Christina Lang Assael – president and CEO of US-based pearl specialist Assael, Inc – passed away on December 21, 2021 at her Millbrook, New York home due to a serious illness.

Born and bred in Sweden, Christina has always been artistically inclined. After receiving an International Baccalaureate in Modern Languages, she began an international modelling and acting career in London, Paris, and New York. 

She entered the Manhattan art world as Sotheby’s liaison to top clients while earning a Certificate of Interior Design from the New York School of Interior Design. She then established her own business as a private advisor, acquiring fine art and antiques for connoisseurs and collectors. 

Christina first heard of pearl specialist Salvador Assael in the 1970s when he sold a rare Tahitian pearl necklace at Harry Winston. Christina would later marry Salvador in 1991, travelling the world with him to acquire the finest pearls for US jewellery retailers. In 1993, Assael, Inc broke world records for the highest price ever paid for a pearl strand at auction – US$2.3 million.

Christina took over the brand in 2011, building it beyond her husband’s legacy and steering it in new directions by ushering in innovative pearl jewellery designs and reinventing existing offerings. Inspired by Salvador’s pioneering spirit, Christina introduced responsible sourcing beyond rare coral, making Assael the foremost supplier of precious coral in North America. 

She also served on the Coral Commission of CIBJO (The World Jewellery Federation), advocating the preservation and regulation of marine resources. 

The Assael brand will continue as a family-owned enterprise, with senior vice president Peggy Grosz at the helm of business operations, according to the company.