Policies & IssuesJul 20, 2026
Tariffs on Brazil to Increase But Rough Gemstones ExemptThe new tariff, imposed after a Trump administration study, is 25 percent and will stack on top of existing tariffs.
IndependentsApr 03, 2018
Industry Legend Herb Bridge Dies at 93
He started working at Ben Bridge Jeweler as soon as he could see over the counter.
Herb Bridge, right, with his brother Bob at the Gem Awards in 1998. The industry icon died Tuesday at the age of 93. (Photo courtesy Jewelers of America)
Seattle--Herb Bridge, a leader in both the jewelry industry and the Seattle business community, died Tuesday surrounded by family at his home. He was 93.
Born in Seattle in 1925 to Ben and Sally Silverman Bridge, Bridge was “born into” the jewelry business and started working at Ben Bridge Jeweler as soon as he could see over the counter, he once told the Puget Sound Business Journal.
He joined the U.S. Navy shortly after the country entered World War II. It was the start of a 41-year career in the Navy and Naval Reserve in which he would rise to the rank of rear admiral.
After the war, he returned to working in his family’s jewelry store.
His father and company namesake, Ben Bridge, turned the business over to Herb and his brother Bob when they were 29 and 23, respectively. Together, they grew Ben Bridge Jeweler from one store on the corner of Fourth and Pike in Seattle into what is now one of the largest specialty jewelers in the United States.
When he turned 59, Herb Bridge passed his portion of the business onto his son, Jon. (Ben Bridge Jewelers was acquired by Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway in 2000 but still is run by the Bridge family.)
Bridge earned a number of awards throughout the course of this career from both the city of Seattle and the jewelry industry. His honors include being inducted into the National Jeweler Retailer Hall of Fame in 1998, alongside Arnold Bockstruck and Esther Fortunoff.
He is survived by two sons, Dan Bridge (Sim Shtull) and Jon Bridge (Bobbe)—who recently retired as co-CEO and general counsel of Ben Bridge Jeweler—along with four grandchildren, five great-grandchildren and his partner, Edie Hilliard.
On Tuesday his great-niece, current Ben Bridge President and Chief Operating Officer Lisa Bridge, remembered Herb on Instagram, writing, “Walking to Rotary, AGS, or a Ben Bridge event with Uncle Herb was a slow process, because as we moved, he talked with every single person on the way. He always remembered people and spoke with a unique care, humor, and twinkle in his eye.
“That was Herb, he taught us to invest time and energy in to our community and everyone we came in to contact with. I am thankful to have had such a loving, wonderful role model in my life and I will strive to live a life in his honor.”
A more detailed story on Herb
Editors' Picks
Sponsored by
Bridge’s life and contributions to the jewelry industry will appear in a future edition of National Jeweler’s Daily newsletter. Those with memories they would like to share should contact Editor-in-Chief Michelle Graff at 212-687-2758 or michelle.graff@nationaljeweler.com.
More on Independents
The Latest
CollectionsJul 20, 2026
Vhernier Transforms ‘Freccia’ Collection Into High JewelryThe collection from 2014 has been reinterpreted into high jewelry with its signature triangular-shaped elements.
MajorsJul 20, 2026
Krista Collins Walters Promoted to Publisher of InstoreShe will also take on the role of vice president of jewelry for SmartWork Media, a newly created position.
Brought to you by
Wedding Band Trends 2026: Personalization Takes Center StageColored gemstones, artisan finishes, mixed metals, and meaningful details are shaping demand in bridal jewelry.
Events & AwardsJul 20, 2026
TJS Accepting Speaker Proposals for 2027 EventOrganizers are looking for presentations on topics like manufacturing, technology and research, bench work, gemstones, and sustainability.
Weekly QuizJul 17, 2026
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
CollectionsJul 17, 2026
HOWL Taps Shailene Woodley for ‘Home Sweet Home’ CampaignWoodley is seen in the campaign wearing our Piece of the Week, the “Frida” collar featuring 13 pieces of hand-carved Venetian glass.
SourcingJul 17, 2026
U.K. Woman Pays £5 for £15K Diamond Ring at Car Boot SaleA WeBuyVintage jewelry expert uncovered how much the flea market find was actually worth.
Brought to you by
Building the Future of Jewelry Retail: DCA Expands Education, Leadership Development, and Workforce SolutionsDCA is preparing the next generation of professionals by supporting workforce development, leadership growth, and career advancement.
SourcingJul 17, 2026
Diamond Dealer Jeff Pancis Pens MemoirThe founder of natural colored diamond wholesaler Pancis Gems shares stories from his five decades in the industry.
Events & AwardsJul 17, 2026
Gem Awards Opens 2027 Nomination PeriodSubmissions for the milestone 25th annual Gem Awards will be accepted across three categories from now through July 31.
EditorsJul 16, 2026
Q&A: Guzema’s Co-Owners On Its US Expansion, 10-Year AnniversaryValeriya Guzema and Mariana Lenha look back on the last decade and discuss the Ukrainian brand’s first U.S. store.
SourcingJul 16, 2026
Ekati to Close, Leaving Canada With One Diamond Mine The diamond mine, which opened nearly 30 years ago in Canada’s Northwest Territories, is expected to shut down by mid-August.
FinancialsJul 16, 2026
Richemont’s Jewelry Sales Soar for the Seventh Quarter in a RowJewelry sales for the company, which owns Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels, Vhernier, and Buccellati, rose 21 percent in the first quarter.
Events & AwardsJul 16, 2026
MJSA Mentor & Apprenticeship Program Certifies First Advanced Apprentice GraduateThe graduate, Grace Barden, credited the program with helping her secure a job as a bench jeweler.
Events & AwardsJul 16, 2026
Jewelers of Louisiana to Host 80th ConventionThe event, scheduled for next month in New Orleans, will include dinner, a custom jewelry design contest, and education sessions.
SourcingJul 15, 2026
1,305-Carat Diamond Recovered from Mine in BotswanaThe yet-to-be named stone is the 10th diamond weighing more than 1,000 carats to come out of Lucara’s Karowe mine.
FinancialsJul 15, 2026
Watches of Switzerland’s US Sales Jump 18%, Declines to Comment on Sale Report The watch and jewelry retailer had a strong fiscal year despite what its CEO described as a “complex operating backdrop.”
Events & AwardsJul 15, 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.
CollectionsJul 15, 2026
Pomellato’s New High Jewelry Is LiberatingBold color, expressive gem-setting, and sculptural form define the three chapters that make up “Stile Libero.”
ColumnistsJul 14, 2026
Sherry Smith: What Today’s Jewelry Consumer Is Telling Us Rising revenue does not automatically mean a healthy business, particularly in the current economic landscape, Smith writes.
TrendsJul 14, 2026
Amanda’s Style File: Shoulder Dusters These long, fluid drop earrings are sure to catch the eye.
CrimeJul 14, 2026
Man Charged in $1M Jewelry Store Heist Lands on FBI Most Wanted ListAlberto Perez-Elias is one of four men charged with robbing a Cape Coral, Florida, jewelry store and is the only one still at large.
Events & AwardsJul 14, 2026
Conference on Mining, Sustainability Kicks Off in NYCInitiatives in Art and Culture is hosting its 16th annual Gold and Diamond Conference, with the theme of “Resilience.”
Lab-GrownJul 13, 2026
Stephanie Gottlieb Changes Her Mind on Lab-Grown DiamondsThe designer, who once said she’d never sell lab-grown diamonds, debuted two capsule collections designed to be fun and easy to wear.
SourcingJul 13, 2026
De Beers Announces Potential Layoffs, 2-Year Production Pause at VenetiaThe diamond miner and marketer is undergoing another round of cost-cutting measures ahead of its sale by Anglo American.
Events & AwardsJul 13, 2026
Registration Opens for JIS Fall 2026 ShowThe annual trade-only buying event is slated for Oct. 16-19 in Miami Beach, Florida.
Events & AwardsJul 13, 2026
AGTA Accepting Entries for Spectrum 2026AGTA also has announced the lineup of judges for the colored gemstone cutting and jewelry design contest’s various categories.
