Former GIA and Cartier head Ralph Destino is now senior international director of business development with jewelry buyer CIRCA, where he will drive business in North America.
“[CIRCA CEO] Larry Grunstein is an old friend of mine,” Destino tells JCK. “I have a tremendous amount of respect for him. He’s a real top-notch executive. He’s putting together a big-league team there. He has [head of the core division] Richard Tilles there, who probably brings more knowledge and professionalism to the business than anyone.”
He notes that CIRCA “deals with a broad range of constituencies: high-net-worth individuals, the trade, leading manufacturers, retailers, estate lawyers. I think I can make a contribution to all constituencies.”
He believes that the jewelry trade-in trend will continue to grow.
“You see it in the auction world, eBay,” he says. “Rather than accumulating clutter, people are finding avenues to grow pieces.”
Destino spent 32 years at Cartier, eventually becoming chairman and president of Cartier Inc. Later, he became chairman of the Gemological Institute of America. He is now chairman emeritus of both organizations.
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