SourcingFeb 04, 2025
New Deal With Botswana Is Done, De Beers Confirms The agreement will allocate an increasing proportion of the country’s rough diamonds to the government of Botswana over the next decade.
IndependentsDec 05, 2022
Holocaust Survivor and Jeffrey Mann Jewelers Matriarch Rena Mann Dies
Mann, who opened the Ohio jewelry store with her husband and son in 1984, was 95.
Rena Mann, one of the co-founders of Jeffrey Mann Fine Jewelers in Toledo, Ohio, died last month at age 95.
Sylvania, Ohio—Renata “Rena” Mann, a Holocaust survivor who went on to live an amazing life, died Nov. 25 following a brief illness.
She was 95.
Rena was born on April 4, 1927, in Berlin, Germany, to the late Leon and Gertruda Wollstein.
She spent four years of her young life in concentration camps. Russian soldiers liberated the last camp she was in on the final day of the war.
Having lost both her parents and with nowhere else to go, Rena moved to Katowice, Poland—where her family had settled before the war started—and was reunited with her stepfather.
She eventually left Poland for London and lived there for several years before making her way to New York City via the RMS Queen Elizabeth.
It was in New York that she met her future husband, Alex Mann, on a blind date.
They married on June 25, 1953, and in 1958 relocated for Alex’s job to Toledo, Ohio, where they had two children, Gigi and Jeffrey Mann.
Alex worked in sales for Toledo Appliances Inc. for years before the couple realized their dream of owning their own business, opening Jeffrey Mann Fine Jewelers in 1984 alongside their son, then a manager and top sales associate at local chain Keidan’s Jewelers.
“My dad had a lot of confidence in me and my abilities, so the idea to open our own jewelry store was made,” Jeff said.
Alex ran the business, while Rena handled administration and Jeff took care of sales.
Rena retired a decade later, while Alex and Jeff continued to work together until Alex’s passing in February 2003. Gigi joined the family business as director of new business development along the way.
Rena is remembered as an eternal optimist who was tender, compassionate, and quick-witted.
She loved people, animals, and traveling, particularly her annual trips to Las Vegas, where she was perfectly content sitting in front of a slot machine with a bag of quarters.
Rena is survived by her daughter, Gigi (Gary) Lewis; her son, Jeffrey (Corrine) Mann; five grandchildren, Jason (Amanda) Lewis, Scott (Alyssa) Lewis, and Alexandria, Annsley, and Abigail Mann; and three great-grandchildren, Braydon, Colton, and Gianna Lewis.
Services were held Nov. 27 at Temple Shomer Emunim in Sylvania, Ohio.
In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to Temple Shomer Emunim, the Toledo Humane Society, or Ebeid Hospice in Sylvania.
She was 95.
Rena was born on April 4, 1927, in Berlin, Germany, to the late Leon and Gertruda Wollstein.
She spent four years of her young life in concentration camps. Russian soldiers liberated the last camp she was in on the final day of the war.
Having lost both her parents and with nowhere else to go, Rena moved to Katowice, Poland—where her family had settled before the war started—and was reunited with her stepfather.
She eventually left Poland for London and lived there for several years before making her way to New York City via the RMS Queen Elizabeth.
It was in New York that she met her future husband, Alex Mann, on a blind date.
They married on June 25, 1953, and in 1958 relocated for Alex’s job to Toledo, Ohio, where they had two children, Gigi and Jeffrey Mann.
Alex worked in sales for Toledo Appliances Inc. for years before the couple realized their dream of owning their own business, opening Jeffrey Mann Fine Jewelers in 1984 alongside their son, then a manager and top sales associate at local chain Keidan’s Jewelers.
“My dad had a lot of confidence in me and my abilities, so the idea to open our own jewelry store was made,” Jeff said.
Alex ran the business, while Rena handled administration and Jeff took care of sales.
Rena retired a decade later, while Alex and Jeff continued to work together until Alex’s passing in February 2003. Gigi joined the family business as director of new business development along the way.
Rena is remembered as an eternal optimist who was tender, compassionate, and quick-witted.
She loved people, animals, and traveling, particularly her annual trips to Las Vegas, where she was perfectly content sitting in front of a slot machine with a bag of quarters.
Rena is survived by her daughter, Gigi (Gary) Lewis; her son, Jeffrey (Corrine) Mann; five grandchildren, Jason (Amanda) Lewis, Scott (Alyssa) Lewis, and Alexandria, Annsley, and Abigail Mann; and three great-grandchildren, Braydon, Colton, and Gianna Lewis.
Services were held Nov. 27 at Temple Shomer Emunim in Sylvania, Ohio.
In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to Temple Shomer Emunim, the Toledo Humane Society, or Ebeid Hospice in Sylvania.
Editors' Picks
Sponsored by
More on Independents
The Latest
Events & AwardsFeb 04, 2025
Van Cleef & Arpels’ Astronomy-Inspired Jewelry to Land at AMNH“Cosmic Splendor: Jewelry From the Collections of Van Cleef & Arpels,” opens April 11 at the American Museum of Natural History.
SurveysFeb 04, 2025
Valentine’s Day Jewelry Spending Forecast to Hit Record High, Says NRFThose celebrating Valentine’s Day this year are expected to spend a record $27.5 billion on jewels, flowers, candy, and more.
Brought to you by
3 Ways to Capitalize on America’s Newfound Love of Colored GemsColored stones are stepping into a jewelry spotlight typically reserved for diamonds—are you ready to sell color?
EditorsFeb 03, 2025
Best Jewelry Moments From the 2025 Grammy Awards From Lady Gaga’s 1930s Tiffany & Co. necklace to Taylor Swift’s “T,” Michelle Graff recaps the night’s most memorable jewelry looks.
Weekly QuizJan 30, 2025
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
MajorsFeb 03, 2025
Qurate to Close HSN’s Florida HQ Amid RestructuringLayoffs will reportedly start next month as HSN plans to move into QVC’s location in Pennsylvania.
EditorsFeb 03, 2025
Q&A: 5 Jewelry Designers on Shopping the 2025 Tucson Gem ShowsA group of creatives talked to Associate Editor Lauren McLemore about their approach to the annual Tucson gem, mineral, and fossil shows.
Brought to you by
3 New Year’s Resolutions for Jewelry Lovers The new year feels like a clean slate, inspiring reflection, hope, and the motivation to become better versions of ourselves.
AuctionsJan 31, 2025
Elizabeth Taylor’s Diamond Bracelet Outshines Estimate at U.K. AuctionThe auction also featured the sale of a Cartier necklace made when Egyptomania was sweeping Great Britain.
CollectionsJan 31, 2025
Piece of the Week: Lalaounis’ Good Luck Charm for 2025The “Blossom Rosette” blooms with love, beauty, and hope for the year ahead.
Events & AwardsJan 31, 2025
Facets of Fire Has a Diamond Challenge for RetailersFor every jeweler who tries their luck, the company will make a donation to Jewelers for Children.
MajorsJan 30, 2025
WJA Chapter Leaders Resign as Fallout From DEI Remarks SnowballsThe boards of at least five chapters have resigned in response to controversial statements the WJA national board president made last month.
Policies & IssuesJan 30, 2025
RJC Executive Director Melanie Grant Is Stepping Down An experienced jewelry writer and curator, Grant led the organization for two years.
CollectionsJan 30, 2025
Pharrell Williams Brings Tahitian Pearls to His New Tiffany & Co. CollectionFive new designs were added, all donning Tahitian cultured pearls and spear-like trident motifs, along with the new “Titan” setting.
Events & AwardsJan 30, 2025
Registration Open for Converge 2025The inaugural event is being co-hosted by the American Gem Society and the Gemological Institute of America.
MajorsJan 30, 2025
24 Karat Club of New York Elects 5 New MembersJewelers of America’s Annie Doresca and AGTA CEO John W. Ford Sr. are among the new members.
CollectionsJan 29, 2025
Boucheron’s High Jewelry Takes the Form of ‘Untamed Nature’The jeweler’s latest high jewelry collection looks into the Boucheron archives to create a “living encyclopedia of high jewelry.”
FinancialsJan 29, 2025
LVMH Watch, Jewelry Sales End the Year DownWatch and jewelry sales slipped 3 percent in 2024, though the luxury conglomerate did see business pick up in the fourth quarter.
MajorsJan 29, 2025
Chanel Names New General Manager of Watches, Fine Jewelry for USOlivier Kessler-Gay will take over the role on March 3.
SurveysJan 29, 2025
Consumer Confidence Slips for Second Consecutive Month It hit a four-month low in January due to concerns about the job market, though consumers remain bullish about the stock market.
Events & AwardsJan 29, 2025
Chris Ploof To Teach Mokume Gane at AJSThe jewelry designer and master metalsmith will present on the ancient Japanese metalworking technique at the Atlanta Jewelry Show in March.
SourcingJan 28, 2025
WFDB Joins Efforts to Promote Natural Diamonds With New CampaignThe “Moments” social media campaign emphasizes the emotional ties between natural diamonds and life’s special milestones.
CollectionsJan 28, 2025
Bliss Lau Celebrates the Intricate Mosaic of Identity in New CollectionThe versatile “As We Are” collection features 14 pieces with interlocking designs allowing for 27 different looks worn around the body.
SourcingJan 28, 2025
Botswana’s First Olympic Gold Medalist Is Now a De Beers Ambassador Letsile Tebogo will help to promote natural diamonds and the good they have done for his country.
Events & AwardsJan 28, 2025
NouvelleBox Show Returns to New York CityThe showcase, in its second year, will feature more than 20 international brands at its curated event from Feb. 2-4.
Recorded WebinarsJan 28, 2025
Watch: Fine Jewelry Market Predictions for 2025 “My Next Question” guests Sherry Smith and Edahn Golan share their 2025 forecasts, from sales and marketing to what retailers should stock.
Events & AwardsJan 28, 2025
Here Is the 2025 AGTA GemFair Tucson Educational LineupThe seminar series covers topics from market trends and colored stone terminology to working with museums and growing an Instagram profile.
