Introducing our
Brilliant Beginning
Charles Weinstein sorting diamonds circa 1960.
Charles Weinstein: A Life Shaped by Diamonds
Incogem was founded by Charles Weinstein in 1978. Born in Belgium in 1915, Charles was drafted into the Belgian Army's Medical Corps during World War II. During the war, he and his family were separated, but they survived and were reunited once the conflict ended. After the war, Charles traveled throughout Europe before relocating to New York, where he worked as a traveling salesman. His travels eventually led him to Africa.
As the son of diamond dealers, Charles's background served him well, and he began buying and selling diamonds. After completing a significant sale of a large pink diamond, his talents were noticed by the DeBeers Company, which offered him a position. He spent the next ten years working for DeBeers, establishing diamond purchasing centers in several African countries.
The Birth of Incogem and the Floating Diamond Pendant
After departing from DeBeers, Charles operated a successful jewelry business in Los Angeles for many years. As he grew older, he sought a more tranquil lifestyle and was drawn to the Coachella Valley, where he lived and worked for 35 years until his passing in 2013.
Though semi-retired, the allure of diamonds called him back. Charles set out to create a new and unique piece of jewelry that would showcase the beauty of the diamond from every angle. This vision led to the creation of the Floating Diamond Pendant - diamonds embedded in clear Lucite and framed in gold. With this innovation, Incogem was born.
