It’s the Signet-owned banner’s first location in Georgia.
Stone & Strand’s CEO On Launching Private Label
Nadine McCarthy Kahane also spoke to National Jeweler about a recent bridal collaboration with Jemma Wynne on the e-commerce site.
![Stone & Strand’s eponymous fine jewelry collection offers basic styles at millennial-friendly price points. 20170531_SandS-header.jpg](https://uploads.nationaljeweler.com/uploads/6636bb6e85de10c2a8788c016cc14817.jpg)
What started as a purely online space branched into an omnichannel retail venture with the addition of a by-appointment showroom in New York City.
Last year, the company quietly introduced an in-house, eponymous private label, which contains various sub-labels, or collections grouped by trend, to its website.
National Jeweler chatted with CEO and founder Nadine McCarthy Kahane on Stone & Strand the company, Stone & Strand the label, as well as the online retailer’s recent bridal collaboration with Jemma Wynne.
![Stone & Strand founder and CEO Nadine McCarthy Kahane Stone & Strand founder and CEO Nadine McCarthy Kahane](/rails/active_storage/blobs/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IkJBaHBBalVVIiwiZXhwIjpudWxsLCJwdXIiOiJibG9iX2lkIn19--0f2c5a3b0a1d2ee483c994f8815138c8cfe625af/20170531_SandS-headshot.jpg)
National Jeweler: Describe the visual philosophy of the Stone & Strand label.
Nadine McCarthy Kahane: The line is designed to provide our customers with stylish basics at great price points.
We sell studs individually so it ranges from $65 for a single earring to around $1,000 (for a larger piece).
NJ: What led you to create an in-house brand?
NMK: We really felt lucky to be in a place where we worked with such an amazing group of creative designers and we were really pleased with the curation we had on our website. At the same time, we had customers who were asking for that basic stud to wear with, for example, a more interesting Jacquie Aiche ear cuff or ear jacket, and that was one thing, which, as a non-traditional jewelry store, we just didn’t have to offer.
So the line really came from that customer demand and customer requests that we were getting on a very consistent basis.
NJ: How are your customers responding to it so far?
NMK: It’s really had an incredible response. In terms of revenue and volume, it’s just seen incredible month-to-month growth since we’ve launched.
I think one of the things that we’re most excited by is that it is really something that is quite complimentary to what we have on offer from our designers, so we often see people buying multiple pieces. For example, they buy two or three earrings and the basic studs would be from us but maybe they throw something in that’s a little more fashion-forward from (jewelry brand) EF Collection as well.
NJ: What is the design process like? Where is the jewelry made?
NMK: It’s designed in-house. We have a really great former editor whom we’re working with who provides us with the designs and obviously a technical team that turns that into reality. Right now everything is manufactured in New York but depending on how the collection evolves, we’d always look to manufacture in a place that makes the most sense for the type of work we’re doing.
NMK: That really came about quite organically as a meeting of minds for both parties.
We were interested in doing a very unique bridal collaboration that, for us, was the sort of ultimate dream capsule, and we wanted to find someone to partner with whom we thought could really bring that special creative energy to the table.
And, at the same time, Jemma Wynne was looking to do something a little more accessible in the bridal space. We were both really excited by the idea of trying to reinvent the traditional solitaire and produce something that’s fresh and modern and relevant to our girl.
NJ: Why was Jemma Wynne the right fit for your customer?
NMK: They have that incredible timeless and luxurious brand and product quality, which we can stand by, from being made in New York to also using 18-karat gold, which isn’t a material that we typically offer for everyday pieces. We felt that for a bridal purchase we wanted to be able to offer something to our customer that was a little bit more luxurious because it really is a piece that they’re going to own forever.
![Here are five of the six bridal styles Jemma Wynne created in collaboration with Stone & Strand. The range starts at $2,520 retail for the setting only, with the most expensive style selling for $9,870 for the setting only. Here are five of the six bridal styles Jemma Wynne created in collaboration with Stone & Strand. The range starts at $2,520 retail for the setting only, with the most expensive style selling for $9,870 for the setting only.](/rails/active_storage/blobs/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IkJBaHBBallVIiwiZXhwIjpudWxsLCJwdXIiOiJibG9iX2lkIn19--f17dd8a43fc2dc2f3afcc6a21df4c96d40a8a3b4/20170531_SandS-jemmawynne.jpg)
NJ: In the four years that you’ve been in business, what have you learned about your customer? Has your understanding of them changed in that time?
NMK: Definitely. I would say that we are just so much more focused than we ever have been on targeting the female millennial customer.
When we first launched, we carried a broader selection but we found that this (the female millennial customer) was the customer we knew best and who was responding to us, so more than ever we’ve fine-tuned our merchandise selection to really offer her what she wants, as opposed to catering to a larger audience.
NJ: Are there other brand collaborations planned for the future?
NMK: We see partnerships as a key way to be able to offer something special and more unusual to our customer, so that’s actually something we’ll be doing a little bit more of going forward.
These partnerships happen very organically so the pace sort of depends on whom we meet and whether there’s a strong connection, so to speak.
NJ: What’s next for the Stone and Strand in-house line?
NRK: We are constantly looking to offer our customers something fresh, and the nice thing about being online is that it does allow us to experiment with different styles on a very regular basis so that’s something that we’re looking to introduce in a consistent way.
We tend to add something new every two weeks.
The Latest
![These “Double Loop” earrings feature a drop-cut amethyst sitting atop the lower hoop, totaling 1.60 carats between both earrings. The hoops are made of silver covered in “pistacchio” colored enamel, while 9-karat yellow gold holds the stones in place and connect the two hoops behind the earlobe ($1,770). Bea Bongiasca’s Double Loop Earrings](https://uploads.nationaljeweler.com/uploads/f338ef6b4603be3c97765f833b831ca0.jpg)
Commemorate “brat summer” with these green hoops.
![The skyline of downtown Providence, Rhode Island. Jewelers of America held one of its Multifacted Learning Workshops there on July 17 and National Jeweler Editor-in-Chief Michelle Graff tagged along. Stock image of Providence, Rhode Island, skyline](https://uploads.nationaljeweler.com/uploads/4ec5b02d4cbaaaa2283bdcf6820950a4.jpg)
Editor-in-Chief Michelle Graff returns from Rhode Island with thoughts about in-store shopping and a trends report.
![Untitled design.jpg](https://uploads.nationaljeweler.com/uploads/583fbcb2bb839782810080debef35d3c.jpg)
As the demand for lab-grown diamond jewelry may still be increasing, the most notable change we are likely to see is price stabilization.
Sponsored by Gemological Institute of America
![](https://uploads.nationaljeweler.com/uploads/99a46b30cc354962ac2e29ecd113587a.jpg)
![A shot of the Venetia diamond mine in South Africa, owned by De Beers Group. The diamond miner and marketer saw revenue drop 21 percent and rough diamond sales decline 20 percent in a “weak” market for diamonds. De Beers’ Venetia diamond mine](https://uploads.nationaljeweler.com/uploads/a1f16ceaaba662e80385166060d192a7.jpg)
Lab-grown diamond sales in the United States and ongoing economic challenges in China are impacting natural diamond demand.
A longtime member of IJO, she’s remembered for her passion for design, learning, and environmentalism.
![1872 x 1052 Gemolite.jpg](https://uploads.nationaljeweler.com/uploads/9d60901b44425a53b9010301897a3bbc.jpg)
GIA®’s most advanced microscope has new features to optimize greater precision and comfort.
![A malachite and diamond bracelet from Pomellato’s “Pom Pom Dot” collection, launched earlier this year. Pomellato and Boucheron were bright spots for Kering in an otherwise underwhelming first half of the year. Pomellato Malachite Pom Pom Dot bracelet](https://uploads.nationaljeweler.com/uploads/3c237b62e009742fc52487097daf3c5a.jpg)
The gains come amid a tough time for parent company Kering, which saw sales slide 11 percent in the first half of the year.
![Volunteers and Shane Co.’s corporate team from all 22 locations of the family-owned jewelry chain have begun packing backpacks with school supplies for teachers to distribute to their students this school year. Shane Co. and the Kids in Need foundation logo](https://uploads.nationaljeweler.com/uploads/1c5abfb36ec775724f014f47bfbb47fc.jpg)
The fine jewelry retailer filled backpacks with back-to-school essentials for students in 13 states.
![A shot from the advertising campaign for LVMH-owned Bulgari’s “Eden the Garden of Wonders” high jewelry collection. LVMH’s jewelry and watch sales slipped in the first half of the fiscal year. Bulgari high jewelry campaign](https://uploads.nationaljeweler.com/uploads/c24eb75ca8cea44d2e9859648f4a98ee.jpg)
Tiffany & Co. is focusing on its “iconic” collections while the company has made changes at the top at TAG Heuer and Hublot.
![Chaumet, a Parisian jeweler owned by LVMH, has designed the Olympic and Paralympic Games medals. Chaumet Paris 2024 Olympics medals](https://uploads.nationaljeweler.com/uploads/7831b3a738baddfc7d783e6df0fbf796.jpg)
The Parisian brand is the first jewelry company in the history of the Olympic and Paralympic Games to design the medals.
![The acquisition of Union Life & Casualty by Jewelers Mutual will help strengthen both the pawn market and the insurance industry, said JM. Jewelers Mutual and Union Life and Casualty logos](https://uploads.nationaljeweler.com/uploads/195925667226ecfc51b4e1bb09607143.jpg)
Union Life & Casualty will join JM Insurance Agency Partners, expanding the provider’s pawnbroker coverage.
![The winner of this year’s Lonia Tate scholarship, Bradlei Smith will receive the opportunity to earn her Graduate Gemologist diploma from GIA and, following graduation, an internship at Ben Bridge Jeweler in Seattle. Bradlei Smith](https://uploads.nationaljeweler.com/uploads/996834935ae30a7a1195db8b9db6cb7d.jpg)
Los Angeles-based Bradlei Smith was selected for this year’s award.
![Peter Smith is an industry consultant, speaker, sales trainer, and author. He can be reached via email at TheRetailSmiths@gmail.com. National Jeweler columnist Peter Smith](https://uploads.nationaljeweler.com/uploads/bec7295a7f478778b1c196e6d81e7cd9.jpg)
In his latest column, Smith shares multiple reasons why people who look at the glass as being hall full often make better salespeople.
![De Beers Group mined 6.4 million carats of diamonds in the second quarter of 2024, down from 7.6 million in the same period last year. (©De Beers Group/Photo credit: Ben Perry @ Armoury Films) De Beers rough diamond display](https://uploads.nationaljeweler.com/uploads/80cd02b1c8384f4b2efda0bcdf6a75e1.jpg)
The company also reported the $150 million sale of an iron ore royalty right, part of its ongoing effort to divest “non-core” assets.
![In honor of its summer bridal event, Long’s Jewelers is partnering with Wequassett Resort and Golf Club on Cape Cod in Massachusetts, and jewelry brand JB Star on a vacation giveaway. Long’s Jewelers giveaway promo](https://uploads.nationaljeweler.com/uploads/4e7a90944c4e8875a4f3818dbe26b28b.jpg)
The giveaway is part of the New England jeweler’s summer bridal event.
![L.A.-based flower designer, Sophia Moreno-Bunge models Guzema’s “Hidden Beauty” collection in front of a garden in Rustic Canyon in Santa Monica, California. Sophia Moreno-Bunge of Isa Isa modeling Guzema’s Hidden Beauty collection](https://uploads.nationaljeweler.com/uploads/6f3822623eb7fd2f6468f82825194cb1.jpg)
The ad features three celebrity florists creating floral sculptures while wearing jewelry by Guzema.
![The Entrepreneurship Grants program supports winners with financial aid to scale their businesses and increase their societal impact, said Diamonds Do Good. Pictured here are three of the 13 winners, top right is Tresia Shituula, and bottom row left to right, are Monkgogi Moshaga and Mohamed Samu. Tresia Shituula, Monkgogi Moshaga, Mohamed Samu](https://uploads.nationaljeweler.com/uploads/a7c9b87301b76a9446f6522747ce5b95.jpg)
The grant provided a total of $100,000 to support 13 entrepreneurs from diamond communities in Africa and India.
![Ghazi Osta, better known as Gus, was the owner and president of Volusia Gold & Diamond, a store he and his wife, Leigh Osta, opened in 1986. He was shot and killed inside the store Friday afternoon after a brief argument with a regular customer. (Photo courtesy of Volusia Gold & Diamond Facebook page) Ghazi “Gus” Michel Osta](https://uploads.nationaljeweler.com/uploads/c8c1fa3df746cbd364915a98dcac9d21.jpg)
Ghazi Michel Osta, or “Gus,” was killed Friday by an 83-year-old man said to be a frequent customer at his store, Volusia Gold & Diamond.
![Elyssa Jenkins-Pérez (left) is the Responsible Jewellery Council’s new head of North American development, and Effie Marinos is its new specialist advisor for technical standards. Elyssa Jenkins-Perez and Effie Marinos](https://uploads.nationaljeweler.com/uploads/94332af0c7a776e7a8c36fabf76baa5f.jpg)
The organization also announced Effie Marinos as its new specialist advisor for technical standards, as well as four other appointments.
![Karen Rentmeesters, who joined the Antwerp World Diamond Centre in 2010, will take on the role of CEO. Karen Rentmeesters](https://uploads.nationaljeweler.com/uploads/3256fcc71cd43a399055c61f68486269.jpg)
Rentmeesters has served as interim CEO since April following former CEO Ari Epstein’s resignation.
![Longtime Washington, D.C., jeweler Brian Mann (right) with his wife Jessie Mann, an artist who custom-paints porcelain Limoges Boxes, at a 2016 Jewelers of America member event. Mann, the longtime co-owner of David Mann Jewelers, died June 21 at age 70. Brian and Jessie Mann](https://uploads.nationaljeweler.com/uploads/be4debc6e0b3198943a66ef0e2197c2c.jpg)
Mann, whose family’s jewelry store was located inside the Pentagon, is remembered for being a thoughtful champion of the industry.
![The 1916 Company recently opened a new Tudor boutique in Denver’s Cherry Creek Shopping Center. Tudor store in Denver](https://uploads.nationaljeweler.com/uploads/9f8600ea53ed731963331ebd28a10d16.jpg)
The 500-square-foot boutique is located in Denver’s Cherry Creek Shopping Center.
![This necklace from Messika’s “So Move Max” set is made of yellow gold with 19.18-carats of brilliant-cut diamonds and designed with circle motifs that move within the links (price upon request). Messika’s So Move Max Necklace](https://uploads.nationaljeweler.com/uploads/14c78af4a4e8c6b996a81bbb5a5bc69f.jpg)
Dance all night long with the “So Move Max” set’s necklace.
![On Sept. 1, Julien Tornare (left), current CEO of TAG Heuer, will become CEO of Hublot. Antoine Pin, now the general manager of Bulgari’s watch business, will take over Tornare’s role as CEO of TAG Heuer. (Images courtesy of LinkedIn) Julien Tornare and Antoine Pin](https://uploads.nationaljeweler.com/uploads/b24627b34ece895ddd254bae22751fb8.jpg)
Luxury giant LVMH is reshuffling the leadership in its watches division.
![A rendering of a billboard from Etsy’s new campaign. The campaign is designed to highlight the platform’s creators and how their products are made. Etsy billboard rendering in NYC](https://uploads.nationaljeweler.com/uploads/9a94f394f326b90dc1c9da6a711c5e09.jpg)
Sellers and shoppers have spoken out against a rise in mass-produced merchandise on the platform meant to highlight handmade goods.