Diamonds and Scoundrels - My Life in the Jewelry Business

An action-packed memoir about the ins and outs of the jewelry business that portrays a young woman as she faces ups and downs, good guys and bad, while negotiating her way through the pitfalls of doubtful ethics in a male-dominated industry.

About the author

Originally a high school French teacher, Adrienne Rubin published two cookbooks for charity before making the decision to go into business as an importer of fine jewelry, selling to the trade. She sold to stores all across the country and eventually opened Avanti Fine Jewelry, her own jewelry store in Beverly Hills. Today she pursues other investments while spending time with her husband, children, and grandchildren in Los Angeles.

Summary

An action-packed memoir about the ins and outs of the jewelry business that portrays a young woman as she faces ups and downs, good guys and bad, while negotiating her way through the pitfalls of doubtful ethics in a male-dominated industry.

Additional text

“Diamonds & Scoundrels is an incredible story of a woman who seemingly had it all but craved purpose. Through determination, boldness, entrepreneurial spirit and sheer will, she built a flourishing business, smashed barriers and proved that no dream is out of reach if you simply refuse to quit. It’s a story of business, betrayal, justice and even love. Best of all, her story serves as an incredible learning guide for anyone seeking to live life to the fullest, pursue fulfillment, and achieve goals. Diamonds & Scoundrels had me mesmerized, and the real gem in it is Adrienne Rubin.”

—Matt Iseman, host, American Ninja Warrior

“Diamonds and Scoundrels is a fascinating story about an extraordinary woman, whom I know personally and admire greatly. She started her own company, naive but full of courage, and was truly ahead of her time, navigating the cutthroat business world in ways that were uncommon for women of that generation. The story is a pleasure to read and proves that success can come to all who persevere.”

—H Dayan, manufacturer, importer of fine jewelry and rare diamonds

“If Diamonds and Scoundrels weren’t real, it would be a romp of a fiction novel! Rubin's revealing life in the jewelry biz is both an entertaining and informative narrative, from primer to master class on how to create a business, with a lexicon of pitfalls and successes. Adrienne clearly underscores that often we learn more from our failures and misjudgments of character than from our easy wins.”

—Barbara Lazaroff, Designer, Restaurateur, and cofounder of the Wolfgang Puck brand

“Steeped in women’s empowerment and behind-the-scenes candor, Diamonds and Scoundrels is an entertaining memoir about entrepreneurship. . . . Adrienne Rubin’s gutsy and arresting memoir . . . details her shift from a placid, 1960s homemaking life to an adventurous career, capturing thirty-five years of wisdom and growth.”

—Foreword Clarion Reviews

“Beautifully written memoir by a Los Angeles housewife who has it all . . . Her story involves working day and night in a man's world, evading robbers, fending off sexual advances, and traveling all over the world in search of uniquely designed handmade jewelry. All in all a great adventure that reads like fiction.”

—Robert T. Altman, Superior Court Judge for California (ret.)

“The book begins as a seemingly prosaic story—a bored housewife starts a small business as a way to enrich her placid life. But don’t be fooled. Soon you are on the journey and rooting for Adrienne as she encounters and overcomes her challenges. At every turn she is underestimated by competitors and potential partners. The book adeptly interweaves the human side with the business side, and it brims with lessons on entrepreneurship, trust, and how to defend your interests as a minority shareholder.”

—Professor Marvin Lieberman, UCLA Anderson School of Management

Product details

• Authors: Adrienne Rubin
• Publisher: Ingram Publishers Services
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Released: 17.09.2019
• EAN: 9781631525131
• ISBN: 978-1-63152-513-1
• No. of pages: 296
• Subjects: Fiction > Narrative literature > Letters, diaries; SELF-HELP / Personal Growth / Success, BUSINESS & ECONOMICS / Women in Business