“Shell Auranova” is the next generation of the brand’s bridal line, featuring half-bezel engagement rings with bold and fluid designs.
Bong Ki Kim, founder of Kim International, Dies at 94
Born in North Korea, Kim survived three years in a prison camp before fleeing to South Korea and eventually immigrating to the U.S.

Kim was born July 9, 1929, in a small North Korean village during the time of Japanese colonization.
His parents were farmers and didn’t have a lot of money but Kim valued education in spite of the limited opportunities available to him.
“His life is a fascinating story of survival and accomplishment,” the company said in Kim’s obituary.
After the Japanese surrender brought an end to World War II, the Communist Party-controlled Soviet Union seized control of North Korea and conditions worsened.
In response, Kim organized an anti-communist student movement in his high school. When North Korean authorities discovered this, he was sent to a prison and labor camp for three years, enduring “unspeakable conditions.”
Freed in 1950 at the age of 21, Kim maintained his stance against communism, joining an anti-communist guerilla group.
During his time in the group, Kim was shot, eventually escaping over the border into South Korea, leaving his parents behind. They would never see each other again.
He found work at a U.S. Air Force base in South Korea as part of the kitchen patrol. Kim was described as a hard worker, and he taught himself to speak English while at the base.
There, he met his future wife Kilcha, and they wed soon after. They had three children, Charlie, Aeran, and Mike.
Kim entered a translator program, later becoming a first lieutenant in the South Korean Army. He served as a translator for several U.S. Army generals and as an aide to one four-star general.
He retired eight years later with the rank of major.

Kim and his family moved to Miami in 1974 in search of the “American Dream,” including freedom and educational opportunities for his children.
In Miami, he began working at a giftware import business, getting his first glimpse into the giftware and jewelry businesses.
In 1975, he moved his family to Dallas to start his own business, then called Kim Imports.
It was a rough start for Kim as the new business required a lot of hard work, including leaving his family for weeks at a time, traveling and sleeping in a van, attending shows, and visiting stores to sell his jewelry lines.
One of Kim’s favorite stories to tell was the one about his first buying trip to Vicenza, Italy.
He hopped into a taxi at the airport and asked to be taken to a gold factory. With $50,000 cash in hand, Kim made his first major gold purchase.
His company continued to grow throughout the years, specializing in fine fashion and bridal jewelry.
“His journey is truly an example of living the American dream. He began with nothing, but through his resolve and sacrifice, he built a successful jewelry business,” the company said.
“Most importantly, everything he worked for wasn’t for himself. It was for the family he loved dearly.”
Though Kim retired years ago, he enjoyed returning to the office and sharing stories from his life.
In his free time, he liked to play golf and watch the History Channel.
“His greatest joy was his family, which grew to include nine grandchildren and four great-grandchildren,” said the company.
His children, Mike Kim and Aeran Kim-Park, currently run Kim International in Dallas.
The Latest

Boucheron and Pomellato performed well in an otherwise bleak quarter for Kering amid struggles at Gucci.

Designer Deborah Meyers created her birds from oxidized sterling silver, rose-cut diamond eyes, and Akoya Keshi pearl feathers.

Six new retail businesses were selected for the 2025 program, which began in January.

The company said it expects sightholders to remain “cautious” with their purchasing due to all the unknowns around the U.S. tariffs.


Sponsored by the Gemological Institute of America

Simon Wolf shares why the time was right to open a new office here, what he looks for in a retail partner, and why he loves U.S. consumers.

The risk of laboratory-grown diamonds being falsely presented as natural diamonds presents a very significant danger to consumer trust.

A third-generation jeweler, Ginsberg worked at his family’s store, Ginsberg Jewelers, from 1948 until his retirement in 2019.

The company failed to file its quarterly reports in a timely manner.

The organization also announced its board of directors.

Charms may be tiny but with their small size comes endless layering possibilities, from bracelets to necklaces and earrings.

Paola Sasplugas, co-founder of the Barcelona-based jewelry brand, received the Fine Jewelry Award.

A platinum Zenith-powered Daytona commissioned in the late ‘90s will headline Sotheby’s Important Watches sale in Geneva next month.

The Signet Jewelers-owned retailer wants to encourage younger shoppers to wear fine jewelry every day, not just on special occasions.

The 21 pieces, all from a private collector, will be offered at its Magnificent Jewels auction next month.

Lilian Raji answers a question from a reader who is looking to grow her jewelry business but has a limited marketing budget.

GCAL by Sarine created the new role to sharpen the company’s focus on strategic partnerships and scalable expansion.

The Indiana jeweler has acquired Scottsdale Fine Jewelers in Scottsdale, Arizona.

“Cartier: Design, Craft, and Legacy” opened earlier this month at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.

Van Cott Jewelers in Vestal, New York, is hosting a going-out-of-business sale.

Industry veteran Samantha Larson has held leadership roles at Borsheims, McTeigue & McClelland, Stuller, and Long’s Jewelers.
The two organizations will hold the educational event together this fall in Mississippi.

The entrepreneur and “Shark Tank” star will share his top tips for success.

The Ukrainian brand’s new pendant is modeled after a traditional paska, a pastry often baked for Easter in Eastern European cultures.

The jeweler has announced a grand reopening for its recently remodeled location in Peoria, Illinois.

The “Strong Like Mom” campaign features moms who work at Tiffany & Co. and their children.