MajorsApr 01, 2026
Foundrae Sues Pandora for Allegedly Copying Its Medallion DesignsFoundrae also accused the jewelry giant of copying its mood board style of marketing.
Events & AwardsJan 28, 2020
Colored Stone Wholesaler Intercolor Celebrates Turning 40
They’re inviting the trade to fête the occasion with them in Tucson.
Intercolor is celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2020, led by four brothers. From left to right: Afshin (Alan) Hackman, Benjamin Hackman, Daniel Hackman and David Hackman.
New York—Making it to 40 years in business is no small feat, and one colored stone dealer wants the trade to celebrate the occasion with them, appropriately, in Tucson.
This year, New York-based wholesaler Intercolor is fêting four decades in the gem world.
Brothers Benjamin and Daniel Hackman founded the company in 1980, inspired by their late uncle who was in the loose colored stones business in London starting in the late 1950s.
Afshin (Alan) then joined in 1981, followed by David in 1984.
For the past four decades, the brothers have brought fine rubies, emeralds, sapphires and tanzanite weighing 1 carat or more to the market, traveling across the world to source them.
Not surprisingly, several things in the business have changed since Intercolor first started operating.
One key thing, Afshin told National Jeweler, is that with all the information the internet has brought to their fingertips, buyers’ perceptions of colored stones have changed and they’re shopping with even more knowledge.
And all the better for it, he added.
“When you have an educated client and they look at a gemstone to buy, at least they have a good idea of what they’re looking at,” he said.
“It takes a lot of effort and talent, I always say, to take someone’s hard-earned cash and give them a tiny piece of rock in return. So, if they have dug out some information on their own, at least it helps make the transition smoother.”
Another key factor that’s changed the colored stone sector is the ease of taking pictures of product and sending them instantly to clients.
“Nowadays … taking pictures and sending information beforehand has drastically improved the memo-sales ratio for everybody,” Hackman said. “This is also one of the biggest differences I’ve seen from 35 years ago.”
He noted decades ago, they’d sometimes ship as many as 40 or 50 packages a day but would get about 90 percent of them back in the mail because “more than half the time, the client’s perception of what they were receiving in the mail was different from what you explained. Now, with all the pictures and image-taking, at least right off the bat, they’ll rule out what they don’t like.”
The four decades in business has been filled with as many highlights as changes.
When asked what he’s most proud of as they mark the big milestone, Hackman noted the
values by which they’ve run their company—honesty first, followed not far behind by customer service and supplier service.
“At a very young age, I was taught by my late father that if you want to stay in business for a long time, you always treat your suppliers the same as you treat your clients.”
There were also notable moments like Benjamin Hackman serving as president of American Gem Trade Association and the International Colored Stone Association.
The company now also includes the second generation—Daniel’s son Ivan has been with Intercolor for the last 18 years, and David’s son Zachary plans to join in June 2021, when he finishes his studies.
Because of how it went for them, as well as a very good season for many of their clients, the brothers are anticipating a strong show when they exhibit at the upcoming AGTA GemFair in Tucson.
Fittingly, it’s also out in the desert that they’re inviting everyone to celebrate the anniversary.
Anyone with an AGTA GemFair or GJX badge can join them at Intercolor’s 40th anniversary party on Thursday, Feb. 6 from 7 to 11 p.m. at Culinary Dropout on East Grant Road.
“At a very young age, I was taught by my late father that if you want to stay in business for a long time, you always treat your suppliers the same as you treat your clients.”
There were also notable moments like Benjamin Hackman serving as president of American Gem Trade Association and the International Colored Stone Association.
The company now also includes the second generation—Daniel’s son Ivan has been with Intercolor for the last 18 years, and David’s son Zachary plans to join in June 2021, when he finishes his studies.
RELATED CONTENT: 8 Predictions for the 2020 Tucson Gem ShowsThey are also coming off one of Intercolor’s best holiday seasons in history, according to Hackman.
Because of how it went for them, as well as a very good season for many of their clients, the brothers are anticipating a strong show when they exhibit at the upcoming AGTA GemFair in Tucson.
Fittingly, it’s also out in the desert that they’re inviting everyone to celebrate the anniversary.
Anyone with an AGTA GemFair or GJX badge can join them at Intercolor’s 40th anniversary party on Thursday, Feb. 6 from 7 to 11 p.m. at Culinary Dropout on East Grant Road.
View this post on InstagramA post shared by Intercolor USA (@intercolorusa) on Jan 3, 2020 at 11:47am PST
More on Events & Awards
The Latest
AuctionsApr 01, 2026
John Jacob Astor IV’s Titanic Pocket Watch Heads to AuctionA Patek Philippe for Tiffany & Co. timepiece owned by the American businessman who died on the Titanic will be offered at Freeman's Chicago.
SurveysApr 01, 2026
Consumers’ Outlook Improves Again in MarchThe Conference Board’s Consumer Confidence Index edged up, with optimism about the present outweighing worries about the future.
Brought to you by
Protect Your Customers and Your BusinessYou deserve to know what you are selling–to protect your customers as well as your business and your reputation.
IndependentsApr 01, 2026
Zachary’s Jewelers’ Constance Polamalu to Release Children’s BookThe retailer’s Zach Bear gift comes to life in “Zach Bear and the Window Necklace,” which centers on curiosity, bravery, and helping.
Weekly QuizMar 26, 2026
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
ColumnistsMar 31, 2026
Q1 Clues That Reveal Where Your Jewelry Store’s Sales Are Heading These customer behavior patterns say a lot about how successful your jewelry store is going to be this year, Emmanuel Raheb writes.
CollectionsMar 31, 2026
Mejuri Adds Silver to ‘Puzzle’ CollectionMejuri’s popular collection of 18-karat yellow gold vermeil rings debuted in sterling silver alongside new “Puzzle” slider charms.
Brought to you by
Is This You? Every Jeweler Has This Problem; We Have the Solution.Every jeweler faces the same challenge: helping customers protect what they love. Here’s the solution designed for today’s jewelry business.
CollectionsMar 31, 2026
Buddha Mama, Ashley Longshore to Host Pop-Up in DallasThe Miami-based jewelry brand and the NYC-based artist will be in Dallas from April 9-11.
SourcingMar 31, 2026
NDC Designates April 8 as 'World Diamond Day'The initiative invites those in the industry to share stories on social media highlighting the meaning and impact of natural diamonds.
SourcingMar 31, 2026
GIA VP Jillian Wolk to Take Over at Tracr Wolk’s first day on the job as CEO of Tracr, De Beers Group’s blockchain platform, will be May 1.
EditorsMar 30, 2026
Tom Moses Looks Back on His Decades at GIA Moses, who will leave the lab in May after nearly 50 years, discusses his start in the business, gemstones that stand out, and what’s next.
TrendsMar 30, 2026
Oscar Heyman Debuts First Spring CatalogThe new catalog, which showcases 35 one-of-a-kind pieces of jewelry, is a compliment to the company’s popular holiday catalog.
SourcingMar 30, 2026
Rio Tinto Hauls Last Load from DiavikProduction has ceased at the Canadian diamond mine, which has yielded more than 150 million carats of rough diamonds in its 23-year run.
MajorsMar 30, 2026
Tanishq Opens First New England LocationThe store opening marks the 10th United States location for the India-based jewelry retailer.
MajorsMar 27, 2026
Saks Global Has Changed Its Mind About Closing These 3 StoresTwo Saks Fifth Avenue locations, one in Florida and one in California, and one Neiman Marcus store are off the chopping block.
IndependentsMar 27, 2026
Jimmy West, Longtime LJG Executive Director, Dies at 72West, who started in the art department at the Leading Jewelers Guild in 1979, is remembered for his patience, kindness, and dedication.
CollectionsMar 27, 2026
Itä’s ‘Yarí Whirl’ Ring Tells Every Side of the StoryIn the “Tesoro” version of the ring, our Piece of the Week, each side of the gold hexagonal nugget has a unique colored gemstone design.
WatchesMar 26, 2026
Q&A: Citizen Watch America President Jeffrey Cohen on Eco-Drive’s 50th AnniversaryCohen discusses the evolution of Citizen’s light-powered technology, the brand’s cross-generational appeal, and tariffs.
IndependentsMar 26, 2026
Peter Smith Pens Book on Human Behavior in Sales“Essentially Human: On Sales and Salespeople" reveals the underlying human traits and behaviors of the most successful sales professionals.
CollectionsMar 26, 2026
Lionheart Celebrates 13 Years of ‘Cassandane’The collection features symbols of love, luck, and light, based on the story of Queen Cassandane and Cyrus the Great of Persia.
Events & AwardsMar 26, 2026
JA Still Accepting Entries for 2026 CASE AwardsThe deadline for entries in the jewelry design competition has been extended to April 3.
SourcingMar 25, 2026
Rob Bates Steps Down as JCK News Director After 28 years with JCK, the veteran industry journalist is launching his own publication on Substack called The Jewelry Wire.
GradingMar 25, 2026
New York’s Natural History Museum, Wiley To Build Minerals DatabaseWiley said the project will give scientists worldwide access to the American Museum of Natural’s History renowned mineral collection.
CollectionsMar 25, 2026
Boochier Turns Flower Friendship Bracelets Into Fine JewelryThe “Flower Puff” collection looks to beaded flower friendship bracelets from childhood, turning the silhouette into nostalgic fine jewelry.
Policies & IssuesMar 25, 2026
Community for Ethical Jewelry to Host Bench Jeweler Shortage WebinarSet for April 2, the webinar will discuss how the jewelry industry can address the workforce gap.
IndependentsMar 24, 2026
Lisa Bayer, Illustrator and Beloved Member of the Muse Family, Dies at 64Bayer, founder of Lisa Bayer Designs, is remembered as “a bright light in every room.”
