The Starboard Cruises SVP discusses who is shopping for jewelry on ships, how much they’re spending, and why brands should get on board.
Appointments: Former Citizen CEO to head Circa
Pre-owned jewelry, diamond and watch buyer Circa has appointed Laurence Grunstein as its CEO, effective immediately.

New York--Pre-owned jewelry, diamond and watch buyer Circa has appointed Laurence Grunstein as its CEO, effective immediately.
He joins the company with more than 40 years in the jewelry and watch industry, including his most recent position as the president and CEO of Citizen Watch Company. He retired from Citizen in 2011.
Grunstein moves into a CEO position that has seen a fair amount of turnover over the past few years and has been vacant since January.
Circa co-founder and CEO Chris Del Gatto left the company in late 2012, taking an “indeterminate leave of absence.”
In February 2013, Del Gatto was replaced by former Zale President and CEO Mary Forte, who remained as acting CEO until she stepped down in January 2014, not long before the company acquired Portero.com, an online retailer of authenticated, previously owned luxury items including fine jewelry.
Circa was established in 2001 and buys pre-owned jewelry, loose diamonds and watches at its 14 offices worldwide, including New York, Hong Kong, Beverly Hills and Barcelona, Spain.
-----
Ronald Ristau, the former at CFO at Signet Jewelers Ltd., joined mattress retailer Sleepy’s as CFO in October.
Ristau stepped down from his position at Akron, Ohio-based Signet, which he had for more than four years, at the end of July in order to be closer to his family in New York. He was replaced by Signet’s senior vice president and controller Michele Santana.
-----
Terry Pasch has been appointed to the newly created role of president of sales at bridal and fashion jewelry brand Scott Kay. He will report directly to CEO David Minster.
Pasch has nearly two decades of experience in jewelry sales, including 10 years with Frederick Goldman and three years as the director of sales with Gabriel & Co.
The move is the latest in a number of hires for Scott Kay in its continued effort to bolster the brand’s growth in the United States and international markets and reach its goal of $500 million in sales, including the addition of more than five C-level executives in recent months.
In August, the brand hired three C-level executives from David Yurman to move into the chief merchandising officer, chief commercial officer and chief supply chain officer roles, all of which were newly created positions as well.
-----
Lee’s Manufacturing/Morvillo Precision Products Group in Providence, R.I. has appointed Kirby Kurkomelis
With more than 30 years of sales experience in the New York marketplace, he will responsible for the development and execution of sales and marketing plans in the region.
Kurkomelis most recently served as sales director for Midas Chain.
The Latest

The historic signet ring exceeded its estimate at Noonans Mayfair’s jewelry auction this week.

To mark the milestone, the brand is introducing new non-bridal fine jewelry designs for the first time in two decades.

The Seymour & Evelyn Holtzman Bench Scholarship from Jewelers of America returns for a second year.

The gemstone is the third most valuable ruby to come out of the Montepuez mine, Gemfields said.


Founder and longtime CEO Ben Smithee will stay with the agency, transitioning into the role of founding partner and strategic advisor.

Associate Editor Natalie Francisco shares 20 of her favorite pieces from the jewelry collections that debuted at Couture.

The countdown is on for the JCK Las Vegas Show and JA is pulling out all the stops.

If you want to attract good salespeople and generate a stream of “sleeping money” for your jewelry store, then you are going to have to pay.

The top lot was a colorless Graff diamond, followed by a Burmese ruby necklace by Marcus & Co.

Following visits to Vegas and New York, Botswana’s minerals minster sat down with Michelle Graff to discuss the state of the diamond market.

The “Your Love Has the Perfect Ring” campaign showcases the strength of love and need for inclusivity and representation, the jeweler said.

The former De Beers executive is the jewelry house’s new director of high jewelry for the Americas.

The New York Liberty forward is the first athlete to represent the Brooklyn-based jewelry brand.

Take a bite out of the 14-karat yellow gold “Fruits of Love Pear” earrings featuring peridots, diamond stems, and tsavorite leaves.

The one-day virtual event will feature speakers from De Beers, GIA, and Gemworld International.

The California-based creative talks jewelry photography in the modern era and tackles FAQs about working with a pro for the first time.

Al Capone’s pocket watch also found a buyer, though it went for less than half of what it did at auction four years ago.

The foundation has also expanded its “Stronger Together” initiative with Jewelers for Children.

Assimon is the auction house’s new chief commercial officer.

The De Beers Group CEO discusses the company’s new “beacon” program, the likelihood diamonds will be exempt from tariffs, and “Origin.”

The Danish jewelry giant hosted its grand opening last weekend, complete with a Pandora pink roulette wheel.

Industry veteran Anoop Mehta is the new chairman and independent director of the IGI board.

The winners of the inaugural “Kering Generation Award x Jewelry” are student Lee Min Seo and China-based startup Ianyan.

“Ombré Desert Diamonds” will emphasize cream-, champagne-, and brown-colored diamonds, shades that set natural stones apart from lab grown.

It's one of the “Gresham grasshopper” rings English financier Sir Thomas Gresham was known to gift to acquaintances or business associates.

The brand also debuted its new “Zorae” collection featuring a talisman of protection and harmony inspired by a sheaf of wheat.