Michel Desalles allegedly murdered Omid Gholian inside World of Gold N Diamond using zip ties and then fled the country.
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

Associate Editor Lauren McLemore shares her favorite looks from a night of style inspired by Black dandyism.

Sponsored by Instappraise

Gain access to the most exclusive and coveted antique pieces from trusted dealers during Las Vegas Jewelry Week.

CEO Beth Gerstein discussed the company’s bridal bestsellers, the potential impact of tariffs, and the rising price of gold.


The brand’s first independent location outside of Australia has opened in Beverly Hills, California.

Cathy Marsh will lead the jewelry company’s efforts in the upper Midwest and western United States.

Supplier Spotlight Sponsored by GIA

The company has multiple strategies for dealing with tariffs, though its CEO said moving manufacturing to the U.S. is not one of them.

Connecting with your customers throughout the year is key to a successful holiday marketing push.

Its commercial-quality emerald sale held last month totaled more than $16 million, up from about $11 million in September 2024.

National Jeweler Editor-in-Chief Michelle Graff joined Michael Burpoe to talk tariffs, consumer confidence, and the sky-high price of gold.

Designer Lauren Harwell Godfrey made the piece as an homage to the 2025 gala’s theme, “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style.”

Expanded this year to include suppliers, JA’s 2025 list honors 40 up-and-coming professionals in the jewelry industry.

Located in Fort Smith, it’s the Mid-South jeweler’s first store in Northwest Arkansas.

The episode about the family-owned jeweler will premiere May 17.

The Houston-based jeweler’s new 11,000-square-foot showroom will include a Rolex boutique.

The turquoise and diamond tiara hasn’t been on the market since it was purchased by Lord Astor in 1930.

“The Duke Diamond” is the largest diamond registered at the Arkansas park so far this year.

The childhood craft of making dried pasta necklaces for Mother’s Day is all grown up as the 14-karat gold “Forever Macaroni” necklace.

Set with May’s birthstone and featuring an earthworm, this ring is a perfect celebration of spring.

Though currently paused, high tariffs threaten many countries where gemstones are mined. Dealers are taking measures now to prepare.

May babies are lucky indeed, born in a month awash with fresh colors and celebrated with one of the most coveted colored gemstones.

The deadline to apply for the Seymour & Evelyn Holtzman Bench Scholarship is June 12.

What’s really worrying U.S. consumers isn’t the present situation; it’s what the economy is going to look like six months from now.

Now called The Instore Jewelry Show, it will include holiday-focused education, interactive workshops, and a window display contest.

It includes pricing for unenhanced Colombian emeralds in the fine to extra fine range.