GIA Has a New Book About William Ruser
Ruser was known for his figural jewelry with freshwater pearls and for his celebrity clientele.

Ruser, owner of Ruser Jewels in Beverly Hills, California, was known for his figural jewelry with freshwater pearls.
“Ruser had a very specific look in his unique and special designs,” said the late Michael Kazanjian, an estate jeweler and former member of GIA’s board of directors.
“Like all great designers, there are certain elements within his pieces that make his work recognizable.”
Ruser became the go-to jeweler for movie stars and socialites from the 1940s to 1960s.
His celebrity clientele included Elizabeth Taylor, Frank Sinatra, Barbara Stanwyck, Robert Wagner, and Joan Crawford.
Even today, his finer pieces regularly come up for sale and command high prices, said GIA.
In 2022, his fortune cookie brooch sold for $5,760, as part of Betty White’s jewelry auction.
Ruser learned about providing exceptional customer service when he was employed by the jewelry firm Trabert & Hoeffer-Mauboussin, said GIA, before he opened his workshop on Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills.
At Ruser Jewels, he had 28 jewelry artisans and luxuriously appointed showrooms, said GIA.
In 1969, his business closed, and the location was acquired by Van Cleef & Arpels.
“William Ruser: The Jeweler Who Charmed Hollywood” was written by GIA research librarian Judy Colbert and co-authored by visual resources librarian Peggy Tsiamis.
Ruser’s story was gathered through research and interviews with family and people who knew him professionally.
A section of the book is also dedicated to the story of Cyril and Vera Wood, the couple who designed Ruser’s figural jewelry.
The book is 125 pages and includes over 100 images.
It is available for purchase on GIA’s online store.
The Latest

Michel Desalles allegedly murdered Omid Gholian inside World of Gold N Diamond using zip ties and then fled the country.

Associate Editor Lauren McLemore shares her favorite looks from a night of style inspired by Black dandyism.

Sponsored by Instappraise

Gain access to the most exclusive and coveted antique pieces from trusted dealers during Las Vegas Jewelry Week.

CEO Beth Gerstein discussed the company’s bridal bestsellers, the potential impact of tariffs, and the rising price of gold.


The brand’s first independent location outside of Australia has opened in Beverly Hills, California.

Cathy Marsh will lead the jewelry company’s efforts in the upper Midwest and western United States.

Supplier Spotlight Sponsored by GIA

The company has multiple strategies for dealing with tariffs, though its CEO said moving manufacturing to the U.S. is not one of them.

Connecting with your customers throughout the year is key to a successful holiday marketing push.

Its commercial-quality emerald sale held last month totaled more than $16 million, up from about $11 million in September 2024.

National Jeweler Editor-in-Chief Michelle Graff joined Michael Burpoe to talk tariffs, consumer confidence, and the sky-high price of gold.

Designer Lauren Harwell Godfrey made the piece as an homage to the 2025 gala’s theme, “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style.”

Expanded this year to include suppliers, JA’s 2025 list honors 40 up-and-coming professionals in the jewelry industry.

Located in Fort Smith, it’s the Mid-South jeweler’s first store in Northwest Arkansas.

The episode about the family-owned jeweler will premiere May 17.

The Houston-based jeweler’s new 11,000-square-foot showroom will include a Rolex boutique.

The turquoise and diamond tiara hasn’t been on the market since it was purchased by Lord Astor in 1930.

“The Duke Diamond” is the largest diamond registered at the Arkansas park so far this year.

The childhood craft of making dried pasta necklaces for Mother’s Day is all grown up as the 14-karat gold “Forever Macaroni” necklace.

Set with May’s birthstone and featuring an earthworm, this ring is a perfect celebration of spring.

“Bridal 2025–2026” includes popular styles and a dedicated section for quick pricing references of lab-grown diamond bridal jewelry.

Though currently paused, high tariffs threaten many countries where gemstones are mined. Dealers are taking measures now to prepare.

Located in Miami’s Design District, the 4,000-square-foot store is an homage to David and Sybil Yurman’s artistic roots.

May babies are lucky indeed, born in a month awash with fresh colors and celebrated with one of the most coveted colored gemstones.

The deadline to apply for the Seymour & Evelyn Holtzman Bench Scholarship is June 12.

What’s really worrying U.S. consumers isn’t the present situation; it’s what the economy is going to look like six months from now.