TrueFacet wants to keep all our shoppers and readers informed of the latest trends and industry news and to introduce you to new opinions and perspectives in the world of fine jewelry and watches. In turn, we’re bringing on board a handful of fresh expert voices, including TrueFacet’s new executive editor Roberta Naas. Stay tuned for interviews with even more industry movers and shakers on The Loupe!

Roberta Naas is a widely respected figure in the watch industry.

During any given SIHH or Baselworld or other industry trade show, Roberta can be found zipping about the fair, taking appointments with the world’s biggest brands and influential CEOs every 30 minutes on the hour and half hour. Her time is as in-demand as that of these top-level executives who always want to remain on Roberta’s radar, showing off their latest collection and innovations.

The industry holds Roberta in high esteem, revering her for her decades of experience and vast historical and technical knowledge. Roberta has been covering watches and fine jewelry for more than 30 years, penning articles for the likes of Robb Report, Forbes and Elite Traveler and authoring six books of her own. In 2008, Roberta was awarded the Gem Award for Excellence in Watch Writing by the Jewelry Information Center.

And, perhaps most impressively, Roberta is credited as the first female watch editor in America and, as an industry stalwart, has bravely pushed against the “Boys Club” attitude. Roberta pioneered the way for more female writers, executives and leaders in the traditionally male-dominated industry.

TrueFacet is very excited to have Roberta join The Loupe’s masthead as our new executive editor. With her unparalleled experience and wealth of knowledge, Roberta will be a great resource via her articles for new and seasoned watch collectors, keen to learn more of the ins and outs of this fascinating hobby.

We sat down with Roberta to learn more about the changing industry and the mesmerizing amethyst gold brooch she quite literally broke the bank on early in her career…

Name: Roberta Naas
Hometown: Hawthorne, NJ
Current Residence: Randolph, NJ

Title and Publications: Forbes and Forbes.com, Elite Traveler, RobbReport.com, Modern Luxury/Niche Media Magazines, DuPont Registry, WatchTime, Journal.hautehorlogerie.com, Monochrome-Watches, WorldTempus.com, New York Times WYT section, Newsweek special sections, and more.

First Big Jewelry Purchase: I was in my very early 20’s and I was in Hong Kong for a jewelry and watch show. I came across the most stunning 10-carat amethyst pendant in a raised 18-karat gold setting. It was remarkable. I couldn’t afford it and, after the proper amount of time spent nearly drooling over it, walked away. The last day of the show, I went back for a final look and I couldn’t find it. That was the moment I knew I had to have it, when it was nowhere to be found. Stricken, I asked the designer if it had been sold, and he told me that he knew I would be back, and put it aside. To the tune of thousands more than I could afford, I bought that pendant, and to this day I wear it proudly, and often.

Dream Purchase: That’s easy. I want the famed and highly exotic vintage Cartier Sapphire Panthere Brooch, where the majestic diamond-and-sapphire panther sits atop a stunning 150-carat cabochon star sapphire orb. It belonged to the Duchess of Windsor, and I believe it was made in the late 1940’s. That’s the dream piece for me.

The moment I knew I was hooked on watch/jewelry collecting was… When I walked into my first summit meeting of watch and jewelry executives at a luxury show. These were all competitors sitting around a huge table in a single room together, sharing design ideas and secrets, and opening up about concerns to one another. On the table were so many incredible colored stone and diamond jewelry pieces, and watches galore. I didn’t embrace collecting that day; I embraced the industry, the people, the camaraderie and the excitement and enthusiasm that remain to this day. I was hooked on the jewelry and watch world that surrounded me, and I am still passionate about the craft, the jewelry and watches, and the exceptional people of this world.

The biggest change I’ve seen in the industry is… There are so many that I could probably fill a book. From changes in product to evolutions in technology and craftsmanship, and right down to the way jewelry is marketed and sold. Instead, I think it is important to talk about the one thing that remains the same: The passion of those who design and create these wonderful works of wearable art. Anyone can buy a piece of jewelry, but it has to have a heart and a soul, a story, something that talks to you – or it is just a piece of stone and metal. Designers pour their emotions and spirit into the pieces they make in the hopes that the consumer will find the same spirit and make an emotional connection. That synergy is what keeps the industry thriving.

#1 Piece of Advice to Shoppers: Not every purchase is a major purchase; some can be small – yet all are special. When it comes to buying jewelry or watches there is no right or wrong, only personal taste and a connection to the design, or to the message it conveys to you. Even when investing in a big-ticket item, you have to love it. Wearing watches and jewelry is a way to make a statement, to project the true you, so don’t be afraid to buy the piece nobody else likes. Buy for the way a piece will make you feel when you’re wearing it … fun, fashionable, sophisticated, daring… and so much more.