CollectionsJan 31, 2025
Piece of the Week: Lalaounis’ Good Luck Charm for 2025The “Blossom Rosette” blooms with love, beauty, and hope for the year ahead.
EditorsJul 12, 2012
Milt Gralla, 84: People who build
Milton Gralla, a legendary publishing executive in our business and whom many have known through his lifetime commitment to philanthropy, has passed away at age 84. Though National Jeweler was founded in 1906, it was when Milt and his brother...
Milton Gralla, a legendary publishing executive in our business and whom many have known through his lifetime commitment to philanthropy, has passed away at age 84.
Milt and Larry were real creators, guys who built their highly successful business from the ground up. They began by shepherding together trade journalists in what may have been the first real national network of business-to-business "stringers"--talented reporters who could write on topics across a large span of disciplines. Milt and Larry quickly became known for their honesty and extreme level of trustworthiness among all who worked with and for them, a quality Milt told me several times laid the foundation for their success.
As they grew, a next logical step became the acquisition of magazines. And the Grallas conceived of and developed a readily embraced business model. They would buy properties that were widely recognized in their fields but not living up to their potential. Among an eventually large stable of such titles was National Jeweler, which was being published in Chicago as a monthly, digest-sized magazine.
The Grallas blew it up to its famous tabloid size and positioned it as the news provider to fine jewelry retailers. As such, it served as an essential provider of market news and analysis to generations of North American jewelers.
Milt had a special place in his heart for the jewelry business, and he quickly embarked on a lifetime of service within industry organizations. Especially near to his heart were Jewish philanthropic causes. And even before he had achieved the enormous success he and Larry would go on to enjoy, he established himself as a large donor and participant in a vast number of such efforts.
Milt tried to instill that ethic into those who worked with him, and many of us owe him immense gratitude for steering us along those paths that he pioneered for us.
Milt was a hands-on executive, who never placed himself above those who worked for him. He was reverered for rolling up his sleeves and digging in as a regular guy. He was the type of
Editors' Picks
Sponsored by
leader executives and gurus today seem to pay endless lip service to. But he was the real deal.
He did things not just for personal profit. The term today might be "old-school." He did the right things because he believed in doing the right things. He created because he was enormously talented. He shared because he had the heart of a lion.
Milt was a mensch.
Even after he and Larry sold the business they created, they continued to attend company meetings to ensure that those they had left behind were being treated fairly. He continued in his philanthropic ways and expanded to take on teaching journalism courses to young, eager students at a number of institutions, never forgetting the head start given to him by his education in journalism at the City College of New York. Milt loved mentoring young professionals entering the craft and endeavored to give them a leg up as they started out.
I have spent the vast majority of my professional career and nearly half my life trying to follow the example set by this man. In my 23 years at National Jeweler, I have never once forgotten or lost sight of the fact that this magazine was created by an extraordinary individual. And extraordinary individuals are few in life.
Thank you Milton Gralla, and may God grant you that very special place in heaven reserved for people like you.
More on Editors
The Latest
IndependentsJan 31, 2025
Harvey Rovinsky, Longtime Owner of Bernie Robbins Jewelers, Dies at 77Rovinsky is remembered as a great mentor who made the employees of his stores feel like family.
Events & AwardsJan 31, 2025
Facets of Fire Has a Diamond Challenge for RetailersFor every jeweler who tries their luck, the company will make a donation to Jewelers for Children.
Brought to you by
3 New Year’s Resolutions for Jewelry Lovers The new year feels like a clean slate, inspiring reflection, hope, and the motivation to become better versions of ourselves.
MajorsJan 30, 2025
WJA Chapter Leaders Resign as Fallout From DEI Remarks SnowballsThe boards of at least five chapters have resigned in response to controversial statements the WJA national board president made last month.
Weekly QuizJan 30, 2025
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
Policies & IssuesJan 30, 2025
RJC Executive Director Melanie Grant Is Stepping Down An experienced jewelry writer and curator, Grant led the organization for two years.
CollectionsJan 30, 2025
Pharrell Williams Brings Tahitian Pearls to His New Tiffany & Co. CollectionFive new designs were added, all donning Tahitian cultured pearls and spear-like trident motifs, along with the new “Titan” setting.
Brought to you by
A Diamond Is Forever Celebrates "Forever Present" Holiday CampaignA Diamond is Forever hosted a holiday celebration in honor of their new marketing campaign, ‘Forever Present.’
Events & AwardsJan 30, 2025
Registration Open for Converge 2025The inaugural event is being co-hosted by the American Gem Society and the Gemological Institute of America.
MajorsJan 30, 2025
24 Karat Club of New York Elects 5 New MembersJewelers of America’s Annie Doresca and AGTA CEO John W. Ford Sr. are among the new members.
CollectionsJan 29, 2025
Boucheron’s High Jewelry Takes the Form of ‘Untamed Nature’The jeweler’s latest high jewelry collection looks into the Boucheron archives to create a “living encyclopedia of high jewelry.”
FinancialsJan 29, 2025
LVMH Watch, Jewelry Sales End the Year DownWatch and jewelry sales slipped 3 percent in 2024, though the luxury conglomerate did see business pick up in the fourth quarter.
MajorsJan 29, 2025
Chanel Names New General Manager of Watches, Fine Jewelry for USOlivier Kessler-Gay will take over the role on March 3.
SurveysJan 29, 2025
Consumer Confidence Slips for Second Consecutive Month It hit a four-month low in January due to concerns about the job market, though consumers remain bullish about the stock market.
Events & AwardsJan 29, 2025
Chris Ploof To Teach Mokume Gane at AJSThe jewelry designer and master metalsmith will present on the ancient Japanese metalworking technique at the Atlanta Jewelry Show in March.
SourcingJan 28, 2025
WFDB Joins Efforts to Promote Natural Diamonds With New CampaignThe “Moments” social media campaign emphasizes the emotional ties between natural diamonds and life’s special milestones.
CollectionsJan 28, 2025
Bliss Lau Celebrates the Intricate Mosaic of Identity in New CollectionThe versatile “As We Are” collection features 14 pieces with interlocking designs allowing for 27 different looks worn around the body.
SourcingJan 28, 2025
Botswana’s First Olympic Gold Medalist Is Now a De Beers Ambassador Letsile Tebogo will help to promote natural diamonds and the good they have done for his country.
Events & AwardsJan 28, 2025
NouvelleBox Show Returns to New York CityThe showcase, in its second year, will feature more than 20 international brands at its curated event from Feb. 2-4.
Recorded WebinarsJan 28, 2025
Watch: Fine Jewelry Market Predictions for 2025 “My Next Question” guests Sherry Smith and Edahn Golan share their 2025 forecasts, from sales and marketing to what retailers should stock.
Events & AwardsJan 28, 2025
Here Is the 2025 AGTA GemFair Tucson Educational LineupThe seminar series covers topics from market trends and colored stone terminology to working with museums and growing an Instagram profile.
MajorsJan 27, 2025
Le Vian Corp. Chairman Larry LeVian, a Man of Faith and Family, Dies at 73 LeVian is remembered for his leadership in the jewelry industry and for being a selfless and compassionate person.
CrimeJan 27, 2025
New Jersey Jeweler Sentenced to 2 1/2 Years for Evading CustomsMonishkumar Kirankumar Doshi Shah pleaded guilty to evading customs on more than $13.5 million of jewelry imported into the U.S.
SourcingJan 27, 2025
Dev Shetty To Head New Auction House for Rare Colored GemsJemora Gemhouse’s inaugural auction, slated for March, will take place in Dubai and feature polished sapphires.
CollectionsJan 27, 2025
Rachel Quinn Embodies Feelings of Falling in Love in New CollectionQuinn partnered with Gemfields to create “Crazy Love,” which features Zambian emeralds and Mozambican rubies across 10 pieces.
MajorsJan 27, 2025
Arch Crown’s 2025 ‘Tag & Label’ Catalog Is Out Now The catalog is 48 pages and features more than 100 styles.
CollectionsJan 24, 2025
Piece of the Week: Ashley Zhang Jewelry’s Lunar New Year NecklaceThe one-of-a-kind necklace was designed in celebration of the Chinese New Year, as 2025 is the Year of the Snake.
