EditorsNov 22, 2024
Out & About: Inside the CD Peacock MansionStep inside the nearly 21,000-square-foot suburban Chicago jewelry store with Editor-in-Chief Michelle Graff.
IndependentsNov 28, 2022
Bert Kalisher, an Industry Veteran Who Loved Making Connections, Dies at 97
Kalisher started out manufacturing watch bands and later got into publishing, authoring two books and serving as publisher of Chronos.
New York—Bertram “Bert” Kalisher, a well-known and beloved figure in the watch and jewelry industry whose career spanned seven decades, died Nov. 20.
He was 97.
Born Sept. 27, 1925, Kalisher grew up in Long Beach, New York. After high school, he studied art and industrial design at the Pratt Institute in Brooklyn.
After one year at Pratt, Kalisher left to enlist in the Army Air Corps during World War II, his daughter Nancy Siskind said.
He trained as a bombardier, but the war ended before he was deployed.
Following the war, he started his own business—watch band manufacturer Hadley Kalbe—and later expanded to manufacturing jewelry as well.
He eventually sold his business and got into publishing.
He worked as the editor of three magazines, served as publisher of Chronos, and published two books, “The Art of the Watch” and “Chronograph to Complication: The Art & Technology of Accurate Timing.”
Siskind described her father as a “brilliant entrepreneur” who did what he did not for the sake of making money, but because of his passion for watches and jewelry.
“The industry was his love,” she said. “He was passionate about helping people, about connecting people.
“He was just a really kind, good man.”
Retired Cleveland, Ohio-area jeweler Jim Alperin, who bought watch bands from Kalisher, recalled an instance in which the industry veteran offered sage advice after a costume jewelry store franchise Alperin had purchased lost a significant amount of money.
“I was at Basel after that, and Bert took me out for a cup of coffee at the show just to talk about the loss because he understood how difficult being in business was,” Alperin recalled. “He told me to think of my experience as having purchased an expensive collectible plate that had fallen off the wall and broken. There was nothing to do other than sweep up the pieces and move forward.
“It was very sweet of him to be concerned and to show his concerns.”
Kalisher had lived in Hewlett Neck, New York, since the 1960s, serving as deputy mayor, trustee, and village historian.
He was also an avid sailor and gardener and loved to cook and travel.
He is survived by his wife of 72 years, Marcy; two children, Richard and Nancy; six grandchildren, Eric, Andrew, Michael, Sam, Laura, Elizabeth; and one great-granddaughter, Emma.
Services were held Friday in Elmont, New York.
He was 97.
Born Sept. 27, 1925, Kalisher grew up in Long Beach, New York. After high school, he studied art and industrial design at the Pratt Institute in Brooklyn.
After one year at Pratt, Kalisher left to enlist in the Army Air Corps during World War II, his daughter Nancy Siskind said.
He trained as a bombardier, but the war ended before he was deployed.
Following the war, he started his own business—watch band manufacturer Hadley Kalbe—and later expanded to manufacturing jewelry as well.
He eventually sold his business and got into publishing.
He worked as the editor of three magazines, served as publisher of Chronos, and published two books, “The Art of the Watch” and “Chronograph to Complication: The Art & Technology of Accurate Timing.”
Siskind described her father as a “brilliant entrepreneur” who did what he did not for the sake of making money, but because of his passion for watches and jewelry.
“The industry was his love,” she said. “He was passionate about helping people, about connecting people.
“He was just a really kind, good man.”
Retired Cleveland, Ohio-area jeweler Jim Alperin, who bought watch bands from Kalisher, recalled an instance in which the industry veteran offered sage advice after a costume jewelry store franchise Alperin had purchased lost a significant amount of money.
“I was at Basel after that, and Bert took me out for a cup of coffee at the show just to talk about the loss because he understood how difficult being in business was,” Alperin recalled. “He told me to think of my experience as having purchased an expensive collectible plate that had fallen off the wall and broken. There was nothing to do other than sweep up the pieces and move forward.
“It was very sweet of him to be concerned and to show his concerns.”
Kalisher had lived in Hewlett Neck, New York, since the 1960s, serving as deputy mayor, trustee, and village historian.
He was also an avid sailor and gardener and loved to cook and travel.
He is survived by his wife of 72 years, Marcy; two children, Richard and Nancy; six grandchildren, Eric, Andrew, Michael, Sam, Laura, Elizabeth; and one great-granddaughter, Emma.
Services were held Friday in Elmont, New York.
More on Independents
The Latest
CollectionsNov 22, 2024
Piece of the Week: Xander Jane’s ‘Spiked’ Pearl StudsThese punk-inspired earrings from the new Canadian brand’s debut collection reveal the alter ego of the classic pearl.
SourcingNov 22, 2024
Facets of Fire Expands to Include Pear, Marquise DiamondsThe company brings its nanotechnology to two new fancy cuts for diamonds that feature its signature color and brilliance.
Brought to you by
Navigating Cybersecurity: Essential Guidance for JewelersFrom protecting customer data to safeguarding inventory records, it's crucial to learn how to tackle cybersecurity challenges.
Supplier BulletinNov 21, 2024
Tasha R Releases 2025 Labbelle Lab Diamond Jewelry CatalogSponsored by Tasha R
Weekly QuizNov 21, 2024
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
AuctionsNov 21, 2024
Gold Watch Gifted to Titanic Rescue Ship Captain Sells for $2MThree Titanic survivors presented him with the personalized Tiffany & Co. timepiece about a year after the tragedy.
MajorsNov 21, 2024
Harris Jewelry Ordered to Reopen Claims Portal for Refund RequestsA federal court found that the jewelry store chain violated terms of the settlement reached after it was accused of defrauding customers.
Brought to you by
Enhance Your Expertise with IGI’s In-Person Courses in NYCThis fall, sharpen your skills in jewelry grading, quality control and diamond assessment.
CollectionsNov 21, 2024
Channel Elphaba in Muse’s ‘Have a Heart x Cynthia Erivo’ CollectionCynthia Erivo chose Dreams of Hope, an organization dedicated to empowering LGBTQA+ youth, as the charity for this year’s collection.
MajorsNov 21, 2024
Rocksbox Opens Pop-Up Store in San FranciscoThe new space was designed to evoke a warm, inviting vibe.
CrimeNov 20, 2024
Sotheby’s to Pay $6.25M Settlement to NY State for Alleged Tax FraudThe auction house was accused of helping clients avoid paying taxes on millions of dollars’ worth of art purchased from 2010 to 2020.
Events & AwardsNov 20, 2024
Kering Debuts New Jewelry Award With Sustainability FocusThe four finalists will present their pieces at the 2025 JCK Las Vegas show.
CollectionsNov 20, 2024
Pamela Love Channels Surrealist Artists in New CollectionThe “Camera Oscura” collection showcases earring designs celebrating female Surrealist artists Claude Cahun and Leonor Fini.
Policies & IssuesNov 20, 2024
Columbia Gem House Raises $10K for Reforestation EffortsThe money will fund the planting of 10,000 trees in critical areas across Oregon, Arizona, Montana, and other regions.
Events & AwardsNov 20, 2024
The Jewelry Symposium Opens Registration, Scholarship ApplicationsThe event centered on advancing jewelry manufacturing technology will return to Detroit in May 2025.
CrimeNov 19, 2024
Woman Killed in Armed Robbery of Sacramento Jewelry StoreLocal reports identified the woman as the wife of the jewelry store owner.
AuctionsNov 19, 2024
‘A Tsar’s Treasure’ Fetches $2.9M at Sotheby’s Jewelry SaleA collection of pieces owned by Ferdinand I, the first king of modern Bulgaria, and his family, blew away estimates in Geneva last week.
MajorsNov 19, 2024
Trove Opens First US Flagship in NYCThe Australian jewelry box brand’s new West Village store will showcase new jewelers each month through its Designer in Residence program.
CollectionsNov 19, 2024
Snoop Dogg’s New Jewelry Collection Is All About Love“Lovechild” was created in partnership with Carolyn Rafaelian’s Metal Alchemist brand.
EditorsNov 18, 2024
Q&A: Helzberg CEO Brad Hampton on the Jeweler’s RebrandHampton discussed how Helzberg is improving the customer experience and why it was inspired by the company formerly known as Dunkin’ Donuts.
Policies & IssuesNov 18, 2024
Reciprocity Jewels Returns to NYC Jewelry WeekThe group will host several curated events and an exhibition of designer jewelry made with Peruvian gold traceable to the miners’ names.
CollectionsNov 18, 2024
Dolly Parton Shines in Collaboration with Kendra ScottThe collection honors the 50th anniversary of Dolly Parton’s “Love is Like a Butterfly” song, which shares a birth year with Kendra Scott.
Events & AwardsNov 18, 2024
IGI Jewelry Design Competition ReturnsThis year’s theme asks designers to take inspiration from classic fairy tales.
EditorsNov 15, 2024
Why Fine Jewelry Belongs at New York Comic ConSenior Editor Lenore Fedow makes the case for why more jewelers should be appealing to nerds at the annual event.
CollectionsNov 15, 2024
Marie Lichtenberg Battles Counterfeits with New ‘Raiz’in Scapular’ DesignsThe latest “Raiz’in” drop showcases a newly designed “Scapular” necklace and donates a portion of the proceeds to Make-A-Wish France.
WatchesNov 15, 2024
Piece of the Week: Citizen’s Commemorative Pocket WatchNo. 1 out of 100, the timepiece was created to mark Citizen’s 100th anniversary and will be auctioned off at Sotheby’s next month.
Recorded WebinarsNov 15, 2024
Watch: 10 Tips to Keep Your Jewelry Store Secure On the latest episode of “My Next Question,” two experts share best practices for store security during the holidays and year-round.
