SurveysApr 24, 2026
Mother’s Day 2026 Jewelry Spending to Top $7B, NRF SaysNRF’s annual survey found that 45 percent of consumers plan to purchase jewelry for a loved one this Mother’s Day.
TrendsDec 10, 2019
Well-Known Estate Jeweler, Pearl Expert Paul Fisher Dies
The respected jeweler was known for his generosity, integrity and willingness to share his knowledge.
Paul Fisher, a well-known estate jewelry, pearl and gemstone dealer, died Dec. 4 at the age of 92.
New York—Legendary jeweler Paul Fisher, who dealt in estate jewelry as well as pearls and gemstones, died Dec. 4 due to complications from pneumonia.
He was 92 years old.
Born in Vienna, Austria in 1927, Fisher was a fifth-generation jeweler.
His family’s firm was started in the 1850s in Vienna by Julius Fisher, who was a natural pearl dealer specializing in pearls used as buttons.
In 1921, his grandsons, Ferdinand and Robert, opened the company Bruder Fisher to continue the family legacy in Vienna.
Once cultured pearls began hitting the market, they transitioned into buying and selling fine jewelry.
Robert Fisher took the business to London in 1938 and opened a New York office in 1941.
Paul Fisher, his son, established Paul Fisher Inc. in 1956, which now involves the sixth generation of family.
Paul Fisher Inc. currently has offices in New York, London and Geneva as well as representatives in Hong Kong and Paris.
Fisher worked in the jewelry industry for 74 years, from 1945 up until the day he was hospitalized, Nov. 27, according to his daughter, Marianne Fisher.
She attributes much of his success to his willingness to share his knowledge, maintain his honor and integrity, and the vast experience he gained through his travels.
He was loved because he was always fair and kind, she said.
“My dad was a very generous person. He didn’t care about being rich; he cared about being kind, about being a good human being, that was very important to him,” Marianne said.
She also described him as being “Yoda-like.”
“He was a wise man—always an old soul and knowledgeable,” she told National Jeweler.
“He traveled the world and, having survived the Holocaust, had a great appreciation for life and with any hardship always chose to see the glass half full, not half empty.”
His generosity showed clearly in what some have called his greatest legacy: the “Paul Fisher School.”
Fisher would take in apprentices—always from outside the United States to build an international network—and teach them for six months at a time, showing them everything he knew, giving them access to clients and even letting them purchase pieces on the Paul Fisher Inc. account.
He did this, his daughter said, “out of the goodness of his heart.”
He took so many in that his apprentices now number in the 40s.
Two continue to work for the company today, and many threw
Editors' Picks
Sponsored by
Fisher a birthday party in 1989, when he turned 62, and attended his 90th birthday party in Basel, Switzerland in 2017.
Outside of jewelry, skiing was his greatest passion until an accident in Aspen, Colorado in 1998 forced him to stop, his daughter said.
Marianne said he was also an avid reader who would go through one or two books a week, mostly historical biographies.
She said there has been an outpouring of sadness from the industry at the news of his death, as for many it represents the end of an era in which business is done and honored with a handshake by “true gentlemen.”
Fisher is survived by his six children: four sons—John, Peter, Francis, Walter—and two daughters—Christa and Marianne.
Outside of jewelry, skiing was his greatest passion until an accident in Aspen, Colorado in 1998 forced him to stop, his daughter said.
Marianne said he was also an avid reader who would go through one or two books a week, mostly historical biographies.
She said there has been an outpouring of sadness from the industry at the news of his death, as for many it represents the end of an era in which business is done and honored with a handshake by “true gentlemen.”
Fisher is survived by his six children: four sons—John, Peter, Francis, Walter—and two daughters—Christa and Marianne.
More on Trends
The Latest
TechnologyApr 24, 2026
TwentyFour’s Digital-Age Locket Is a Virtual VaultThe “Vault” charm, our Piece of the Week, expands on the memories that can be stored in a locket by connecting to your phone.
Events & AwardsApr 24, 2026
Hamptons Jewelry Show to Return in JulyThe open-to-the-public luxury jewelry and timepiece show, in its second year, is slated for July 23-26.
Brought to you by
Discover Timeless Treasures: A Showcase of Antique Jewelry & Timepieces in Las VegasGain access to the most exclusive and coveted antique pieces from trusted dealers during Las Vegas Jewelry Week.
IndependentsApr 23, 2026
Meet the Real Moms of Day’s JewelersThe jeweler’s Mother’s Day campaign highlights the women who work there—mothers, grandmothers, women who want to be mothers, and dog moms.
Weekly QuizApr 23, 2026
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
Supplier BulletinApr 23, 2026
JM® Shipping Solution: Smarter Shipping for High-Value GoodsSponsored by Jewelers Mutual
Lab-GrownApr 23, 2026
Charles & Colvard May Sell Assets for $1.5MThe proposed agreement follows the moissanite maker’s Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection filing last month.
Brought to you by
Las Vegas Antique Jewelry & Watch Show: Showcasing the Most Collectible Merchandise from Across the GlobeGain access to the most exclusive and coveted antique pieces from trusted dealers during Las Vegas Jewelry Week.
AuctionsApr 23, 2026
John Jacob Astor IV’s Titanic Pocket Watch Fetches $1MThe Patek Philippe for Tiffany & Co. timepiece Astor brought aboard the ill-fated ship sold for double its estimate at a Freeman’s auction.
CollectionsApr 23, 2026
Adam Neeley’s High Jewelry Collection Steps Into Salvador Dalí’s GardenThe “Dalí’s Garden” collection was inspired by a surreal dream Neeley had after cooking a recipe from Salvador Dalí’s 1973 cookbook.
IndependentsApr 23, 2026
Windsor Jewelers Names New Buying DirectorNatalie Feanny has been appointed to the role.
CrimeApr 22, 2026
New Mexico Couple Pleads Guilty to Selling Fake Native American JewelryThe pair falsely claimed their jewelry was made by Navajo artists, but it was imported from Vietnam.
AuctionsApr 22, 2026
Roberta Flack’s Jewelry Is Going Up for AuctionJulien’s Auctions is selling the musician’s fine and fashion jewelry alongside her clothing, gold records, and other memorabilia.
CollectionsApr 22, 2026
British Museum Curator Pens Book on ‘The Tudor Heart’Rachel King’s book dives into the history of the pendant believed to have belonged to Henry VIII and his first wife, Katherine of Aragon.
Events & AwardsApr 22, 2026
Here’s What Sy Kessler Has on Tap for Las Vegas The company will have deals on precious metals testers as well as the latest in lab-grown diamond detection technology and security.
WatchesApr 21, 2026
Coco Chanel Enters the Game with New Watch CollectionGabrielle “Coco” Chanel is a character in the “Coco Game” collection of watches and the queen in its first haute horlogerie chessboard.
IndependentsApr 21, 2026
Meet Jewelers of America’s 2026 ‘20 Under 40’ ClassThe annual list honors rising professionals on the retail and supply sides of the jewelry industry.
CrimeApr 21, 2026
Customs Nabs 1,500 Pieces of Counterfeit Jewelry Bound for NYCSeized in Kentucky, the packages include fake Cartier, Tiffany & Co., Chanel, and Fendi jewelry.
CrimeApr 20, 2026
Queens Man Convicted in Bludgeoning Death of Pawn Shop OwnerRodolfo Lopez-Portillo faces 25 years to life in prison after being found guilty in the March 2022 beating death of Arasb Shoughi.
Events & AwardsApr 20, 2026
Atlanta Jewelry Show’s Spring Event Is Hitting the RoadThe AJS Spring 2027 show will be held in Savannah, Georgia, with future shows taking place in other Southeast cities.
MajorsApr 20, 2026
Kendra Scott Names New CFO, Chief Business OfficerThe jewelry retailer plans to open 20 new stores this year and expand into new product categories.
MajorsApr 17, 2026
QVC Group Files for Chapter 11 BankruptcyThe retailer reported an 8 percent decline in annual sales as it struggles under the weight of billions of dollars of debt.
CollectionsApr 17, 2026
Edina Kiss’ Earrings Are the Devil on Your ShoulderThe “Devil” drop earrings, our Piece of the Week, are part of designer Edina Kiss’ new namesake jewelry line that she will show at Couture.
CrimeApr 17, 2026
FBI Issues Warning to Refineries, Retailers Due to High Price of GoldThe alert states that burglary crews are targeting jewelry businesses and details how jewelers and refineries can protect themselves.
WatchesApr 16, 2026
Cartier Brings Back the RoadsterThe “watchmaker of shapes” debuted the reworked version of the vintage sports car-inspired timepiece at Watches & Wonders.
IndependentsApr 16, 2026
Edge Retail Academy Updates Leadership TeamAs demand for jewelry retail coaching grows, the company has established a dedicated business coaching leadership team.
MajorsApr 16, 2026
Stuller’s Latest Mountings Catalog Is Out NowThe “Mountings 2026-2027” catalog showcases Stuller’s largest and most diverse assortment to date with more than 400 new mounting styles.
