James and Maxwell Orloff are the 2nd and 3rd generations of the Orloff family in the jewelry business. Photo by Backstory Creative From a young age, James Orloff would come to work with his dad at the family jewelry store. He’d be given important busy work like taking apart watches, and eventually became comfortable handling and evaluating diamonds — all before the age of 10.
Now a third-generation Orloff is an integral part of the operation. Orloff Jewelers is the 2024 winner in the small business category for The Business Journal’s Family Owned Business Awards. “For 60 years, our family’s dedication has been the cornerstone of our business, embodying the values of hard work and commitment to our customers and team.
We are proud to support and uplift our community, forging lasting bonds that inspire growth and togetherness,” said Mary Ann Orloff, James’ wife and partner. James’ father Paul Orloff opened Paul Orloff Diamond Company in 1955 on Tulare Street. In 1968, he moved the business to the Fulton Mall and changed the name to Prince Orloff Crown Jewels.
James Orloff joined the company in 1980 as a graduate gemologist. They opened a second location at the Manchester Center Mall, and then the business moved again in 1982 to Fig Garden Village, where it changed its name to Prince Orloff & Son Jewelers. In 1990, the Prince Orloff & Son Jewelers name was retired, and James and Mary Ann Orloff began the next generation as Orloff Jewelers.
James and Mary Ann Orlo.