The election of Victor Paul of South Orange as president of Wiss Sons, Inc., jewelers, succeeding Jerome B. Wiss, who was named chairman of the board, was announced by the board of directors today. William S. Taylor was reelected secretary-treasurer.

Formerly vice president and general manager, Paul has been associated with the Wiss stores 28 years. In addition to the Newark store at 665 Broad St., the firm has branches in East Orange, Montclair and Rahway.

Paul is a trustee of Newark Museum, a director and past president of the Newark Downtown Assn., a director of the Jewelry Industry Council, the Jewelers Security Alliance and the Jewelers Vigilance Committee. As chairman of the jewelry industry's tax committee he represented the entire industry during Congressional hearings leading to reduction of the excise tax on jewelry.

All three officers of the firm are certified gemologists and registered jewelers of the American Gem Society. The work of Jerome Wiss toward higher professional and ethical standards for jewelers recently was recognized in his appointment as head of the Gemological Institute of America. He also is executive vice president of the J. Wiss & Sons Co. cutlery manufacturing firm and president of the Wiss Realty Corp.

Taylor is a great-grandson of Jacob Wiss, the founder.