MajorsDec 19, 2025
MadaLuxe Group Acquires Ippolita The luxury goods company said founder Ippolita Rostagno will remain at the brand’s helm.
SurveysOct 17, 2017
50 Jewelers/50 States: Texas
In Houston, Reiner’s Fine Jewelry relies on personal connections with customers to maintain a thriving custom business.
Houston, Texas jewelry store Reiner’s Fine Jewelry fared well during the recent deadly hurricane, closing for a few days but avoiding any water damage.
Houston--In 50 Jewelers/50 States, National Jeweler interviews one retailer in each of the 50 U.S. states to find out how they are meeting the challenges of the changing retail environment.
Founded in 1945, Reiner’s Fine Jewelry is still a complete family affair today.
The Houston, Texas store is currently headed by four members of the Reiner family: Irvin is president and CEO; Steven is vice president, sales and merchandising; Lenny is vice president, accounting; and Bert is web master and social media chairman.
Luckily, Hurricane Harvey left Reiner’s unscathed. “Our store did OK,” Steven Reiner said. “We were closed a few days, but no water damage.”
He talked to National Jeweler about retail challenges not related to the weather, particularly how the store’s custom bridal work doesn’t gel with e-commerce.
National Jeweler: What’s the biggest challenge your store is facing today?
Steven Reiner: The biggest challenge our store is facing today is staying competitive with the internet.
NJ: What’s the top-selling category at your store?
SR: The top selling category at our store is bridal jewelry.
NJ: What’s your top-selling brand?
SR: The top selling brand at our store is CrownRing across the board.
NJ: Describe your regional customer.
SR: Our regional customer is a man in his late twenties or early thirties. We serve the greater Houston area and seem to have a diverse demographic.
NJ: What’s the most popular style of engagement ring with your clientele now?
SR: The most popular style of engagement ring is the classic traditional solitaire. It still holds true (as a) timeless fashion over time. The most popular diamond shape for our store is the round, and the most popular type of metal is 14-karat white gold.
NJ: Which social media accounts are important to your business?
SR: The social media account that is most important to our business is Facebook.
NJ: Do you have e-commerce?
SR: We do not have e-commerce. We don’t have it because with the competitive nature of e-commerce, we find it best for our store to have a one-on-one dialogue where we can correlate a 72-year tradition of a family business with the hope of building a lifelong customer.
We also do not rely on mass production of items, and therefore prefer to make each interaction with our client as unique as the diamonds they are purchasing.
NJ:
What’s the best piece of advice you’d offer to a fellow independent jeweler?
SR: The best piece of advice that I would offer to another independent jewelry store is that money cannot buy you a good reputation. Your reputation means everything when you are helping a client.
NJ: What’s a fun fact about you we can share with our readers?
SR: While attending the GIA in 1980 in Santa Monica, California, I met someone there who has become a lifelong best friend for almost 40 years.
SR: The best piece of advice that I would offer to another independent jewelry store is that money cannot buy you a good reputation. Your reputation means everything when you are helping a client.
NJ: What’s a fun fact about you we can share with our readers?
SR: While attending the GIA in 1980 in Santa Monica, California, I met someone there who has become a lifelong best friend for almost 40 years.
More on Surveys
The Latest
MajorsDec 19, 2025
LVMH Names New Bulgari CEOLaura Burdese, who joined the Italian luxury brand in 2022, will take on the role in July.
EditorsDec 19, 2025
2025 Jewelry Superlatives: A Yearbook-Style Year in Review The National Jeweler editors revisit the most noteworthy industry happenings and design trends from 2025.
Brought to you by
Impacting Tomorrow TodayHow Jewelers of America’s 20 Under 40 are leading to ensure a brighter future for the jewelry industry.
AuctionsDec 19, 2025
Jean Schlumberger’s ‘African Cat’ Is Purr-Fection Need a gift for the cat lover who has everything? Look no further than our latest Piece of the Week.
Weekly QuizDec 18, 2025
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
AuctionsDec 18, 2025
Audemars Piguet Reclaims Historic Pocket Watch at AuctionIt purchased the “Grosse Pièce,” an ultra-complicated Audemars Piguet pocket watch from the ‘20s, for a record-breaking price at Sotheby’s.
Lab-GrownDec 18, 2025
Kira Jewels Debuts Custom Lab-Grown Diamond Jewelry ServiceThe lab-grown diamond grower now offers custom engagement and fashion jewelry through its Kira Custom Lab Jewelry service.
Brought to you by
Roseco Releases New Full-Line CatalogRoseco’s 704-page catalog showcases new lab-grown diamonds, findings, tools & more—available in print or interactive digital editions.
EditorsDec 18, 2025
Terry Chandler Looks Back on 40 Years of Opportunity, Change, and FriendsChandler got his start at Michelson Jewelers and has served as DCA president and CEO since 2001. He will retire at the end of the month.
WatchesDec 18, 2025
Bob’s Watches to Open Store in New York’s JFK AirportThe boutique is slated to open this week inside Terminal 8, offering pre-owned Rolex watches and more to international travelers.
Supplier BulletinDec 18, 2025
Cell Jammers Are Targeting Your Business. Here's How to Beat ThemSponsored by Digital Monitoring Products
CrimeDec 17, 2025
Man Pleads Not Guilty to Swallowing Fabergé PendantThe special-edition egg pendant ingested in a New Zealand jewelry store was recovered after a six-day wait.
EditorsDec 17, 2025
2025 Jewelry Rewind: The Best Piece of the Week PicksAssociate Editor Natalie Francisco plays favorites with Piece of the Week, selecting a standout piece of jewelry from each month of 2025.
CollectionsDec 17, 2025
Lucy Hale Stars in Jacquie Aiche’s Holiday CampaignThe “Love and Desire” campaign is inspired by the magic that follows when one’s heart leads the way, said the brand.
GradingDec 17, 2025
SSEF Announces 2025 Scholarship WinnersTwo awardees will receive free tuition for an educational course at the Swiss lab, with flights and lodging included.
MajorsDec 16, 2025
Pandora’s New CEO Will Step Up EarlyBerta de Pablos-Barbier will replace Alexander Lacik at the start of January, two months earlier than expected.
AuctionsDec 16, 2025
Suzanne Belperron, JAR Shine in Sotheby’s First Auctions at New HQSotheby’s held its first two jewelry sales at the Breuer building last week, and they totaled nearly $44 million.
Events & AwardsDec 16, 2025
TJS Now Accepting Scholarship Applications for 2026Winners will receive free registration and lodging for its fourth annual event in Detroit.
ColumnistsDec 16, 2025
Beyond Unboxing: Creative Reveals to Drive Reach and EngagementHere are six ideas for making more engaging content for Instagram Reels and TikTok, courtesy of Duvall O’Steen and Jen Cullen Williams.
Events & AwardsDec 16, 2025
Diamonds Do Good Names 2026 Award RecipientsThe honorees include a notable jewelry brand, an industry veteran, and an independent retailer.
CrimeDec 15, 2025
Men Receive Life Sentences in Home Invasion Murder of Jeweler Carlos Jose Hernandez and Joshua Zuazo were sentenced to life without the possibility of parole in the 2024 murder of Hussein “Sam” Murray.
Policies & IssuesDec 15, 2025
Sara Yood Named Co-Chair of RJC Standards CommitteeYood will serve alongside Eduard Stefanescu, the sustainability manager for C.Hafner, a precious metals refiner in Germany.
IndependentsDec 15, 2025
M.S. Rau to Open Store in AspenThe New Orleans jeweler is also hosting pop-up jewelry boutiques in New York City and Dallas.
AuctionsDec 12, 2025
13.54-Carat Paraíba Tourmaline Sets Records at Christie’sSet in a Tiffany & Co. necklace, it sold for $4.2 million, the highest price and price per carat paid for a Paraíba tourmaline at auction.
MajorsDec 12, 2025
David Webb Reveals Ice-Cold Holiday Window DisplayThe jeweler’s “Deep Freeze” display showcases its iconic jewelry designs frozen in a vintage icebox.
CollectionsDec 12, 2025
Piece of the Week: Oscar Heyman’s Sphene RingTake luxury gifting to new heights this holiday season with the jeweler’s showstopping 12-carat sphene ring.
Events & AwardsDec 12, 2025
IGI Jewelry Design Contest Now Accepting SubmissionsThis year's theme is “Unveiling the Depths of the Ocean.”
