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Jeweler Fred Leighton Dies at 85
Aug 6, 2017 4:55 AM
By Rapaport News
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RAPAPORT... Fred Leighton, the legendary former owner of the estate-jewelry
business that bears his name, has died at the age of 85.
Leighton, born Murray Mondschein, grew up in The Bronx, New
York, and developed a taste for retailing after working at a local gift store,
according to an interview with People magazine in 2002. After serving in
the army and spending some time traveling around Europe, he began importing
Mexican crafts. He later took over the Fred Leighton trading company,
transforming it into a leading business for selling heirlooms.
“People began coming into the store to sell these amazing
things that belonged to their grandmothers,” he told People. “A place
like Sotheby’s didn’t have that many auctions, so you had to wait a long time
for your money. I was buying things outright.”
He eventually became a supplier to the stars: Celebrities
such as Kate Winslet, Jennifer Lopez and Nicole Kidman have worn his items.
He legally changed his name to Fred Leighton in 1986 because
“people kept coming in and asking to talk to Fred Leighton,” he said in the
interview. “I decided they should be able to.”
Greg Kwiat, who acquired the brand in 2009, eulogized the jeweler in a statement at the end of July.
“We honor the extraordinary life and legacy of our namesake
founder,” Kwiat said. “He had an incomparable passion for vintage jewelry
and the vision to marry these remarkable jewels with fashion. He is a legend
and he will be deeply missed. The Kwiat family is honored to carry on his
legacy and to ensure his passion endures for generations to come.”
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Tags:
Estate jewelry, Fred Leighton, Greg Kwiat, kwiat, Murray Mondschein, new york, Rapaport News
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