(PRESS RELEASE) NEW YORK — Rio Grande Jewelry Supply, a Berkshire Hathaway company, announces the opening of its New York City diamond office located near the historic Diamond District. Based in NYC, Theodore Mander is Rio’s new expert gemologist with experience in the jewelry industry spanning nearly two decades. Theo has earned several diplomas through the Gemological Institute of America and International Gemological Institute, including Graduate Gemologist, Graduate Diamonds and Applied Jewelry Professional. He has also taught internationally, teaching gemological classes in Mexico as a fluent Spanish speaker.
As part of the company’s deepening collaboration with Richline Group, Inc. and its sister companies, Rio Grande customers now have a direct connection to thousands of high-quality natural and lab-grown diamonds from one of the world’s diamond trading centers. This advantageous opportunity presents a refined and innovative diamond-shopping experience that makes it easy to filter desired diamond specifications, view lab reports for lab-grown diamonds, place special orders and more. Rio’s optimized shopping platform simplifies the diamond sourcing process without compromising quality or ethical standards. New inventory is updated daily and will continue to expand in 2024.
Rio & Richline
Richline Group and Rio Grande have strengthened shared core principles of environmental stewardship, responsible sourcing and a strict adherence to supply chain integrity from mine to storefront. As members of the RJC (Responsible Jewellery Council), Rio Grande and Richline diligently vet diamond partners for their ethical standards. Additionally, Rio Grande does not trade “conflict diamonds” under the purview of the international Kimberley Process (KP), assuring responsible, conflict-free diamond sourcing.
Founded in 1944 and located in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Rio Grande has over 75 years of exemplary service in the jewelry industry. Rio joined Richline Group—a top precious metals and materials manufacturer and subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway—in 2013.
Exceeding Every Expectation: How Wilkerson Helped d’Original Jewelers Achieve an Outstanding Retirement Sale
When David Rees decided to retire after 34 years of serving Bellevue, Washington’s Eastside, he and his wife knew their exit from d’Original Jewelers needed to honor their decades-long commitment to customers while meeting their financial goals. Since opening in 1990, David had built a reputation as one of the area’s most trusted names for diamonds, custom jewelry, and repairs.
Understanding that a successful retirement sale requires more than just discounting merchandise, David chose Wilkerson to manage his transition. What impressed him most was their attention to detail, particularly in accounting and sales projections. The results far exceeded his expectations — the sale significantly outperformed projections, delivering exceptional financial results that surpassed his retirement goals.
“They were always there for support. If we needed anything, they were able to accomplish that,” David shares. For jewelers contemplating retirement, David’s experience demonstrates Wilkerson’s proven ability to deliver outstanding results while providing comprehensive support throughout the entire process. His recommendation? “100% yes.”
