TrendsSep 23, 2026
Holiday Diamond Jewelry Trends: Layered Looks, PersonalizationThis holiday season, look to pieces that will help to fill out customers’ everyday diamond jewelry wardrobe, experts say.
IndependentsApr 22, 2020
Lucia Greene, Former Owner of Wick & Greene Jewelers, Dies at 90
She was a compassionate and generous person whose “sweet and feisty spirit will forever be a part of everyone who knew her.”
Asheville, N.C.—Lucia Greene, who owned and operated Wick & Greene Jewelers (now Spicer Greene) for decades with her husband, died April 18.
She was 90 years old. 
She spent her childhood in North Asheville, North Carolina, and eventually moved to West Asheville.
She attended school in the Asheville City School system, graduating from Lee Edwards High School, and was a lifelong member of Calvary Baptist Church.
Greene married the love of her life, the late jeweler Paul Greene, in 1948. The two were married for 63 years before his passing in 2011.
She was a hard worker her whole life, according to an online obituary.
Greene worked as an operator at the Southern Bell telephone company, a bookkeeper and personal assistant at Matthews Ford, and, once her children were in school, alongside her husband at Wick and Greene Jewelers.
Together, the two grew the business into one of the premier jewelers in the country.
It became Spicer Greene Jewelers in 2016 and is now helmed by the fourth generation, their granddaughter Eva-Michelle Spicer and her husband, Elliott.
Greene’s family said she was a loving and dedicated wife as well, and a devoted mother to her children, Michael Greene (wife, Eva) and Paula (Greene) Webb (husband, Steve).
She was “especially proud” of her three grandchildren—Christopher Webb and wife, Jennifer; Paul Webb and wife, Jessica; and Eva-Michelle and Elliott—and loved visits from her great-grandson, Caleb Webb.
Greene’s family was her greatest pride and joy, and it extended in her later years to include the caregivers and her three closest friends at the Deerfield Episcopal Retirement Community.
She was an ardent animal lover and philanthropist, supporting several causes benefitting her church, local animal agencies and her city.
Together with Paul and their son Michael, they were the pioneers who led the revitalization of downtown Asheville in the 1980s.
Greene taught everyone compassion, humility, generosity, perseverance and love, the obituary said, adding, “She will be missed, but her sweet and feisty spirit will forever be a part of everyone who knew her.”
Due to the current pandemic, the family will hold an intimate graveside service, with a celebration of Greene’s life to take place at a later date.
A charitable endowment has been established in Paul and Lucia Greene’s name to help young entrepreneurs.
Editors' Picks
Sponsored by
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Paul and Lucia Greene Charitable Endowment at the Community Foundation of WNC at 4 Vanderbilt Park Drive, Asheville, NC 28803.
Donations also may be made to Calvary Baptist Church at 531 Haywood Road, Asheville, NC 28806; Memory Care at 100 Far Horizons Lane, Asheville NC 28803; or to the Asheville Humane Society at 14 Forever Friend Lane, Asheville, NC 28806.
Donations also may be made to Calvary Baptist Church at 531 Haywood Road, Asheville, NC 28806; Memory Care at 100 Far Horizons Lane, Asheville NC 28803; or to the Asheville Humane Society at 14 Forever Friend Lane, Asheville, NC 28806.
More on Independents
The Latest
SourcingSep 23, 2026
Organization That Promotes Natural Diamond Rebrands for Third Time The Natural Diamond Council is now The Diamond Collective and has announced a new strategy under CEO Amber Pepper.
MajorsSep 23, 2026
Kay Jewelers’ New Campaign Goes ‘All In’ on LovePart of its brand relaunch, the marketing around the campaign includes a contest involving a jacket set with 550 diamonds.
Brought to you by
Meet Gemology’s Next Generation Microscope: GIA® Gemolite® NXT Professional EditionExperience gemstones with greater precision and comfort than ever before.
Events & AwardsSep 23, 2026
Tiffany & Co. Exhibition Opening at Arkansas Museum The curation, opening soon at the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, honors the jeweler’s heritage through a distinctly American lens.
Weekly QuizSep 17, 2026
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
CollectionsSep 23, 2026
Pucker Up for Pandora’s New Pat McGrath Jewelry CollabThe jewelry giant has partnered with the famed makeup artist to create a colorful new collection of charms and rings.
IndependentsSep 23, 2026
Sissy’s Log Cabin’s ‘Back to School and Bling’ Event ReturnsThe jeweler donated school supplies to Memphis, Tennessee, students during the event combining basketball and mentorship.
Brought to you by
Your Piece Could Be the One Editors Talk AboutSubmit your pieces for a chance to win in this year's competition.
MajorsSep 22, 2026
Foundrae’s Lawsuit Against Pandora Can Continue, Court RulesA federal judge denied Pandora’s motion to dismiss Foundrae’s claim for copyright infringement of its medallions.
ColumnistsSep 22, 2026
Peter Smith: Our Struggle With Emotional SellingPeople aren’t thinking rationally when they are buying luxury products, and we shouldn’t be selling them that way, Peter Smith writes.
IndependentsSep 22, 2026
Constance Polamalu Named to '40 Under 40' ListThe Baltimore Business Journal recognized the entrepreneur for her leadership in business and the jewelry industry.
GradingSep 22, 2026
GCAL by Sarine Opens New Lab in MumbaiThe facility is located within SEEPZ and is GCAL by Sarine’s second location in India, joining its existing grading lab in Surat.
Events & AwardsSep 22, 2026
NYCJAOS Returns for Autumn EditionThe four-day show is slated for Nov. 19-22 at the Metropolitan Pavilion in New York City’s Chelsea neighborhood.
AuctionsSep 21, 2026
Ultra-Rare Cartier Cheich Watch Sells for $3.4M Offered at Sotheby’s Hong Kong, the one-of-a-kind white gold watch now holds the title of most valuable Cartier wristwatch sold at auction.
MajorsSep 21, 2026
Longtime Industry Executive Pamela Bernstein-Gulla to RetireBernstein-Gulla has been working in the jewelry industry for 40 years, most recently as chief engagement officer for Hill & Co.
IndependentsSep 21, 2026
Bhindi Jewelers Moves Into New, Larger California StoreThe relocated Glendale store, now at The Americana at Brand, was designed to be a contemporary “timepiece haven” inspired by luxury resorts.
AuctionsSep 18, 2026
7.52-Carat Unheated Paraíba Tourmaline Sells for $1.3M at Sotheby’s The top lot of the auction house’s Hong Kong jewelry sale was an Art Deco Mauboussin necklace with ruby beads, which sold for $2 million.
Policies & IssuesSep 18, 2026
Tariffs, Retail Crime Top of Mind at JA’s Annual Fly-In Retailers and manufacturers headed to the Capitol this week to discuss tariff exemptions for diamonds and gemstones, among other issues.
CollectionsSep 18, 2026
Nanis Transforms Its ‘Boule’ Into a Mirror Our Piece of the Week is a pair of drop earrings from the “Sway” collection featuring Nanis’ first use of mirror-polished gold.
GradingSep 18, 2026
De Beers Introduces Faster Version of Diamond Screening Machine SynthDetect 2 can scan a full tray in less than five minutes, De Beers said, making it six times faster than its predecessors.
AuctionsSep 18, 2026
Noonans To Auction Medieval Gold Seal Ring Recovered By 2 FriendsTwo metal detectorists discovered the ring, which may have belonged to English noblewoman Matilda of Lancaster, in Suffolk.
Policies & IssuesSep 17, 2026
Tariffs on India Could Increase as Russian Sanctions Bill Heads to Trump’s DeskThe bill has a provision that allows the president to raise tariffs on countries that import Russian oil and gas to as much as 100 percent.
Events & AwardsSep 17, 2026
This Is the Winner of the 2026 Robert M. Shipley AwardThe American Gem Society presented the annual award to a former president of its board.
CollectionsSep 17, 2026
Cynthia Erivo, Zoë Chicco’s Jewelry Collab Is an Ode to TransformationThe “Chrysalis” capsule centers butterfly motifs representing growth, transformation, and the unfolding of who you are.
Events & AwardsSep 17, 2026
Louisiana Retailer Kevin Patton Wins Lifetime Achievement AwardJewelers of Louisiana presented Patton, the third-generation president of Pattons Fine Jewelry, with the award at its annual convention.
PodcastsSep 16, 2026
Episode 9: Remembering Cindy EdelsteinTwo special guests join the podcast to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the designer advocate, mentor, and author’s untimely passing.
CollectionsSep 16, 2026
Jessica McCormack, L’Objet Collab on Homewares CollectionMcCormack brings sea-inspired motifs from her “Beaches” collection to L’Objet’s tableware, vanity pieces, and first-ever cutlery set.
