JWC Media
a luxury lifestyle website that delivers a colorful and passionate telling of neighboring events, fashion, beauty, finance, and the pursuit of leisure.
By Contributor
PRODUCED BY KEMMIE RYAN
PHOTOGRAPHY BY KATRINA WITTKAMP
STYLING BY THERESA DEMARIA
HAIR & MAKEUP BY LEANNA ERNEST AND DORIA DEBARTOLO
WARDROBE PROVIDED BY NEIMAN MARCUS AND SWEET WILLIAM
Paris-born jeweler CATHERINE SARR is the founder of ALMASIKA, a fine jewelry house now anchored by a global showroom and boutique in Hinsdale. Her path has taken her from Paris and London to Abu Dhabi, Chicago, and now Burr Ridge. After years in the luxury and diamond industries, including at De Beers Group, she launched ALMASIKA to create jewelry that speaks to a shared human story. Her pieces have been worn by Michelle Obama, Alicia Keys, and Reese Witherspoon, and are stocked at leading retailers such as Bergdorf Goodman, net-a-porter, Moda Operandi, and Neiman Marcus. A civic-minded cultural advocate, Sarr co-founded the Prix Sarr at Beaux-Arts de Paris and serves on several arts boards in Chicago and Paris. She was named Chevalier (Knight) de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres by the French Ministry of Culture.
What excites you most about the future of your industry? Jewelry is one of the fastest-growing categories in luxury, and what excites me most is how customers are becoming more discerning. They care about where things come from, how they are made, and what they mean. As the founder of a fine jewelry brand rooted in cultural connection and craftsmanship, it is encouraging to see a growing appreciation for thoughtful design that carries intention and speaks to something deeper than trend.
How do you define confidence—and how have you built it? To me, confidence is not about being the most visible or outspoken. It is about knowing who you are and standing in that, even when it feels unfamiliar or uncomfortable.
What legacy do you hope to leave behind? I hope to leave behind something lasting both through the jewelry and the values behind it. A legacy of care, connection, and beauty that reflects the best of what we share as people.
What’s one leadership lesson you’ve learned the hard way? Trying to do everything yourself is not leadership. In the early stages, it felt easier to just take things on rather than explain or delegate. But over time, I realized that growth, both mine and the team’s, depends on trust. Learning to let go, to give people space to step up and bring their strengths, has made everything stronger. True leadership is not about control. It is about building a culture where people feel empowered and responsible. That shift changed everything for me.
For more information, visit almasika.com. You may follow her on LinkedIn at Catherine Sarr or on Instagram @almasikafinejewellery.
