MajorsJul 10, 2025
LVMH Names New Chairman, CEO of the AmericasEvents & AwardsJul 15, 2025
Neiman Marcus Vet Joins Couture as Brand Director
Eric Ford will step into the role, bringing with him decades of experience.
Eric Ford, who worked for Neiman Marcus for more than 30 years, is now the brand director for Couture. The 2026 Couture show is scheduled for May 27-31 at Wynn Las Vegas.
New York—Eric Ford, Neiman Marcus’ longtime fine jewelry buyer, has joined the Couture team as brand director, a new role within the organization.
As brand director, Ford will oversee Couture’s day-to-day operations while also spearheading “strategic enhancements” that benefit the event and the community as a whole, the show said when announcing his appointment Monday.
He will report directly to Emerald Executive Vice President Gannon Brousseau, who will shift his focus to larger strategic initiatives for the show, while Couture Brand Manager Elana Cutler now will report directly to Ford.
Before joining the Couture team, Ford spent more than 30 years at Neiman Marcus, most recently working as the precious jewelry buyer for the retailer’s 36 stores.
At Neiman Marcus, Ford earned a reputation for identifying talent and working closely with each brand to ensure its success in the United States.
He said he is “thrilled” to be Couture’s brand director.
“Having the opportunity to work alongside a team of people with whom I already have great relationships is truly a unique honor,” Ford said.
“I’m looking forward to leveraging my decades of industry experience and the relationships that I’ve build over the years to work collaboratively to bring even more value to an industry and a community about which I’ve long been passionate.”
Related stories will be right here …
As brand director, Ford will oversee Couture’s day-to-day operations while also spearheading “strategic enhancements” that benefit the event and the community as a whole, the show said when announcing his appointment Monday.
He will report directly to Emerald Executive Vice President Gannon Brousseau, who will shift his focus to larger strategic initiatives for the show, while Couture Brand Manager Elana Cutler now will report directly to Ford.
Before joining the Couture team, Ford spent more than 30 years at Neiman Marcus, most recently working as the precious jewelry buyer for the retailer’s 36 stores.
At Neiman Marcus, Ford earned a reputation for identifying talent and working closely with each brand to ensure its success in the United States.
He said he is “thrilled” to be Couture’s brand director.
“Having the opportunity to work alongside a team of people with whom I already have great relationships is truly a unique honor,” Ford said.
“I’m looking forward to leveraging my decades of industry experience and the relationships that I’ve build over the years to work collaboratively to bring even more value to an industry and a community about which I’ve long been passionate.”
Brousseau said Ford’s fine jewelry knowledge and the good will he’s fostered throughout the industry will be an asset to Couture.
He also noted that Ford has had a long tenure on the show’s Retailer Advisory Council and has been leading “Belonging at Couture” since its formation in 2020.
“These critical roles have allowed him to become intimately familiar with the inner workings of Couture while also forging strong relationships with key members of the team,” Brousseau said. “We are all excited for him to officially get started.”
Couture also added another new team member recently.
Kimberly Straub joined the jewelry trade show as its new retailer liaison, taking over for Jan Mohr, who retired this summer after more than 25 years with Couture.
The show honored Mohr for her years of service with the new Hidden Gem Award, presented during the 2025 Couture Design Awards.
Editors' Picks
Sponsored by
More on Events & Awards
The Latest
CrimeAug 18, 2026
2 California Men Arrested in Fatal Vehicle Smash RobberyOne is the driver who allegedly crashed a car into a Sacramento jewelry store in April, striking a 71-year-old employee who later died.
ColumnistsAug 18, 2026
Peter Smith: The IKEA Effect and Bridal Branding In a new column, Peter Smith posits that people actually enjoy putting together IKEA furniture, and the same is true for engagement rings.
CrimeAug 18, 2026
Thieves Snatch $1M in Jewelry From New Jersey Jeweler9lakha Jewelers in Iselin, New Jersey, was the target of a smash-and-grab robbery on Aug. 8.
Brought to you by
Why More Jewelry Retailers Are Hosting Turnkey Estate Buying EventsRetailers are seeking new ways to attract customers, increase traffic, and create revenue – Estate buying events are a popular solution.
Lab-GrownAug 18, 2026
Ring Concierge, Kendall Jenner Collab on Bridal Earrings GiveawayThe jeweler has partnered with Jenner’s 818 Tequila brand to gift lab-grown diamond studs to a bride-to-be and their bridal party.
Weekly QuizAug 13, 2026
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
CollectionsAug 17, 2026
Marquise Diamonds Dance in Spinelli Kilcollin’s ‘Wren’ CollectionMarquise-cut diamonds in drop charms are the center of the new collection, reflecting the movement of a dancer in modular styles.
IndependentsAug 14, 2026
Smyth Jewelers to Open Fourth LocationThe family-owned jeweler will open a new showroom in Bel Air, Maryland, this fall.
Brought to you by
Wedding Band Trends 2026: Personalization Takes Center StageColored gemstones, artisan finishes, mixed metals, and meaningful details are shaping demand in bridal jewelry.
CrimeAug 14, 2026
Wife of Man Convicted in Jeweler’s Murder Sentenced for Conspiracy Amanda Ileana Hernandez is married to Carlos Hernandez, one of two men in prison for the 2024 murder of Michigan jeweler Hussein Murray.
TrendsAug 14, 2026
Paul Morelli’s Latest ‘Wavey Vine’ Earrings Embrace ColorThe reimagined jewel, our Piece of the Week, trades the diamonds in the original 1998 design for blue, pink, yellow, and green sapphires.
Supplier BulletinAug 13, 2026
Your Piece Could Be the One Editors Talk AboutSponsored by American Gem Trade Association
FinancialsAug 13, 2026
Pandora’s ‘Talisman’ Collection Shines, Lab-Grown Diamond Sales FallIn the United States, second-quarter sales were flat amid soft consumer sentiment and lower in-store traffic.
AuctionsAug 13, 2026
This Gold Cadbury ‘Conundrum’ Egg Set a World Auction RecordThe 22-karat gold egg, sold at Batemans Auctioneers in the U.K., was part of a 1980s treasure hunt ad campaign for Cadbury Creme Eggs.
SourcingAug 13, 2026
2,488-Carat Diamond, Largest Found in Botswana, Has a New Owner Lucara Diamond Corp., which recovered the “Motswedi” diamond from the Karowe mine, sold the stone for an undisclosed amount.
CollectionsAug 13, 2026
John Hardy Infuses ‘Icon,’ ‘Heishi’ Collections with ColorThe expanded collections now feature hand-cut gemstones like topaz, tanzanite, chrysoprase, chalcedony, smoky quartz, and fire opal.
Lab-GrownAug 13, 2026
Jean Dousset Opens Third StoreThe lab-grown diamond jewelry brand’s newest boutique is in Westfield Valley Fair in Santa Clara, California.
SourcingAug 12, 2026
Eshed-Gemstar on the Painstaking Process of Cutting ‘The Legacy Emerald’The gemstone supplier and manufacturer acquired the remarkable 104-gram Zambian emerald at Gemfields’ auction in May.
CrimeAug 12, 2026
Elderly NYC Woman Targeted in Jewelry Swap SchemeTwo suspects offered to trade the woman a “winning” lottery ticket for her jewelry.
SourcingAug 12, 2026
Another Diamond Mine Poised to CloseFinsch has been in business rescue since May, and owner Petra Diamonds said it sees no viable path forward for the mine.
CrimeAug 12, 2026
Jewelry Store Employee Gets 20 Years to Life in Choking Death of BossMichel Patrick DeSalles was sentenced after pleading guilty to the 2017 murder of Omid Gholian, who owned a jewelry store in Manhattan.
MajorsAug 12, 2026
Frederick Goldman Names New SVP of SalesLongtime industry executive Beth Miller has taken on the role.
AuctionsAug 11, 2026
Verdura Unicorn Brooch With Royal Connection Up for Auction The brooch was owned by Virginia Fortune Ryan Ogilvy, who served as a lady of the bedchamber to Queen Elizabeth II for nearly 50 years.
MajorsAug 11, 2026
Signet Jewelers Selects Mattel Exec to Lead Zales, BanterJamie Cygielman will take on the role on Aug. 24.
IndependentsAug 11, 2026
Polly’s Fine Jewelry Co-Owner Richard Moore Dies at 69Moore, Polly’s husband, is remembered as a family man with an easygoing spirit and a love for sports and the outdoors.
ColumnistsAug 11, 2026
Creative Connecting: How to Sell Colored Gemstones to Gen ZDuvall O’Steen and Jen Cullen Williams share the best ways to display, present, and explain colored gemstones to younger customers.
Events & AwardsAug 11, 2026
NAJA Announces Lineup For 2026 Fall Virtual ConferenceThe mid-year conference for jewelry and watch appraisers will take place Sept. 5-6 on Zoom.
TechnologyAug 10, 2026
Colorado Jeweler Launches Customization Tool He Built HimselfHonest Hands Ring Co. Founder Benjamin Bosworth shared his thoughts on jewelry technology and why AI can never replace the human element.
