In her first column for National Jeweler, Jennifer Shaheen asks jewelers if they know how to connect with the next generation of consumers.
John Hardy CEO Robert Hanson Steps Down
Chief Revenue Officer Kareen Gahed will take over while Hanson serves as a non-executive chairman of the board.

New York—John Hardy CEO Robert Hanson is stepping down, the luxury jeweler announced Thursday, bringing some shake-up to the executive board.
Hanson has held the role since 2014. He will now serve as non-executive chairman of the board.
Hanson will join Constellation Brands, the alcoholic beverage company behind Corona and Modelo, as its new executive vice president and the president of its wine and spirits division on June 3, the company announced Friday.
He was previously a director at the company but resigned from the board to fill the new role.
Hanson also sits on the board of directors at Canopy Growth, the first publicly-traded cannabis company in North America, in which Constellation invested $4 billion back in August 2018.
The retail veteran previously served as John Hardy’s senior vice president of operations, also holding positions at Abercrombie & Fitch and Aeropostale, as per his LinkedIn profile.
“It is an honor to become the next CEO of John Hardy, and I am excited for the opportunity to continue to work closely with Robert, Audrey and the entire board and management team as we continue to build momentum,” Gahed said in a statement.
Gahed will take over merchandising and marketing operations immediately, while Hanson will continue overseeing product creation, operations and finance until the transition period has ended.
The transition is expected to occur over the next three quarters, a company spokesperson confirmed.
Audrey Finci, current chief operating officer and chief financial officer, will take on the added role of president.
Finci previously served as executive vice president of Disney’s consumer products division and also held corporate strategy and operations roles at Levi Strauss & Co and Gap Inc.
The Latest

The annual awards cover tuition for an on-site educational course at the Swiss lab, as well as flights and lodging.

The jeweler partnered with the Tennessee resort to honor its 50th anniversary with limited-edition blackberry pendants and earrings.

Submit your pieces for a chance to win in this year's competition.

The third-generation jeweler shared how the North Carolina retailer is celebrating this milestone and the love story that started it all.


The class, led by renowned metalsmith Cynthia Eid, highlighted Argentium silver as an alternative to gold amid high prices.

The show is slated for Oct. 16-19 at the Miami Beach Convention Center.

Retailers are seeking new ways to attract customers, increase traffic, and create revenue – Estate buying events are a popular solution.

The “Empresses” capsule uses 19th-century medals depicting Napoleon, Joséphine, and Marie-Louise across five one-of-a-kind pieces.

The retailers at the top of the list offer affordable products and fun, discovery-fueled experiences.

Daniel Bing was formerly the marketing director for the Americas at Vacheron Constantin.

In our Piece of the Week, the designers reimagine the tennis bracelet with green enamel wrapped around a strand of “Desert Diamonds.”

The industry veterans join the podcast to discuss diamond marketing, the FTC Jewelry Guides, and lobbying for lower tariffs.

Founder Vik Westermann said the app is a “starting point” to inspire people to work with appraisers and gem labs, not replace them.

The Verdura brooch, which belonged to the late Virginia Fortune Ryan Ogilvy, was sold to a private collector in Asia.

The five students were awarded a total of $10,000 through the nonprofit’s 2026 “Future of Jewelry Making” scholarship.

The jeweler is encouraging customers who own lookalike rings to come into the store and trade them for credit towards an authentic piece.

The new campaign, “You Are The Occasion,” discourages shoppers from saving their fine jewelry for special occasions only.

Mehta led India’s GJEPC through the 2008 financial crisis and was respected worldwide for his wisdom, integrity, and knowledge.

One is the driver who allegedly crashed a car into a Sacramento jewelry store in April, striking a 71-year-old employee who later died.

In a new column, Peter Smith posits that people actually enjoy putting together IKEA furniture, and the same is true for engagement rings.

9lakha Jewelers in Iselin, New Jersey, was the target of a smash-and-grab robbery on Aug. 8.

The jeweler has partnered with 818 Tequila to gift lab-grown diamond studs to a bride-to-be and their bridal party.

The exhibition will feature more than 100 drawings of stained-glass lampshades, windows, and more, many created by women and émigrés.

Marquise-cut diamonds in drop charms are the center of the new collection, reflecting the movement of a dancer in modular styles.

The inaugural Fort Lauderdale Jewelry, Antique, & Object Show will be held from Jan. 28 through Feb. 1, 2027.

The family-owned jeweler will open a new showroom in Bel Air, Maryland, this fall.






















