This year’s honorees include a Midwest retailer and two multi-store independents, one in New York and the other in New England.
Private equity firm buys John Hardy
Catterton, a private equity firm that has sunk money into companies including crystal-maker Baccarat and haircare brand Frederic Fekkai, has purchased John Hardy for an undisclosed sum, the jewelry brand announced Thursday.

New York--Catterton, a private equity firm that has sunk money into companies including crystal-maker Baccarat and haircare brand Frederic Fekkai, has purchased John Hardy for an undisclosed sum, the jewelry brand announced Thursday.
Robert Hanson, the former CEO of American Eagle Outfitters who was abruptly fired by the Pittsburgh-based retailer in January, has been named the new CEO of John Hardy.
Current John Hardy CEO Damien Dernoncourt, who has led the Hong Kong-based, Bail-made brand since 2007, will remain on board as non-executive chairman. The position will be a full-time job and Dernoncourt will retain an equity stake in John Hardy, the company said.
Guy Bedarida will continue to serve as creative director and head designer while Miles Graham retains his position as president and chief operating officer.
“John Hardy is pleased to partner with Catterton, which will provide the support and resources to continue building our brand and accelerate our growth on an international scale,” Dernoncourt said in the company statement.
Rumors have been swirling about the potential sale of John Hardy since late last year, with Catterton named as one of the potential buyers. Though the terms of the deal announced Thursday were not disclosed, initial reports stated that John Hardy was valued at $100 million to $140 million.
RELATED CONTENT: Parties mum on alleged John Hardy sale
Canadian designer John Hardy founded his eponymous brand in 1975 and sold it in 2007 to Dernoncourt and Bedarida, who used to design for Van Cleef & Arpels and Boucheron. Dernoncourt and Bedarida shared ownership of the brand with another private equity firm, 3i.
John Hardy jewelry is sold in more than 600 retail locations worldwide, in department stores such as Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue and Bloomingdale’s, and by independent jewelers.
The brand also just signed English model Cara Delevingne as the face of its new fall advertising campaign.
The sale of John Hardy is the latest in a series of mergers and acquisitions in the jewelry industry this year, the largest of which was Signet Jewelers Ltd.’s $1.4 billion purchase of rival Zale Corp. This was followed by the announcement in June that Chinese retailer Chow Tai Fook was buying Hearts on Fire for $150 million.
The Latest

As an homage to iconic crochet blankets, the necklace features the nostalgic motif through a kaleidoscope of cabochon-cut stones.

Discover the dozen up-and-coming brands exhibiting in the Design Atelier for the first time.

When investing in your jewelry business, it's important not to overlook the most crucial element of success: the sales associates.

The “Royal Ruby” Collection is a quintet of untreated rubies curated by collector Jack Abraham.


The entrepreneur and “Shark Tank” star will share his top tips for success.

Two existing executives have been given new roles.

More shoppers are walking out without buying. Here’s how smart jewelers can bring them back—and the tool they need to do it right.

Meredith Tiderington, an electrical engineering student, was selected for the award.

It will quit assigning the stones specific color and clarity grades in favor of applying “new descriptive terminology.”

From design trends to sustainability, here’s a roundup of can’t-miss education sessions at JCK Las Vegas.

The Jewelers’ Security Alliance offers advice for those attending the annual trade shows.

Her new role is director of strategic initiatives.

The designer is embracing bold pieces with weight to them in “AU79,” a collection she celebrated with a creative launch party.

On an earnings call, CEO J.K. Symancyk discussed what’s working for the company and how it’s preparing for the potential impact of tariffs.

The index partially rebounded after months of decline, due in part to the U.S.-China deal to temporarily reduce import tariffs.

The actress stars in the latest campaign set in Venice, Italy, and is set to participate in other creative initiatives for the jeweler.

The company has joined other labs, including GIA and Lotus Gemology, in adopting the Chinese term for "jadeite jade."

The large stone will be offered at its June sale along with a selection of secondary-type rubies from a new area of the Montepuez mine.

Located in Bangkok, the laboratory is Gemological Science International’s 14th location worldwide.

Those born in June have a myriad of options for their birthstone jewelry.

The diamond industry veteran has been named its senior sales executive.

The company plans to raise the prices of select watches to offset the impact of tariffs.

Between tariffs and the sky-high cost of gold, designers enter this year’s Las Vegas shows with a lot of questions and few answers.

Designed by founder Renato and his daughter Serena Cipullo, it showcases a flame motif representing unity and the power of gathering.

However, the tariffs remain in effect in the short term, as an appeals court has stayed the U.S. Court of International Trade’s decision.

The pop icon is one step closer to launching her “B Tiny” jewelry collection, a collection she first began posting about last fall.