In recent years Alan Friedman has come to be called the “King of Pinks” by diamond industry insiders because of this great love for, and authoritative knowledge of, pink diamonds.
His experience in the field dates back decades, however, and even beyond, as a third-generation jeweler. By the age of five, he was already working at the Omaha, Nebraska jewelry outlet Borsheim’s, and he would develop his skill sets there as both a salesperson and a valued designer. Once the shop was purchased by billionaire Warren Buffett, he was spared the tasks of working retail and could focus on his own vision.
Friedman picked up a graduate gemology degree at the Gemological Institute of America and moved out to California to launch his solo career as a designer. Soon he had his designs for sale in leading stores across America, but this was not enough.
At a time when there was little demand for colored diamonds, Friedman risked over a million dollars to buy pink precious gems to manufacture into prized pieces. His bet paid off, and today pink diamonds – less than a thousandth of all diamonds in the world – are a highly prized commodity, in no small measure thanks to the stylish jewelry he crafts for them.
