab’s chief financial officer.
CollectionsApr 07, 2026
Nerd Out Over Gemology Geek’s First Jewelry CollectionFounder Erica Silverglide has designed 35 colorful pieces set with fluorescing gemstones for the brand's first finished jewelry offering.
CollectionsApr 07, 2026
Ukrainian Jewelers Highlighted In New Book“Ukrainian Jewelry | Contemporary Jewelry and Art Jewelry from Ukraine” features 33 contemporary Ukrainian designers and studios.
CollectionsApr 06, 2026
Fope’s New Jewelry Debuts Are Golden“The Golden Now” campaign celebrates the here and now with the brand’s signature styles and a selection of its new pieces.
MajorsApr 06, 2026
Kecia Caffie, Corinne Bentzen No Longer With Signet JewelersSignet confirmed that Caffie, president of Zales and Banter, and Bentzen, who headed Blue Nile, have left the company.
CollectionsApr 06, 2026
Historian Tanzy Ward Pens Book on Black Victorians’ JewelryThe antique jewelry dealer talks about the importance of including Black Americans in jewelry history and preserving their stories.
SourcingApr 06, 2026
Gemfields Reports $51M Loss in 2025Both its mines faced challenges last year, from operational issues to disruptions in the market.
CollectionsApr 03, 2026
Taylor Swift’s ‘Elizabeth Taylor’ Video Puts Jewelry Front and CenterIconic pieces, like the Mike Todd Diamond Tiara, appear in the superstar’s new music video for her song inspired by the actress.
MajorsApr 03, 2026
Saks Global Says It Will Emerge From Bankruptcy This SummerThe luxury retailer, which went Chapter 11 in January, announced Thursday that it has secured $500 million in exit financing.
Events & AwardsApr 03, 2026
JCK Luxury, NouvelleBox Partner on New Designer BallroomThe NouvelleBox ballroom will feature independent jewelry designers, including Lene Vibe, Wyld Box Jewelry, and Kiaia Limited.
CollectionsApr 03, 2026
Buddha Mama Brings Its ‘Moon’ Locket To DallasThe one-of-a-kind locket, our Piece of the Week, opens to reveal three hidden images to keep close to your heart.
MajorsApr 02, 2026
Pandora Opens New Canadian Distribution Center Amid Tariff ConcernsThe new facility was also designed to better serve its growing customer base in Canada.
