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 jewelry retailer is zeroing in on Zales, Jared, Kay Jewelers, and Blue Nile as it looks to create unique brand identities for each.

Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, a development economist, will head the fund created to help Botswana diversify its economy.

Sotheby’s has appointed the former Phillips executive as its global head of private sales and retail in its watches division.

As gold prices rise, today’s retailers are looking for alternatives at prices that will appeal to wider audiences.

A private collection of five Paraíba tourmalines also will be up for sale at Sotheby’s High Jewelry auction in New York, scheduled for June 16.


From Gen Z’s view of luxury to “doom spending,” these are the six consumer trends to note this year.

The show started by honoring Mildred Marcano, ended with a tearful Beth Anne Bonanno, and recognized a dozen-plus designers in between.

With the trade and customer trust in mind, GIA® developed NextGem™ – on-demand training designed specifically for retail.

The revamped online diamond marketplace will feature pricing intelligence and data-driven tools for more efficient buying and selling.

The miner said demand for higher-quality emeralds is stable, but there is notable caution in the market.

The “River of Heaven” necklace, our Piece of the Week debuting at Couture, combines 26 salt and pepper diamonds spaced by Tahitian pearls.

This year’s inductees include second-, third-, and fourth-generation jewelers.

The author, speaker, and entrepreneur will give his presentation, “Spiritual Billionaire,” on Saturday morning.

Three-time Grammy award-winning artist Nelly is set to perform at the annual event at Tao Beach on Sunday night.

These up-and-coming jewelry brands are bringing their distinct aesthetic and unique point-of-view to the Design Atelier for the first time.

The lab’s proprietary diamond cut grade has been expanded to include the popular fancy shape.

This year, it’s what could happen outside of show hours that worries JSA Executive Vice President Scott Guginsky.

High-end fashion houses know how to emotionally connect with customers online. Retail jewelers should take note, Emmanuel Raheb writes.

The designers are the third cohort of mentees from the show’s Belonging @ Couture mentorship program.

Buying discipline at trade shows starts with clarity about your inventory levels, Smith writes.

The trade show’s education series returns, with sessions on retail trends, AI, watches, marketing, corporate responsibility, and more.

The Curated Designer Project has expanded to highlight eight independent jewelry designers during CBG’s Las Vegas show.

Bring a cool tone to your summer jewelry with these white metal pieces.

The deal closed this week, which means Instore will produce the JA NY show slated to take place this fall.

The company’s jewelry sales were up in Q4 and the fiscal year, with Richemont raising prices in part because of the cost of gold.

The “Bauble” capsule collection of colorful one-of-a-kinds includes our Piece of the Week, the “Bauble” earrings, featuring rose zircon.

Everett covers colored stones’ surging popularity, the mellow return of the “Mellon Blue,” and his “The Devil Wears Prada” doppelgänger.



























