MajorsOct 25, 2024
This New Bulgari Boutique Is on a YachtStarboard Luxury is bringing the Italian brand aboard The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection’s newest yacht.
IndependentsSep 26, 2023
Sally Nelson, Founder of Exclusively Diamonds, Dies at 86
The former teacher, described as “a pioneer for women-owned businesses,” opened her own jewelry store in 1980.
Sally Nelson, the founder of Exclusively Diamonds, died earlier this month at the age of 86. She is remembered as an industry pioneer, a dedicated educator, and a devoted mother.
Mankato, Minn.—Sally Nelson, the founder of Exclusively Diamonds, died Sept. 16.
She was 86.
The Minnesota native grew up in Lyle, according to a local report. She was raised by her grandparents after losing her mother in a motorcycle accident when she was five months old.
In high school, she met her husband, Bob, and they married when Sally was 19, as per her online obituary. They went on to have two daughters, Sarah and Betsy.
Bob worked as a schoolteacher and Sally later joined him, earning her bachelor’s degree in education at 37. She specialized in speech pathology and special education.
Sally worked as a teacher for 14 years before she decided to turn her love of jewelry into a new career, cashing in her retirement account to get started.
After visiting several banks, she found one that agreed to loan her $45,000 at 21 percent interest.
“Sally was a pioneer for women-owned businesses. Sally prevailed throughout the challenges along the way,” said her obituary.
Her daughter, Sarah Person, shared memories of her mother in an interview with the Mankato Free Press.
“She cooked meals every night. We always ate dinner as a family,” said Person.
“Mom also worked at the Mankato Rehabilitation Center and tutored students after school and on weekends in our home. She would sit at our dining room table teaching kids to tell time, count money, helping children lose a lisp or not stutter.”
Nelson’s daughters joined their mother at the store in the mid-1980’s, according to the jeweler’s website, with Betsy working as an in-store goldsmith and Sarah as a part-time salesperson.
Betsy later moved away, and Sarah purchased the business when her other retired in 1998.
Upon retirement, Sally and her husband spent the winters in sunny Arizona, returning home for the summer.
The business has continued down the family line.
Sally’s granddaughter, Maria Brown, became vice president and co-owner of Exclusively Diamonds in 2018. Brown was recently included in Jewelers of America’s “20 Under 40” list and received the American Gem Society’s 2022 “Young Titleholder of the Year” award.
In a statement, American Gem Society CEO Katherine Bodoh said, “Exclusively Diamonds is a treasured AGS member and actively involved in the AGS community. Sally’s daughter, Sarah Person, is the chair of our Education Committee. Sally’s granddaughter, Maria Brown, is the current Chair of the Young Titleholders. The legacy Sally created lives on through these remarkable women.”
Sally was preceded in death by her parents and her husband. She is survived by her daughters, Sarah (Chris) Person and Betsy (Randy) Olson, her four grandchildren, and her eight great-grandchildren.
A celebration of life service was held last week.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Christ the King Lutheran Church of Mankato or youth organization My Place.
She was 86.
The Minnesota native grew up in Lyle, according to a local report. She was raised by her grandparents after losing her mother in a motorcycle accident when she was five months old.
In high school, she met her husband, Bob, and they married when Sally was 19, as per her online obituary. They went on to have two daughters, Sarah and Betsy.
Bob worked as a schoolteacher and Sally later joined him, earning her bachelor’s degree in education at 37. She specialized in speech pathology and special education.
Sally worked as a teacher for 14 years before she decided to turn her love of jewelry into a new career, cashing in her retirement account to get started.
After visiting several banks, she found one that agreed to loan her $45,000 at 21 percent interest.
“Sally was a pioneer for women-owned businesses. Sally prevailed throughout the challenges along the way,” said her obituary.
A newspaper ad for Exclusively Diamonds, circa the 1980s (Image courtesy of the Exclusively Diamonds website)
Her daughter, Sarah Person, shared memories of her mother in an interview with the Mankato Free Press.
“She cooked meals every night. We always ate dinner as a family,” said Person.
“Mom also worked at the Mankato Rehabilitation Center and tutored students after school and on weekends in our home. She would sit at our dining room table teaching kids to tell time, count money, helping children lose a lisp or not stutter.”
Nelson’s daughters joined their mother at the store in the mid-1980’s, according to the jeweler’s website, with Betsy working as an in-store goldsmith and Sarah as a part-time salesperson.
Betsy later moved away, and Sarah purchased the business when her other retired in 1998.
Upon retirement, Sally and her husband spent the winters in sunny Arizona, returning home for the summer.
The business has continued down the family line.
Sally’s granddaughter, Maria Brown, became vice president and co-owner of Exclusively Diamonds in 2018. Brown was recently included in Jewelers of America’s “20 Under 40” list and received the American Gem Society’s 2022 “Young Titleholder of the Year” award.
In a statement, American Gem Society CEO Katherine Bodoh said, “Exclusively Diamonds is a treasured AGS member and actively involved in the AGS community. Sally’s daughter, Sarah Person, is the chair of our Education Committee. Sally’s granddaughter, Maria Brown, is the current Chair of the Young Titleholders. The legacy Sally created lives on through these remarkable women.”
Sally was preceded in death by her parents and her husband. She is survived by her daughters, Sarah (Chris) Person and Betsy (Randy) Olson, her four grandchildren, and her eight great-grandchildren.
A celebration of life service was held last week.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Christ the King Lutheran Church of Mankato or youth organization My Place.
More on Independents
The Latest
CollectionsOct 25, 2024
Piece of the Week: A Haunting Piece of Mourning Jewelry The pendant, circa the late 1700s, likely was commissioned to remember a loved one who died young.
MajorsOct 25, 2024
Artistry Releases Its 2025 CatalogIt features the brand’s products in the precious color, semi-precious color, pearl, diamond, gold, and sterling silver categories.
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.
EditorsOct 24, 2024
From a Witch to Wednesday: The Best Jewelry to Wear With Your Halloween CostumeFor her annual Halloween story, Associate Editor Lenore Fedow pairs fine jewelry with classic and contemporary Halloween costumes.
Weekly QuizOct 24, 2024
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
FinancialsOct 24, 2024
Kering’s Jewelry Brands ‘More Resilient’ Than Other Luxury Goods in Q3 Sales fell 15 percent for the luxury conglomerate in the third quarter, led by a 26 percent drop in sales for flagship brand Gucci.
Events & AwardsOct 24, 2024
JA New York Fall Show Announces Education LineupThe education offerings include a diamond cutting demonstration, a session with JVC President Sara Yood, and a seminar on AI.
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.
MajorsOct 24, 2024
Phillip Gavriel Releases 2024-2025 Catalog The book features new styles and revived favorites.
SourcingOct 23, 2024
De Beers, Signet Lean Into Finding ‘The One’ in New Natural Diamond Campaign Aimed at a generation that emphasizes self-care and mental health, “Worth the Wait” breaks new ground in the world of diamond advertising.
EditorsOct 23, 2024
The Modern Bride’s Approach to Wedding-Day JewelryEditor Lauren McLemore immersed herself in New York Bridal Fashion Week to better understand the role fine jewelry plays on the big day.
Lab-GrownOct 23, 2024
Q&A: Constance Polamalu on Selling Natural and Lab-Grown DiamondsThe jeweler shared her change of heart on lab-grown diamonds and why she keeps them separate from natural diamonds in her business ventures.
CollectionsOct 23, 2024
See Scott West Jewelry’s ‘Kryptonite’ and ‘Joker’ RingsThey’re available through a retailer that sells luxury products inspired by the lifestyle of Batman’s billionaire civilian persona.
WatchesOct 23, 2024
How to Get a Timex Watch for $1The watchmaker is selling 1,000 “Waterbury” watches for $1 each in celebration of its 170th anniversary.
SourcingOct 23, 2024
GemFair Buys 10,000th DiamondLaunched by De Beers in 2018, the program aims to develop a responsible sourcing model for the artisanal/small-scale diamond mining sector.
CollectionsOct 23, 2024
Robinson Pelham Releases New Jewels Just in Time for the Holidays The new “Ouche” collection brings sculptural designs to the brand, while the expanded “Daystar” collection brings a rainbow of colors.
AuctionsOct 22, 2024
Phillips to Auction Rare 18-Carat Burmese Ruby The auction house said the gemstone could fetch up to $5.5 million at next month’s sale.
ColumnistsOct 22, 2024
The Smart Lab: Tips for Preparing for Your Best Q4 YetFrom prioritizing the customer experience to optimizing inventory, columnist Emmanuel Raheb shares the keys to a successful holiday season.
Events & AwardsOct 22, 2024
WJA Foundation Names First Winner of Hedda Schupak Scholarship Journalist Priya Raj plans to use the scholarship funds to further her media qualifications and amplify marginalized communities.
MajorsOct 22, 2024
WNBA Champions New York Liberty Take Home Tiffany & Co. TrophyIt marks the first championship win in the team’s 28-year history.
SourcingOct 21, 2024
De Beers to List Single Country of Origin for Some of Its Diamonds It will start with rough diamonds that are larger than 1.25 carats and later expand to rough diamonds that are above 1 carat.
CollectionsOct 21, 2024
Pandora Turns Things Upside Down in New ‘Stranger Things’ CollectionThe capsule collection is inspired by friendship and connection, with a nod to ‘80s fashion.
AuctionsOct 18, 2024
Piece of the Week: Babe Paley’s Clip-Brooch NecklaceThe New York socialite’s elegant, transformable piece from the 1960s is headed to auction later this month.
Recorded WebinarsOct 18, 2024
Watch: 2 Experts on the Challenges of Appraising Lab-Grown DiamondsTexas jeweler Susan Eisen and NAJA’s Gail Brett Levine discuss how lab-grown diamonds have altered the landscape for jewelry appraisers.
CrimeOct 18, 2024
The End of an Era: John Kennedy Reflects On 32 Years at JSA On the verge of retirement, Kennedy recounts the most stressful stretch of his time at JSA and reveals what he’ll miss about the industry.
MajorsOct 17, 2024
Retailer Hall of Fame 2024: Gina DrososSignet Jewelers CEO Gina Drosos’ secrets to success are listening to her team and leaning on data to make decisions.
AuctionsOct 17, 2024
Shirley Bassey’s ‘Baignoire’ Breaks Auction Record Part of the Welsh singer’s extensive jewelry collection, the bathtub-shaped Cartier watch went for nearly $72,000 at Sotheby’s Paris.
