Following Series of Acquisitions, Quality Gold To Go Public
The jewelry wholesaler and distributor plans to enter the public market through a merger with Tastemaker Acquisition Corp., a SPAC.

Based in the Cincinnati suburb of Fairfield, Ohio, Quality Gold is a jewelry wholesale and distribution company founded in 1979 by David Langhammer and currently run by his sons, CEO Michael Langhammer and Chief Operating Officer Jason Langhammer.
The company has more than 15,000 retail customers, a mix of independents, regional chains, department stores, and e-commerce platforms. It supplies them with finished jewelry, watches (including pre-owned Rolex and Cartier) and natural and lab-grown diamonds.
Quality Gold said it had a record year in fiscal 2022 (ended March 31), with revenue totaling $534 million and adjusted EBITDA of $82 million.
It also has acquired and integrated a dozen companies since 2012—most recently IBGoodman Manufacturing Co. in June—and said the merger will enable it to continue with targeted M&As.
“We are excited to take this major step forward in becoming a publicly traded company,” said Jason Langhammer.
“We have built a business that is well diversified across products, suppliers and customers, has proven to be incredibly stable, and is poised for strong future growth. Our decision to go public is intended to supercharge Quality’s Gold’s growth as the premier jewelry logistics and distribution provider.”
Tastemaker Acquisition Corp. is a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) led by co-CEOs Dave Pace and Andy Pforzheimer. Also known as a “blank check company,” SPACs do not have any commercial operations but exist solely to raise capital through an initial public offering or by merging or acquiring an existing company.
(Another jewelry player, Blue Nile, also planned to go public through a SPAC but it never happened; the retailer was later acquired by Signet.)
The deal values the combined companies at $989 million.
Upon closing, Quality Gold Inc. will become Quality Gold Holdings Inc. and will trade on the Nasdaq stock exchange under the ticker symbol “QGLD.”
The Langhammer brothers and their current senior management team will continue to run the company, and existing Quality Gold equity holders will retain approximately 94 percent of the new company’s pro forma equity.
The boards of directors of both Quality Gold and Tastemaker have unanimously approved the transaction.
It is subject to other customary closing conditions, including certain regulatory approvals, and is expected to close in the first quarter of 2023.
The Latest

The 197-carat Russian Crown jewel was the leading lot of Sotheby's white-glove Royal & Noble Jewels sale this week.

The “Équation” bracelet, our Piece of the Week, was built via 24 gold modules assembled into a piece that feels like fabric on the wrist.

Alter’s Gem Jewelry in Beaumont, Texas, is closing as Brian and Lori Alter retire to spend more time with family.

With over 50 years experience in the trade, DSF Antique Jewelry offers quality, craftsmanship, condition, and remarkable variety.

Five finalists have been chosen for the Tiffany & Co. x CFDA Jewelry Designer Award’s second cycle.


Three of the other alleged perpetrators will stand trial next March, while two remain on the lam and one was deported late last year.

Unseen for more than seven decades, the fancy intense pink diamond was the star of Christie’s Geneva jewelry auction.

With customization becoming more expected in engagement ring shopping, the Bridal Builder makes the process tangible.

The curated selection is available online and at its showroom in Austin, Texas.

The next generation understands what makes the 126-year-old retailer special, said CEO and Co-President Elise Greenberg.

The 6-carat CVD-grown pink diamond was “deliberately modified” to mimic the appearance of a natural rough diamond, the lab said.

If the Global Diamond Consortium emerges as the top bidder for De Beers, Botswana’s stake will double to 30 percent, Duma Boko said Monday.

An incorrect AI-generated ad or product description can cost your store valuable consumer trust.

These nine individuals and brands are up for a Gem Award in the Jewelry Design, Media Excellence, and Retail Innovation categories.

The incident, which happened in Miami-Dade County, serves as a reminder to jewelers of the dangers of selling and storing jewelry at home.

GIA Analytical Microscopist John Koivula curated the collection of 2,665 crystals, gems, and minerals over a 60-year span.

The “Eclipse” collection, the brand’s first high jewelry line, centers its alligator motif in diamond and spinel jewels.

From a Betta fish brooch to a “dragon’s trove” of zircon eggs, here are seven pieces that’ve stuck with Associate Editor Lauren McLemore.

Groundbreaking New Mexico Governor-elect Deb Haaland wore the earrings, our Piece of the Week, when she declared victory on Tuesday.

Sponsored by GCAL by Sarine

From shrinking budgets to AI elves, here are five takeaways from holiday reports by Bain, Adobe, Mastercard, NRF, and insights from YouGov.

The designers combined their talents for Little Pet Portraits, hand-painted miniatures of our best friends set in a piece of jewelry.

Its non-bridal fine jewelry remains the star of the show, recently launching new collections inspired by Elizabeth Taylor and Jane Goodall.

The lab will bring back its complimentary next-day service for some reports starting next week.

A Pennsylvania woman failed to declare a ring and a bracelet, discarding the boxes and receipts to conceal the purchases, officials said.

New collections and relevant marketing pushed the company forward, while Pandora’s lab-grown diamond sales continue to lag.

The citywide celebration, slated for Nov. 16-22, is set to host more than 175 events, including live jewelry-making demos.
























