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
SurveysApr 03, 2025
2025 Retail Sales to Grow More Slowly Amid ‘Uncertainty,’ Says NRFThe National Retail Federation expects retail sales growth to return to pre-pandemic levels as consumers continue to face inflation.
TrendsApr 03, 2025
Tallulah Willis Imbues Antique Engagement Ring With MagicThe 4-carat, old mine brilliant-cut diamond engagement ring was co-designed by Willis and New York City-based brand Karina Noel.
CollectionsApr 03, 2025
Buccellati to Open Immersive Exhibition in MilanThe multisensory experience, open April 8-13, will feature the brand’s silver creations among dream-like scenes of natural landscapes.
Brought to you by
The Heart of the Industry: Giving Bench Jewelers the Recognition They DeserveBench jewelers spend years honing their skills, Jewelers of America’s Certification validates their talents.
Policies & IssuesApr 03, 2025
Jewelers of America to Hold Webinar on TariffsThe virtual event will take place April 7 at 3 p.m.
Weekly QuizApr 03, 2025
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
CollectionsApr 02, 2025
Bea Bongiasca’s ‘Tarallo’ Collection Expansion Is a ZooThe pieces in “Animali Tarallo” portray animals from stingrays to elephants through portraits and interpretations of their patterns.
MajorsApr 02, 2025
Neiman Marcus’ Dallas Flagship Will Remain Open, For NowParent company Saks Global said the iconic location will be open through the holiday season as it decides what to do with the space.
Brought to you by
Natural Diamonds Should Mean MoreNatural diamonds mean more than lab-grown, but when every cut is ideal, they all look the same. Customers want more—Facets of Fire delivers.
Events & AwardsApr 02, 2025
Punchmark to Host Client WorkshopThe educational event will take place in Charlotte, North Carolina, this May.
IndependentsApr 01, 2025
Bergman Jewelers in Omaha Closing After 137 YearsThe independent jeweler first opened its doors in 1888.
MajorsApr 01, 2025
QVC Group to Cut 900 Jobs in the U.S.The layoffs come amid the TV shopping channel’s efforts to restructure and focus on live shopping through social media.
Events & AwardsApr 01, 2025
U.S. Antique Shows Adds Fall Show in FloridaThe debut event will take place in Miami’s Coconut Grove neighborhood this fall.
Events & AwardsApr 01, 2025
TJS to Host Discussion on Jewelry Industry’s Labor ShortageThe roundtable will take place May 17 ahead of the trade show’s welcome dinner.
CollectionsApr 01, 2025
Monica Rich Kosann Says ‘Good Grief’ in Peanuts Jewelry CollectionThe “Peanuts x Monica Rich Kosann” collection features the comic strip’s classic vocabulary across 10 bracelet designs.
Recorded WebinarsMar 31, 2025
Watch: What Do We Mean When We Say ‘Recycled’ Gold?Three industry experts dive into the complexities of the material often marketed as an “ethical” alternative for metal in jewelry.
TrendsMar 31, 2025
Amanda’s Style File: Dripping in DiamondsDiamonds are not only one of the most prominent gemstones, but the birthstone for those born in April.
MajorsMar 31, 2025
Lashbrook Expands Into Luxury Golf Gifts With AcquisitionThe Utah-based company known for making wedding bands has acquired Doubloon Golf.
WatchesMar 31, 2025
Bulgari CEO Jean-Christophe Babin Will Also Head LVMH WatchesThe longtime luxury executive led one of LVMH’s watch brands, TAG Heuer, for 12 years before taking over Bulgari in 2013.
CrimeMar 28, 2025
2 Suspects Arrested in $1.7M Smash-and-Grab Robbery of NY Jewelry StoreAuthorities said the robbers fled with jewelry and 70 Rolex watches, later taking pictures of themselves posing with big stacks of cash.
SourcingMar 28, 2025
19th-Century Jade Book Now Available in EnglishLotus Gemology founder Richard W. Hughes has translated Heinrich Fischer’s 1880 book “Nephrit und Jadeit” from its original German.
CollectionsMar 28, 2025
Piece of the Week: Löf’s ‘The Valentine’ RingThe ring's design features contrasting lines influenced by work from architecture-inspired photographer Nikola Olic.
SurveysMar 27, 2025
Consumer Confidence Falls in March Amid ‘Gloomy’ OutlookThe Conference Board’s index fell as consumers continued to worry about the impact of tariffs, the labor market, and the price of eggs.
AuctionsMar 27, 2025
300-Year-Old Ring Linked to Witch Trial Judge Goes Unsold at Auction However, two medieval jewels surpassed estimates at Noonans Mayfair’s recent jewelry auction in London.
WatchesMar 27, 2025
Austin Butler Joins Breitling as Brand AmbassadorThe Oscar-nominated actor debuted in the campaign for the new “Top Time B31” collection, which introduced Breitling’s Caliber B31.
SourcingMar 27, 2025
Susan Jacques, Gaetano Cavalieri to Headline 2025 ICA Congress The Congress is scheduled to take place May 19-22 in Brasilia, Brazil.
IndependentsMar 26, 2025
Bailey’s Fine Jewelry Acquires Fellow NC Independent JewelerThe family-owned retailer is the new owner of Morrison Smith Jewelers in Charlotte, North Carolina.
WatchesMar 26, 2025
Bulova Celebrates 150th Anniversary With Art Deco WatchesThe “150 Art Deco” collection features a Miss America timepiece and a pocket watch from the brand’s Archive Series.
