Kathy Hillelson Joins Board of WJA Foundation
Hillelson is a second-generation diamantaire and CEO of Owl Financial Group.
Kathy Hillelson is the CEO of Owl Financial Group, a provider of asset-back financing to the diamond trade.
She is also a second-generation diamantaire who manages the global buying and selling of diamonds and jewelry for her family’s business, Blue River Gems Inc.
Hillelson is an active member of the World Diamond Council and the Jewelers Vigilance Committee. Her contributions to advancing industry standards and practices are widely recognized, WJA said.
Outside of work, she is an avid traveler and is committed to supporting charitable causes, particularly those that benefit children.
“Kathy’s lifelong connection to the diamond industry and her deep-rooted passion for fine jewelry bring a fresh and inspiring energy to our team,” WJA Foundation President Nikia Levesque-Meyer said.
“Growing up in a world where diamonds and jewelry were a part of everyday life, she has developed a dynamic blend of expertise and intuition that will greatly benefit our mission of empowering women throughout the industry. I am excited to welcome Kathy to the board and look forward to the remarkable contributions she will undoubtedly make.”
The WJA Foundation is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization that offers a variety of scholarships and grants to professionals in the jewelry and watch industries.
These include the scholarship established earlier this year in honor of the late Hedda Schupak and the Helene Fortunoff Women in Retail Scholarship, created in 2023.
The Latest
The highest-grossing lot of the sale was the retired QB’s Rolex Paul Newman Daytona “John Player Special.”
Recent expansion initiatives at the Zambian emerald mine have shown strong production numbers, said Grizzly founder Abdoulaye Ndiaye.
The competition awarded 12 designers, each from a country where De Beers recovers diamonds, with business support and tuition assistance.
For over a century, Jewelers of America has been the voice of the industry and valuable resource to jewelers across the country.
The high jewelry collection features 14 one-of-a-kind pieces, with serpent and ribbon motifs winding their way through the collection.
A federal judge gave Benjamin Preacher 59 days in jail, plus 10 months of home confinement and two years of supervised release.
In a CNBC interview, CEO Tehmasp Printer discussed the IPO in India and what declining lab-grown diamond prices mean for the company.
While no reputable jeweler would knowingly sell lab-grown stones as natural, it's a growing possibility.
The offering included vintage Rolexes, timepieces worn in “Titanic,” Steve McQueen's watch, and a special Citizen pocket watch.
The 13-piece “Stephanie Gottlieb x Studs” collection is the piercing studio’s first fine jewelry offering to feature the gemstone.
The Brazilian jewelry brand made a home on New York City’s Madison Avenue with exclusive pieces only available at the location.
An Adobe Analytics report explored the rise in mobile shopping, the popularity of Buy Now Pay Later options, and peak shopping hours.
The inaugural Dick Greenwood Memorial Scholarship in Gems Science will cover the fall 2025 and spring 2026 semesters.
A Piazza Italia pavilion will feature Italian designers and manufacturers while “MJSA Showcase” brings over a piece of the MJSA Expo.
“Ray Griffiths: The Works” tells the story of the master jeweler’s career, which started with an apprenticeship in Australia at age 15.
The retailer has been upping its marketing spend to drive revenue growth and brand awareness.
Mike Straub and John Treiber opened Treiber & Straub in 1980 with the goal of bringing Milwaukeeans the best jewelry brands.
The color for 2025, “Mocha Mousse,” embodies thoughtful indulgences and everyday pleasures.
The Yoruba word for ant, “Kokoro” embodies the strength of womanhood in ant society while highlighting responsible sourcing.
The retailer’s jewelry sales doubled, with branded jewelry performing especially well.
The jewelry retailer addressed the lab-grown diamond “disruption,” the price of gold, and its holiday weekend performance.
A more positive view of the current labor market boosted the Conference Board’s index last month.
The director of the Swiss Gemmological Institute (SSEF) will be honored for his impact on gemology and dedication to advancing the science.
Sponsored by 2025 AGTA GemFair Tucson
At the annual event, in its second year, the organization honored those making remarkable contributions to the jewelry industry.
Celebrate December babies with 20 pieces of jewelry featuring this month’s birthstones—turquoise, tanzanite, and zircon.
A total of 126 million consumers shopped in stores over the five-day period, about 5 million more than last year.