Sponsored by the Gemological Institute of America
Remembering Stuller’s ‘Tool Guy,’ Andy Kroungold
The longtime Stuller employee is described as a kind, genuine and knowledgeable man who is irreplaceable.

Lafayette, La.—Andrew S. Kroungold, the longtime Stuller employee better known as “Andy the Tool Guy,” died last Wednesday morning at a hospital in Youngsville, Louisiana.
He was 66 years old.
In a statement issued immediately following Kroungold’s passing, Stuller said: “Andy’s infectious personality and joyous outlook on life put a smile on everyone’s face that he encountered.
“He was beloved by our Stuller family and equally beloved by our customers.”
Born July 26, 1953, Kroungold spent most of his life in Youngsville, a suburb of Lafayette.
He was on the swim team in high school and attended college at Florida International University, earning a bachelor’s degree in business.
Kroungold started his career in the jewelry industry with jewelers’ equipment and supply company Swest Inc. in Atlanta in the 1980s.
He was hired by Stuller in 1999.
He held a variety of jobs in his 20 years at Stuller, mostly recently working as tools business director.
News of Kroungold’s death generated an outpouring of remembrances online, with many describing him as a great man who was helpful and knowledgeable.
A fixture at jewelry trade shows nationwide, he was “the man” for many independent jewelers when it came to tool needs.
On National Jeweler’s Facebook page, one commenter said “The Tool Guy” assisted her in assembling her “dream bench.”
“As a jeweler starting out, it has meant the world to me,” she wrote.
“I’ll never forget him and what he did. My most heartfelt condolences to his family and the Stuller family as well. We have lost a great one.”
Another commenter wrote: “I will miss this gentle giant of a man, and will think of him often as I use the endless tools and equipment he helped me with, and I will especially miss the exchange we would have when I call in … about some new tool or piece of equipment.
“I know Andy will be greatly missed by his family and our industry community. It isn’t often that a person becomes famous in their trade simply by doing their job with passion, love and personality.”
WATCH: Faces of Stuller - Andy Kroungold
{youtube}Olw9fDOGjvA#action=share{/youtube}
In a profile created for the company’s video series “Faces of Stuller” in 2018, Kroungold said he earned the nickname “The Tool Guy” before he even started at Stuller.
Over the course of his career, he built relationships with customers that spanned
“I work hard to provide honesty, respect and salesmanship to my customers every time,” Kroungold said in the video. “My goal is to make the customer happy so they will always come back.”
His colleagues at Stuller said “Andy the Tool Guy” will be missed by everyone.
“Andy was a great man, trusted colleague, and good friend who will be missed by the many people whose lives he touched,” Ken Dugas, Stuller’s customer events logistics manager, said.
“There is no other Andy; no one else in the industry like him,” said Vice President of Merchandising Tammy Lail.
“I was fortunate to not only work with him, but to love him as family. He will be deeply missed by so many.”
Kroungold is survived by his son, Robert L. Kroungold, and daughter-in-law, Hannah L. Kroungold, of Dallas; sister, Amy Mittelberg, and brother-in-law, Rickey Mittelberg; one nephew, Brian Mittelberg; two nieces, Rachel Cohen and Alissa Mittelberg; and his grand-pups, Auggie and Dash.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Leon Kroungold and Marion Silver Kroungold.
Services were held Monday at Martin & Castille Funeral Home in Lafayette.
Barry L. Weinstein, the rabbi emeritus of Congregation B’nai Israel in Baton Rouge and rabbi of Temple Sinai of Lake Charles, Louisiana, conducted the services.
His son Robert served as pallbearer.
The Latest

Simon Wolf shares why the time was right to open a new office here, what he looks for in a retail partner, and why he loves U.S. consumers.

The company failed to file its quarterly reports in a timely manner.

The risk of laboratory-grown diamonds being falsely presented as natural diamonds presents a very significant danger to consumer trust.

The organization also announced its board of directors.


Charms may be tiny but with their small size comes endless layering possibilities, from bracelets to necklaces and earrings.

Located in Valenza, the now 355,000-square-foot facility includes a new jewelry school that’s open to the public, Scuola Bulgari.

Paola Sasplugas, co-founder of the Barcelona-based jewelry brand, received the Fine Jewelry Award.

A platinum Zenith-powered Daytona commissioned in the late ‘90s will headline Sotheby’s Important Watches sale in Geneva next month.

The basketball stars wear men’s jewelry from the “Curb Chain” collection.

The Signet Jewelers-owned retailer wants to encourage younger shoppers to wear fine jewelry every day, not just on special occasions.

The 21 pieces, all from a private collector, will be offered at its Magnificent Jewels auction next month.

Lilian Raji answers a question from a reader who is looking to grow her jewelry business but has a limited marketing budget.

GCAL by Sarine created the new role to sharpen the company’s focus on strategic partnerships and scalable expansion.

“Cartier: Design, Craft, and Legacy” opened earlier this month at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.

Van Cott Jewelers in Vestal, New York, is hosting a going-out-of-business sale.

Industry veteran Samantha Larson has held leadership roles at Borsheims, McTeigue & McClelland, Stuller, and Long’s Jewelers.
The two organizations will hold the educational event together this fall in Mississippi.

The entrepreneur and “Shark Tank” star will share his top tips for success.

The Ukrainian brand’s new pendant is modeled after a traditional paska, a pastry often baked for Easter in Eastern European cultures.

The jeweler has announced a grand reopening for its recently remodeled location in Peoria, Illinois.

The “Strong Like Mom” campaign features moms who work at Tiffany & Co. and their children.

Interior designer Athena Calderone looked to decor from the 1920s and 1930s when crafting her first fine jewelry collection.

During a call about its full-year results, CEO Efraim Grinberg discussed how the company is approaching the uncertainty surrounding tariffs.

The free program provides educational content for jewelry salespeople and enthusiasts to learn or refresh their diamond knowledge.

The feedback will be used to prepare other jewelers for the challenges ahead, the organization said.