A third-generation, family-owned business, Harry Kotlar first began as an importer of small diamonds to the United States. Quickly earning the trust of his loyal clientele, Harry soon began receiving requests for larger stones, which he graciously accommodated. With demand for larger and larger stones increasing throughout the years, Harry’s reputation for integrity, coupled with the quality of his merchandise, allowed the company to flourish and expand its client roster to include major maisons, powerful executives and world-renown celebrities.

In 1987, David joined the family business. Committed to carrying on his grandfather’s legacy, he also envisioned the inevitable evolution of the brand, one that would leverage the expertise, resilience and wisdom that can only be garnered through lived experience. In 1990, he onboarded master artisans from Italy, each of whom had dedicated their lives to a specific element of jewelry-making handed down to them through generations. Fueled by Harry’s drive to create personalized experiences for his clients, David wanted to establish an artisanal approach to manufacturing finished jewelry that allowed each piece to become a unique, one-of-a-kind masterpiece.

After being painstakingly hand sketched, every component of each piece the brand creates has been shepherded through the fabrication process by a forger, a carver/setter, a polisher, and a quality control expert. With patience, dedication and a keen eye for perfection, the team applies time-honored techniques, many of which have remained unchanged for hundreds of years. This thoughtfulness and care result in pieces that reveal a gravitas rooted in history and embodied by one of the brand’s mantras, “Made by hand, shaped by history.”

While now celebrated for its finished jewelry, the company continues to be a leader in the diamond industry, offering a proprietary diamond cut, The Kotlar Cushion(R), touted as “The world’s most brilliant cushion cut diamond.” With several brilliant white diamond-intensive collections, the brand also offers a stunning selection of exquisite colored gemstones and colored diamonds, all with the shared commonality of exceptional quality.