CollectionsJan 29, 2026
Ghirardelli’s ‘Chocolocket’ Returns for Valentine’s DayThe chocolatier is bringing back its chocolate-inspired locket, offering sets of two to celebrate “perfect pairs.”
EditorsJul 23, 2014
Changes at Tiffany’s
It was fitting that Monday’s story about the retirement of Tiffany & Co. CEO Mike Kowalski ran directly ahead of my latest piece about the Pebble Mine in Alaska, the proposed open-pit copper and gold mine that would sit at the headwaters of the pristine eco-system that surrounds beautiful Bristol Bay.
The Pebble Mine issue, actually, was my personal introduction to Mr. Kowalski.
Back in 2009, I still was fairly new to National Jeweler and so I accompanied former Executive Editor Teresa Novellino and Whitney Sielaff uptown for an interview at Tiffany & Co. headquarters with Kowalski.
The topic of the interview was the stance Tiffany was taking on Pebble and Red Gold, which the retailer screened for editors in New York.
I won’t pretend I remember many specifics from the interview; I was (relatively speaking) young at the time, still fairly new on the job and didn’t understand as much about the industry or consumer behavior as I do today.
On Monday, though, I had the chance to go back to the article that resulted from that 2009 interview, which ran in a print edition of National Jeweler (relic!)--where I believe Tiffany also took out a full-page ad lobbying against the mine--and has been archived on our website.
In the article, Kowalski talked about a topic that only has gained relevance in the intervening five years since it was written: That members of the Millennial generation care about the origin of the products they buy and the policies of the companies behind them.
Social and environmental issues don’t have “top-of-mind awareness,” he said back in 2009. “It’s not as if people are coming in and asking about where our gold is sourced. (But) I think it’s dangerous to say ‘No one’s asking about it, therefore it doesn’t matter.’ I think you need to be careful about warily approaching a tipping point. A few years ago, no one talked about climate change. Al Gore writes a book, a few other things happen, and suddenly climate change is at the top of everyone’s agenda.”
Whether or not we’ve reached that “tipping point” with consumer concerns about sourcing is a matter of debate for another article.
But I do think Kowalski’s statement illustrates what has made Tiffany &
Editors' Picks
Sponsored by
Co. a successful brand that has survived for more than 175 years: staying ahead of the curve on issues that matter, whether it’s consumer consciousness, technology or design. To wit: in the same National Jeweler article from 2009, the writer mentions the “hot new” Tiffany Keys collection. How many manufacturers followed suit with their own key pendants after seeing Tiffany’s?
After news broke Monday of the 62-year-old Kowalski’s plan to step down in March 2015, analysts’ remarks seemed to indicate that they didn’t expect any drop-off in performance from the retailer when the CEO-in-waiting, 54-year-old Frederic Cumenal, takes the reins on April 1, 2015.
The prospect of Cumenal, who came to Tiffany in 2011 from LVMH, where he most recently was CEO of champagne maker Moët & Chandon, running Tiffany is seen a positive for the New York-based brand because of his broad, global luxury goods experience.
I also think that another reason Cumenal is likely to be successful at the helm of Tiffany & Co. is the strong brand recognition it has built up over years and continues to enjoy today.
That is not to say the retailer has not had its missteps along the way--recall its recent $449.5 million lawsuit loss to Swatch Group--and won’t have its challenges in the future, such as its still-pending court battle with Costco over the term “Tiffany setting.”
But Tiffany & Co. is a brand that has been built to last. That’s why it’s still around, and still independent, after 177 years.
After news broke Monday of the 62-year-old Kowalski’s plan to step down in March 2015, analysts’ remarks seemed to indicate that they didn’t expect any drop-off in performance from the retailer when the CEO-in-waiting, 54-year-old Frederic Cumenal, takes the reins on April 1, 2015.
The prospect of Cumenal, who came to Tiffany in 2011 from LVMH, where he most recently was CEO of champagne maker Moët & Chandon, running Tiffany is seen a positive for the New York-based brand because of his broad, global luxury goods experience.
I also think that another reason Cumenal is likely to be successful at the helm of Tiffany & Co. is the strong brand recognition it has built up over years and continues to enjoy today.
That is not to say the retailer has not had its missteps along the way--recall its recent $449.5 million lawsuit loss to Swatch Group--and won’t have its challenges in the future, such as its still-pending court battle with Costco over the term “Tiffany setting.”
But Tiffany & Co. is a brand that has been built to last. That’s why it’s still around, and still independent, after 177 years.
More on Editors
The Latest
AuctionsJan 29, 2026
These Were Bonhams’ Top 10 Jewelry Lots in 2025The top lot of the year was a 1930s Cartier tiara owned by Nancy, Viscountess Astor, which sold for $1.2 million in London last summer.
SourcingJan 29, 2026
Stuller Website to Mark AGTA-Sourced GemstonesAny gemstones on Stuller.com that were sourced by an AGTA vendor member will now bear the association’s logo.
Brought to you by
The MJSA Mentor & Apprenticeship Program: Attracting & Training the Next Generation of Bench JewelersLaunched in 2023, the program will help the passing of knowledge between generations and alleviate the shortage of bench jewelers.
WatchesJan 29, 2026
Audemars Piguet Opens AP House in AtlantaThe Swiss watchmaker has brought its latest immersive boutique to Atlanta, a city it described as “an epicenter of music and storytelling.”
Weekly QuizJan 29, 2026
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
SourcingJan 28, 2026
Ethical Gem Fair to Debut Designer Showcase in TucsonThe new addition will feature finished jewelry created using “consciously sourced” gemstones.
ColumnistsJan 28, 2026
Peter Smith: Setting the Next Generation Up for SuccessIn his new column, Smith advises playing to your successor's strengths and resisting the urge to become a backseat driver.
Brought to you by
How Jewelers Can Fight Back Against Cell JammersCriminals are using cell jammers to disable alarms, but new technology like JamAlert™ can stop them.
SurveysJan 28, 2026
Consumer Confidence Falls Below Pandemic Lows in JanuaryThe index fell to its lowest level since May 2014 amid concerns about the present and the future.
IndependentsJan 28, 2026
Foundrae Heads to Aspen for Latest Store OpeningThe new store in Aspen, Colorado, takes inspiration from a stately library for its intimate yet elevated interior design.
FinancialsJan 28, 2026
Tiffany & Co., Bulgari Sales Resilient as LVMH’s 2025 Sales SlipThe brands’ high jewelry collections performed especially well last year despite a challenging environment.
CollectionsJan 27, 2026
De Beers London, GemFair Debut New Collection Highlighting Artisanal DiamondsThe collection marks the first time GemFair’s artisanal diamonds will be brought directly to consumers.
SourcingJan 27, 2026
GemGuide Launches Pricing for Montana SapphiresThe initial charts are for blue, teal, and green material, each grouped into three charts categorized as good, fine, and extra fine.
TechnologyJan 27, 2026
Clientbook Launches Appointment Booking ToolThe new tool can assign the appropriate associate based on the client or appointment type and automate personalized text message follow-ups.
SourcingJan 26, 2026
Tucson Preview 2026: Earthy Tones and Innovative Shapes Buyers are expected to gravitate toward gemstones that have a little something special, just like last year.
SourcingJan 26, 2026
Angolan Diamond Cos. Join NDC as Rio Tinto, Murowa Exit Endiama and Sodiam will contribute money to the marketing of natural diamonds as new members of the Natural Diamond Council.
MajorsJan 26, 2026
Francesca’s To Close All StoresThe retailer operates more than 450 boutiques across 45 states, according to its website.
MajorsJan 26, 2026
BIJC Names 5 New Board MembersThe new members’ skills span communications, business development, advocacy, and industry leadership.
CollectionsJan 26, 2026
Tiffany & Co. Celebrates 189 Years of Love StoriesThe jeweler’s 2026 Valentine’s Day campaign, “Celebrating Love Stories Since 1837,” includes a short firm starring actress Adria Arjona.
GradingJan 26, 2026
DCA Updates Colored Gemstone CourseThe new features include interactive flashcards and scenario-based roleplay with AI tools.
MajorsJan 23, 2026
Watches of Switzerland Acquires 4-Store Jewelry Chain in TexasFamily-owned jewelry and watch retailer Deutsch & Deutsch has stores in El Paso, Laredo, McAllen, and Victoria.
WatchesJan 23, 2026
Damiani Group to Acquire Baume & MercierThe Italian luxury company purchased the nearly 200-year-old Swiss watch brand from Richemont.
TrendsJan 23, 2026
Martin Katz’s Earrings Call to Mind Wintry Weather Micro-set with hundreds of diamonds, these snowflake earrings recreate “winter’s most elegant silhouette,” and are our Piece of the Week.
MajorsJan 23, 2026
Rembrandt Charms Names New Director of Creative, Brand StrategyElla Blum was appointed to the newly created role.
Supplier BulletinJan 22, 2026
The Rise of Centralized Sourcing in the Colored Gemstone MarketSponsored by RapNet
MajorsJan 22, 2026
Lugano Diamonds Finds a BuyerInvestment firm Enhanced Retail Funding, a division of Gordon Brothers, was the successful bidder.
SourcingJan 22, 2026
De Beers To Release ‘A Diamond Is Forever’ BookIt explores the history of the iconic tagline and the company’s strategy to redefine the role of diamonds in society.
