Today we’d like to introduce you to Tobina Kahn.
Tobina, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
The House of Kahn Estate Jewelers was originally established in the 1950’s when my parents, Adele & Edward Kahn, opened the first store in Chicago at 900 N Michigan Avenue. In the late 1960’s, the House of Kahn Estate Jewelers added a second location in Palm Beach, Florida: 1 block north of Worth Avenue, where it resides today at 231 Peruvian Avenue in Palm Beach.
In the early 1970’s, a 4-story, 11,200 square foot building was purchased at 60 E. Walton. I became Vice President of the Chicago operation until the sale of the building in 2015. At that time, the Chicago store was relocated to 900 N Michigan Avenue, where we are located presently and where, currently, I am President of the corporation. We currently have 2 locations: one in Chicago, Illinois and one in Palm Beach, Florida.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
I got involved in the family jewelry business as a teenager when I was on school breaks and after school. As a teenager, I delivered jewelry to Estee Lauder, founder of the Estee Lauder cosmetics firm. After graduation from high school in Palm Beach, Florida, I attended the Gemological Institute of America (G.I.A.) in New York City. I have a gemological degree from that institution. The road to my success has been bittersweet and not without obstacles, as in most businesses, however, those roadblocks were turned into opportunities that have paid off in my business today.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
The stores both offer a large variety of necklaces, bracelets, earrings, and rings, including engagement rings. All of the inventory comes from jewelry that has been handed down from generation to generation, exclusively estate jewelry. We specialize in the 1920’s, 1930’s, 1940’s, 1950’s, and 1960’s periods of jewels with some more modern gems included throughout.
I am largely known for assisting to re-educate customers that enter our stores to the true value of their family heirlooms. Many customers are unsure about these variations and I personally assist them in the explanation of their pieces and what the market currently bears for such a jewel and how high demand may be.
My job is to find the proper valuation on the jewels and bring the most accurate price to the family antiques. We are very proud to say that there are no charges for an appointment or examination of any jewelry… these are courtesies of House of Kahn Estate Jewelers.
We buy and sell estate jewels, fine artwork, and collectibles all day long. Many people may not be in a position to sell their jewels at auction, as auctions are only held a few times a year, and often times, many pieces are not sold at auction. Even if an item does sell with an auction house, payment is delayed 60 to 90 days by the house. Many people are not in a position to wait that long. Auction houses also love to charge a mandatory additional 35% commission to the seller and they remove a huge chunk of the profit from the customer. The House of Kahn Estate Jewelers, however, pays instantly at the conclusion of a transaction and we pride ourselves in working more quickly than anyone else in the industry.
Pricing:
- Collectibles starting at $50.00
- Genuine Jewels starting at $500.00 and up to $1,000,000.00
Contact Info:
- Address: House of Kahn Estate Jewelers
231 Peruvian Ave Palm Beach, FL 33480 - House of Kahn Estate Jewelers
900 N Michigan Ave Suite L5-12
Chicago, IL 60611 - Website: https://www.houseofkahn.com
- Phone: 312-943-9937
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/houseofkahn
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/houseofkahnestatejewelers
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/houseofkahn
Image Credit:
Kevin Gubish
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