b"STAN & INGRIDRAZNYopened Rolex and kind of laugh about it today, how small that checkIngrid explains, Because of Stan being a bench jeweler and mak-was, Stan says, though they both allow it absolutely seemed like aing beautiful jewelry, and Stan really always having such a relationship fortune at the time. with diamonds, we didnt really have a lot of brands in the early days. It felt like, oh my goodness, whatThe same holds true today. Outside are we doing, Stan says.of watches, Razny Jewelers sells mostly It was a major turning point forThe Patek Philippe section ofRaznydiamond jewelry, scoping out quality Razny Jewelers, which added PatekJewelers downtown Chicago store.brands that are not over-represented in Razny Jewelers started carrying the Philippe the following year, 1999. prestigious watch brand in 1999. the Chicago market and have a history. Absolutely, unequivocally, weThe retailer carries Kwiat and wouldnt be where we are at todayRahaminov Diamonds as well as three without Rolex and Patek, Stan says.in-house brands, Refined by RaznyCONGRATULATES(diamond essentials), Razny Bespoke FEWER, BETTER THINGS (large-carat, hand-selected natural Chat with Stan and Ingrid for adiamonds), and Forever by Razny couple of hours and it will become ap- (engagement rings).parent why they work so well togetherWe have fewer brands [than manyCANDY UDELLas partners in business and in life. big stores] but we are committed to They are completely in sync withthe brands we carry, Ingrid says.London Jewelerstheir thinking, from not being afraidStan concurs, adding, We really to strategically expand across Chicago- avoid taking a brand just to say, We land to their approach on merchandis- have this brand.ing a jewelry store.Like the Raznys, the Kwiat family They believe in stocking only top- is selective about whom they workINGRID & STAN RAZNYof-the-line brands and fully commit- with; Chief Operating Officer Russell ting to those relationships.Kwiat says they look for like-minded,Razny JewelersWe dont need to have 20 watchhigh-quality, family-run stores. brands, Stan saying, noting thatRazny Jewelers checks all three of outside of Patek Philippe and Rolex,those boxes.Razny Jewelers carries Tudor, Cartier,Theyre great people, great part-and Breitling.ners, Kwiat says. They have a keenHOLLY WESCHEHave the best of the best and be exclusive and be a good partnerunderstanding about what it takes for a brand to be successful in to each [brand], he advises.their market.Wesche JewelersThe Raznys apply the same approach when selecting jewelryWhats more, Stan is a real diamond merchant, Kwiat says. brands to stock. Continued on page 44ON YOUR INDUCTIONINTOThe Rolex section of the downtown ChicagoNATIONAL JEWELER'Sstore. Stan Razny says the company wouldnt be where it is today without the addition ofRETAILER HALL OF FAMERolex and Patek Philippe. 2023WWW.GKDG.COM 42 RETAILER HALL OF FAME 2023 +1 212 719 4800"