Bardy’s has the largest selection of estate and modern fine jewelry
The story of Bardy's goes back three generations, starting with Ralph, a well-known professional in the jewelry industry. He founded a family-owned jewelry business, Levy & Sons, where Alan, his son, learned the trade first-hand. In the early 1970s, the catalog showroom giant, Best Products, bought out Levy & Sons. While there, Ralph served as the jewelry and diamond buyer for the entire corporation. Seeking to further his career, he attended the GIA to become a graduate gemologist.
In 1974, after graduating from the GIA, he moved back to Greensboro, NC, to start his own business, Bardy's Diamond Center. From that one store, the company expanded to seven stores throughout North Carolina. Over the years, while building their fine jewelry business, he also developed a passion for estate jewelry, turning it into a niche for the company.
In 1996, Joel joined the family business and also became a graduate gemologist. During his early years with the company, Joel worked closely with Alan and his father to grow the estate department. The trio set up at trade shows to sell to estate dealers from all over the world, gaining a reputation as "wholesale dealers to the trade." This development opened up a whole new world for the business. After Ralph retired, Michelle and Joel purchased the business in 2007. They shifted their primary focus to estate jewelry, diamonds, and signed pieces. To adapt to changes in the retail environment, they increased their online presence, thereby enabling them to serve retail customers worldwide.
In 2014, they opened a store and buying office in Boca Raton, Florida, inside the International Jeweler's Exchange. The business grew to such an extent that, in 2016, Michelle and Joel decided to close their Greensboro brick-and-mortar store to concentrate more on their wholesale, trade show, and online businesses.