bringing it home
Have Jewelery WILL TRAVEL By seeking out the best from around the globe, Diamond Cellar offers a boutique experience in a big box jeweler world.
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rom friendship bracelets to engagement rings, from a unique statement necklace to an understated pair of earrings, all jewelry has something in common: It tells a story. That is why Diamond Cellar Holdings takes so much pride in seeking out the unique, quality pieces that cannot be found in the flooded stocks of big chain jewelry stores. “We are unique among jewelry companies,” says Andy Johnson, Diamond Cellar Holdings CEO. “We are a family of local stores, with global reach.” Johnson is the second generation of the family to run the Diamond Cellar in Columbus, Ohio, which was founded in 1947 by his father, Robert W. Johnson. What started as a trade-shop, repairing and creating jewelry for the local department stores, has grown into a nationally recognized company, which includes Donoho’s Jewellers in The Woodlands, Texas and Bruce G. Weber Precious Jewels in Tulsa, Oklahoma. And Johnson grew up with the business. “I watched my father at the bench and developed an appreciation for true craftsmanship,” he shares. As Diamond Cellar Holdings grew, so did its relationships within the industry. Johnson and his father got to know some of the most prominent jewelers in the business and developed relationships with the finest brands. These relationships helped when it came time to make decisions on growing the business. “The biggest, most important brands are very selective when it comes to who represents them. We tried to always do the right things, to build the business with integrity, and the important brands noticed that,” says Johnson. Today, Diamond Cellar Holdings is one of the largest independent, family-owned jewelry companies in the country, offering the best of both worlds when it comes to service. Locally operated, each store has an obvious commitment to learning about their customers and understanding their specific desires. Globally recognized, they have partnerships with the
most respected designers in the industry. The buyers of Diamond Cellar Holdings travel the world, searching for the perfect combination of durability, value and design. While national chain jewelers must select pieces that are most likely to appeal to the masses, Diamond Cellar Holdings is able to offer edgier, more interesting pieces that will resonate on a local level in the three markets they serve. “Our clients shop with us because they’re looking for true fashion, not cookie-cutter pieces. We become the filter for all the jewelry that’s out there, carefully selecting the best of the best,” says Nick Licata, executive vice president of brand at the Diamond Cellar. “It’s knowing the difference between a fad and a trend, and then selecting pieces that balance a fashion forward look with wearability at home in Columbus.” Years before it becomes mainstream in the United States, they sneak a glimpse at what the “it” fashion will be while visiting Fiera di Vicenza, the Italian gold and design show, and Baselworld, the world’s largest watch and jewelry show, held annually in Switzerland. They also visit China, another important and emerging jewelry market, traveling to Hong Kong as part of their global search for the finest fashions, as well as packaging and display trends. Their passion for seeking out quality jewelry is limitless, going from New York to L.A. and making many stops in between. At the annual Jewelers’ Circular Keystone (JCK) event in Las Vegas, the premier jewelry event in the United States, Diamond Cellar Holdings representatives sift through hundreds of designer booths to hand-pick the most refined brands. As a result, they know every piece that finds its way into the showcase will shine brighter and last longer than the overwhelming majority of jewelry offered at other stores. Whether it is worn for sentimental reasons or simply to showcase a personal style, jewelry makes a statement about who we are. Diamond Cellar Holdings is a jewelry company that embraces these values more than any other.
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