(PRESS RELEASE) NEW YORK — Assael, the 75-year-old fine jewelry brand and foremost purveyor of magnificent pearls and responsibly sourced coral in North America, announced the debut of an all-new documentary style short film entitled Assael Revealed – The Legendary Legacy of Pearl Pioneer Salvador J. Assael. Produced by three-time Emmy Award winner Dean Love and his production company Dean Love Films, the mini-doc explores the enduring and historic legacy of the late Salvador Assael, hailed as “a titan of the cultured pearl business” by the New York Times.
“My late husband was a legend in the pearl world,” says Christina Lang Assael, President and CEO of Assael. “He was the first to bring South Sea Pearls to North America, and he literally started the global Tahitian Pearl industry. This long overdue film tells the true story of him as a swashbuckling adventurer with incredible business savvy and an absolute genius for marketing. I am honored to now share his legacy with fellow pearl connoisseurs.”
The film conveys Salvador’s personal love affair with the very finest pearls and the global impact of his leadership. In personal interviews with his beloved wife Christina, now serving as Assael CEO and President, the seven-decade history of the brand is revealed, including many significant firsts, as well as Salvador’s instrumental role in the very creation of the Tahitian pearl market. With appearances by Christina Lang Assael and jewelry veterans Stellene Volandes, Editor-in-Chief of Town & Country, award-winning jewelry historian and author Vivienne Becker and Peggy Grosz, Senior VP of Assael, the compelling video provides an inside look behind the scenes of the New York City pearl brand.
For more information, contact Duvall O’Steen of Luxury Brand Group at duvall@luxbrandgroup.com.
Four Decades of Excellence: How Wilkerson Transformed a Jeweler's Retirement into Celebration
After 45 years serving the Milwaukee community, Treiber & Straub Jewelers owner Michael Straub faced a significant life transition. At 75, the veteran jeweler made a personal decision many business owners understand: "I think it's time. I want to enjoy my wife with my grandchildren for the next 10, 15 years."
Wilkerson's expertise transformed this major business transition into an extraordinary success. Their comprehensive approach to managing the going-out-of-business sale created unprecedented customer response—with lines forming outside the store and limits on how many shoppers could enter at once due to fire safety regulations.
The results exceeded all expectations. "Wilkerson did a phenomenal job," Straub enthuses. "They were there for you through the whole thing, helped you with promoting it, helping you on day-to-day business. I can't speak enough for how well they did." The partnership didn't just facilitate a business closing; it created a celebratory finale to decades of service while allowing Straub to confidently step into his well-earned retirement.
