Articles and News
Orloff Jewelers Marks 70 Years of Family Ownership in Fresno May 08, 2025 (0 comments)
Fresno, CA--Orloff Jewelers is marking 70 years of operation in 2025. Founded in 1955 by Paul Orloff as the Paul Orloff Diamond Company, the business has remained family-run through three generations.
According to a report by The Business Journal, the store initially opened on Tulare Street before relocating to Fulton Mall in the late 1960s under the name Prince Orloff Crown Jewels. A second location opened at Manchester Mall. In 1982, the business moved to Fig Garden Village, and in 1990, it was rebranded as Orloff Jewelers under James and Mary Ann Orloff.
On May 9, 2025, the city of Fresno honored one of its most enduring family businesses as Mayor Jerry Dyer officially proclaimed the day Orloff Jewelers Day in recognition of the company’s 70th anniversary. The proclamation was made during a public celebration at Orloff’s flagship location in Fig Garden Village, where customers, friends, and longtime supporters gathered to commemorate the milestone.
“Seventy years ago, my family set out to create a place where people could celebrate life’s milestones with beauty and meaning,” said James Orloff, second-generation owner. “To be recognized by our city in this way is profoundly humbling.”
Mayor Jeff Dyer honors Orloff Jewelers for 70 years of service to the community on May 9. He is flanked by Max Orloff (far right) and Mary Ann and James Orloff (far left).
James Orloff now serves as CEO, and his son Max is vice president. The company’s staff do not work on commission, a policy the report states is intended to prioritize customer service. Many employees have remained with the store for over 15 years.
Max Orloff noted that informed customers are not seen as a challenge. “It empowers them to make their own decision,” he told The Business Journal. He attributes the store’s low return rate to long-term staff-customer relationships.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Orloff Jewelers maintained operations using a second-hand pawn license, offering jewelry deliveries and virtual showings and expanding its gold-buying services across California and other states. These initiatives, per the report, helped retain and attract customers during a period of economic uncertainty.
Succession planning began in 2022, with Max preparing to take over leadership. He previously attended law school and worked in the jewelry industry in Atlanta before returning to the family business.
James Orloff highlighted that honesty and flexibility have been key to navigating challenges, including the 2008 recession and the pandemic. “He didn’t make a knee-jerk answer,” James said of his father, Paul Orloff, in the report.
Learn more in this article by The Business Journal.