The pair falsely claimed their jewelry was made by Navajo artists, but it was imported from Vietnam.
Trabert & Hoeffer Closing Auction Totals $1.2 Million
The Chicago jeweler partnered with auction house Leslie Hindman to sell off inventory before closing its doors this month.

Chicago—Jeweler Trabert & Hoeffer teamed up with auction house owner Hindman LLC to sell off some of its inventory before closing its last-standing location in Chicago this month.
The top lot was the platinum and diamond ring pictured below, featuring a 9.10 carat emerald-cut diamond, which sold for $160,000, just slightly below the estimate of $180,000 to $280,000.
A pair of Art Deco platinum, diamond, ruby, sapphire and emerald double clip brooches sold for $15,000, at the high-end of the pre-auction estimate. The brooches, seen below, can be worn together or separately.
The Art Deco platinum, emerald, diamond and onyx brooch pictured below, featuring an oval-shaped cabochon emerald weighing approximately 117.22 carats, sold for $70,000, more than doubling the low-end of $35,000 to $55,000 range.
A pair of retro platinum and diamond earclips by Trabert & Hoeffer/Mauboussin, featuring 102 round brilliant cut diamonds weighing 2.65 carats total, sold for $7,000, selling for above their $3,500 to $5,500 pre-sale estimate.
Meanwhile, a retro platinum, diamond and pink tourmaline brooch by Trabert & Hoeffer/Mauboussin valued between $15,000 and $20,000 was expected to be an auction standout, but it didn’t sell.
The first Trabert & Hoeffer store opened on New York’s Park Avenue in the 1930s, later expanding to Palm Beach, Florida; Beverly Hills, California; Atlantic City, New Jersey; and Chicago.
Chicago native Don Levinson bought the location in 1968 but will soon be retiring.
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