Key takeaways
• Ostbye was named Vendor of the Year by the Independent Jewelers Organization (IJO) at their 2026 show in Louisville, Kentucky.
• The award is voted on by IJO’s retail membership to recognize vendors who consistently exceed expectations and demonstrate exceptional partnership.
• Founded in 1920, the family-owned fine jewelry manufacturer previously won the first-place honor in 2005 and was a runner-up in 2024 and 2025.
(MINNEAPOLIS, MN) – Ostbye has been named Vendor of the Year by the Independent Jewelers Organization (IJO) at its show held in Louisville, Kentucky, July 26-28.
The IJO Vendor of the Year award is voted on by the organization’s retail membership. This honor recognizes vendors who consistently exceed expectations and demonstrate exceptional partnership with IJO’s independent jeweler members.
“We are humbled to receive this recognition,” said Craig MacBean, President. “We want to thank IJO and their retail members for this tremendous honor. It is a privilege to be a part of such an outstanding organization.”
A History of Recognition from the Independent Jewelry Community
Founded in 1920 in Minneapolis by Norwegian immigrant Walter Ostbye, the company has built its reputation over four generations of family leadership on quality craftsmanship, dependable service, and long-term retail partnerships. The company last received this first-place IJO honor in 2005, but adds to a long history of recognition from the independent jewelry community, including:
- First Runner-Up honors for IJO Vendor of the Year in 2025 & 2024
- 15-time recipient of RJO’s Vendor of the Year award
“Our team lives by our core values every day by focusing on solution-centered, dedicated service to our retail partners to better serve their consumers. I’m proud of the work by our entire team this past year who made this recognition possible,” concluded MacBean.
About Ostbye
Ostbye is a family-owned fine jewelry manufacturer headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota, serving independent jewelers across the United States since 1920. In 2024, Ostbye acquired the Victor Corporation, a Cincinnati-based diamond jewelry manufacturer, expanding its offerings and support for the independent jewelry channel. Ostbye collections include bridal jewelry, anniversary bands, women’s diamond fashion jewelry, men’s jewelry, colored gemstone jewelry, and the iconic Marriage Symbol®. Ostbye’s “Thru the Store®” marketing programs make them a true partner in the independent jeweler’s success.
