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The jewelry industry is one of the oldest and most traditional markets in the world — but Olivia Landau (Steinhardt ‘13), founder & CEO of The Clear Cut, is proving that innovation, technology, and a clear niche can redefine an entire space.
At our recent Female Founder Lunch on March 14, Landau shared her entrepreneurial journey — how she and her co-founder/husband Kyle Simon built The Clear Cut, a direct-to-consumer fine jewelry brand, and how their proprietary software platform has allowed them to scale efficiently while maintaining a white-glove customer experience.
From GIA to Building a Disruptive Business
Landau and Simon met while studying at the Gemological Institute of America (GIA). What started as a small business that Landau would work on during her lunch hours quickly scaled into a full-fledged company when they identified a major gap in the market: the jewelry industry was still operating decades behind in technology and transparency.
During COVID-19, when traditional jewelry stores shut down, The Clear Cut didn’t just survive — they thrived. Having already invested in building a front-facing portal with dynamic pricing, they were able to work with GIA and expand their digital-first approach, offering customers seamless, transparent access to high-quality natural diamonds.
A New Era for Diamonds: Blockchain & Fine Jewelry
The Clear Cut recently launched the largest natural diamond company on the blockchain, allowing customers to track the journey of their diamond — from origin to final purchase. In an industry known for its opaque supply chains, this level of transparency is groundbreaking.
Beyond diamonds, the company’s expansion into fine jewelry (launched March 13) marks another major step. Their mission? To create timeless investment pieces rooted in quality, craftsmanship, and enduring value, rather than chasing trends.
Scaling Smart: Efficiency Meets Experience
As The Clear Cut continues to grow, Landau emphasized the importance of finding a niche and sticking to it.
“You can’t be everything to everyone,” she said. “Find your people, serve them exceptionally well, and scale in a way that preserves your brand integrity.”
Balancing efficiency with a high-touch, luxury experience has been a challenge, but proprietary technology has played a critical role. The company’s development team, based in Brazil, built an in-house platform that allows them to provide a seamless, personalized customer journey while optimizing operations.
However, Landau cautioned against building custom software too early, as it’s time-consuming and expensive. “Sometimes, it makes sense to leverage existing solutions before creating your own.”
Final Takeaway: Innovate, But Stay Rooted in Your Core Values
Landau’s journey is a testament to how founders can disrupt a legacy industry without losing sight of craftsmanship and tradition. Through strategic technology, deep customer insights, and a strong brand identity, The Clear Cut is reshaping what it means to buy fine jewelry in the digital age.
For founders looking to scale, Landau’s story is a reminder that innovation isn’t about chasing trends — it’s about solving real problems and creating lasting value.
Missed this Female Founders Lunch? Join us for the next one on April 23 with Caroline Huber (Stern '23), co-founder of Jones. Claim your spot here. See you there!
