Events & AwardsApr 18, 2025
Daymond John to Give Keynote at JCK Las VegasThe entrepreneur and “Shark Tank” star will share his top tips for success.
IndependentsMay 20, 2020
Bob Sears Siragusa, Beloved Mentor to Many, Dies at 72
He brought Maurice Lacroix to the United States and spent more than a decade as president of the U.S. market for the Swiss watch brand.
Robert “Bob” Sears Siragusa, who brought Swiss watch brand Maurice Lacroix to the United States, has passed away from complications related to COVID-19.
Los Angeles—Robert “Bob” Sears Siragusa, a beloved industry veteran who served as the president of Maurice Lacroix U.S.A., died over the weekend from complications related to COVID-19 after a decade-long battle with Alzheimer’s disease.
He was 72.
One of his two sons, Brent Siragusa, confirmed his passing in a Facebook post on Saturday, writing: “It’s with deep sadness that we have to report to our family and friends that our dad, loving husband, father, and grandfather, Bob Siragusa, has left our earth.”
Siragusa started off on the jewelry side of the business, founding jewelry manufacturer Aurion International in the mid-1980s before switching to the job for which he was perhaps most well-known—president of Maurice Lacroix U.S.A.
“Bob was an industry veteran who was between jobs when he came across a watch brand he immediately fell in love with. Maurice Lacroix had no distribution in the United States, and Bob was convinced they needed to be here,” jeweler and American Gem Society president John Carter wrote on the AGS Facebook page.
So, Carter wrote, Siragusa convinced the Swiss family who owned the watch brand to take a chance on the U.S. market despite a recent spate of bankruptcies. They did, and he built a “very successful” brand here.
Then 24 years old and fresh out of college, Carter worked under Siragusa as a traveling salesman for Maurice Lacroix for five years.
He said Siragusa taught him how to be a mentor, as well as the customer service skills he still uses today as owner of Jack Lewis Jewelers in Bloomington, Illinois.
“He was just the best boss that a young person could have asked for because he gave me freedom but also gave me guidance,” Carter said in an interview with National Jeweler Tuesday. “He really showed me how a boss should be, how you should mentor people.
“He personally meant very much to me.”
After Maurice Lacroix, Siragusa worked alongside jewelry designer Michael Beaudry to create his eponymous company’s watch division, Beaudry Time, serving as its president for two years before retiring from the industry around 2010.
Beaudry said he will be missed by many.
“He was so passionate about developing fine timepieces and enjoyed nothing more than going to Basel and seeing all of his friends and colleagues,” the designer wrote in an email.
Siragusa was also a proponent of the American Gem Society, and when the organization
relocated from Los Angeles to Las Vegas, he was among the donors who sponsored one of the monuments constructed outside AGS headquarters.
“Each time I visit, I make sure to touch the one from Bob and Maurice Lacroix, and it makes me smile every time,” Carter wrote.
Siragusa is survived by his wife, Renee Bersen Siragusa; two sons, Brent and Logan Siragusa; and grandchildren.
In his Facebook post, Brent said the family hopes to be able to gather to celebrate their patriarch’s life “all in good time. We thank you for your support then, now, and going forward.”
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Siragusa’s name to The Alzheimer’s Association, Stephen S. Wise Temple in Los Angeles or charity of the donor’s choosing.
“Each time I visit, I make sure to touch the one from Bob and Maurice Lacroix, and it makes me smile every time,” Carter wrote.
Siragusa is survived by his wife, Renee Bersen Siragusa; two sons, Brent and Logan Siragusa; and grandchildren.
In his Facebook post, Brent said the family hopes to be able to gather to celebrate their patriarch’s life “all in good time. We thank you for your support then, now, and going forward.”
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Siragusa’s name to The Alzheimer’s Association, Stephen S. Wise Temple in Los Angeles or charity of the donor’s choosing.
More on Independents
The Latest
CollectionsApr 18, 2025
Piece of the Week: Dukachi’s ‘Easter Bread’ PendantThe Ukrainian brand’s new pendant is modeled after a traditional paska, a pastry often baked for Easter in Eastern European cultures.
MajorsApr 18, 2025
Tiffany & Co. Employees Star in Mother’s Day CampaignThe “Strong Like Mom” campaign features moms who work at Tiffany & Co. and their children.
CollectionsApr 17, 2025
John Hardy, Athena Calderone Partner on Art Deco Decor-Inspired CollectionInterior designer Athena Calderone looked to decor from the 1920s and 1930s when crafting her first fine jewelry collection.
Weekly QuizApr 18, 2025
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
FinancialsApr 17, 2025
Movado Group to Increase Prices to Offset Tariffs ImpactDuring a call about its full-year results, CEO Efraim Grinberg discussed how the company is approaching the uncertainty surrounding tariffs.
Lab-GrownApr 17, 2025
NDC Launches Its Diamond Learning CenterThe free program provides educational content for jewelry salespeople and enthusiasts to learn or refresh their diamond knowledge.
Brought to you by
The Heart of the Industry: Giving Bench Jewelers the Recognition They DeserveBench jewelers spend years honing their skills, Jewelers of America’s Certification validates their talents.
Policies & IssuesApr 17, 2025
Jewelers of America Requests Tariffs Testimonials from MembersThe feedback will be used to prepare other jewelers for the challenges ahead, the organization said.
TechnologyApr 17, 2025
Technology Therapy Group Expands AI Training for Jewelry RetailersThe online sessions are designed to teach jewelers to use AI tools like ChatGPT and Claude to grow their business.
CollectionsApr 16, 2025
Foundrae’s First Commitment Jewelry Collection Unites Through LoveThe “United in Love” collection offers tangible mementos of hearts entwined with traditional and non-traditional commitment heirlooms.
IndependentsApr 16, 2025
Indiana Jeweler to Host Black Jewelry Designer Pop-UpRobert Goodman Jewelers will hold a “Black Jewelry Designers and Makers” event on April 27.
MajorsApr 16, 2025
WJA Announces Board Members, New Chicago Chapter PresidentThe announcements follow a tumultuous start to 2025 for WJA, which saw a wave of resignations following controversial statements about DEI.
EditorsApr 15, 2025
Tariffs: What We Know Right Now Editor-in-Chief Michelle Graff answers questions about how the new taxes levied on countries like India and China will impact the industry.
EditorsApr 15, 2025
Q&A: Bogolo Joy Kenewendo on Making Deals, Marketing DiamondsKenewendo, Botswana’s minster of minerals and energy, discusses closing the deal with De Beers and the work that was missed along the way.
AuctionsApr 15, 2025
23-Carat ‘Golconda Blue’ Heads to AuctionThe historic fancy vivid blue diamond set to headline Christie’s Geneva sale next month could sell for up to $50 million.
FinancialsApr 15, 2025
LVMH’s Q1 Sales Slip 2 PercentLVMH CFO Cécile Cabanis also discussed the effects of tariffs so far.
CrimeApr 15, 2025
Jon Hamm Plays a Jewel Thief on Apple TV+The “Mad Men” and “The Morning Show” star steals jewelry, art, and handbags from his wealthy neighbors in “Your Friends & Neighbors.”
SourcingApr 15, 2025
Diamond Club West Coast Names 2025 BoardThe organization has reelected Kalpesh Jhaveri as president.
FinancialsApr 14, 2025
Movado to Restate Years of Financials Due to ‘Misconduct’ in Dubai An investigation found that the former managing director of Movado’s Dubai branch overstated and prematurely recorded sales.
CollectionsApr 14, 2025
Sauer Embraces Emptiness Through ‘Ma’ CollectionThe collection pays tribute to the Japanese philosophy of Ma, studying balance, stillness, and the interplay between presence and absence.
IndependentsApr 14, 2025
Illinois Jeweler Closing After 45 YearsMari Lou’s Fine Jewelry in Orland Park, a suburb of Chicago, is closing its doors.
GradingApr 14, 2025
GIA Expands Overseas Services as Tariffs Kick InGIA’s labs in Dubai and Hong Kong are now accepting larger diamonds in light of the “logistical challenges” presented by the new tariffs.
AuctionsApr 11, 2025
Piece of the Week: A Replica of Princess Grace’s Wedding EarringsThese earrings by Van Cleef & Arpels, featuring the same design as a pair worn by Princess Grace, are up for auction at Woolley & Wallis.
Recorded WebinarsApr 11, 2025
Watch: Top Tips for Saving Time With AITwo experts share how artificial intelligence tools can help retailers run a more efficient business.
SourcingApr 11, 2025
Mikimoto Names New President, CEO for U.S. DivisionKentaro Nishimura, who has been with the pearl company since 1997, has been promoted to president and CEO of Mikimoto America.
WatchesApr 11, 2025
Bulova Documentary Now on Amazon Prime“America Telling Time: 150 Years of Bulova” explores the storied history of the American watchmaker.
