A federal judge gave Benjamin Preacher 59 days in jail, plus 10 months of home confinement and two years of supervised release.
The Top 10 Stories of 2024 So Far
Editor-in-Chief Michelle Graff shares a rundown of the National Jeweler website’s most popular articles as we hit the halfway point of the year.
So, which articles have our readers clicked on the most so far this year?
The answer is, it’s a bit of a mixed bag, from world-record-setting gemstones to engagement ring trends to the unfortunate closing of a long-standing independent jeweler.
Auction stories also were popular, whether the sale went well or not so well.
Without further ado, here are the top 10 news articles published on NationalJeweler.com so far in 2024, as ranked by Google Analytics.
I hope everyone has a great summer and if there’s something you’d like to read more of in the second half of the year, please let me know: michelle.graff@nationaljeweler.com.
1) 703-Carat Tanzanite Sets Guinness World Record
Carved by Naomi Sarna, the “L’Heure Bleu” was recognized as the world’s largest cut tanzanite following an official weigh-in on March 9.
2) 5 Engagement Ring Trends for 2024
In this story published in March, experts weighed in on what consumers likely will be looking for this year.
3) Sotheby’s Auction of Sylvester Stallone’s Watches Was a Knockout
The auction house sold all 11 watches from the “Rocky” star’s collection at its “Important Watches” sale in June.
4) Muzo’s Collection of Shipwrecked Emeralds Makes US Debut
The three pieces, recovered from a 17th century shipwreck, are set with emeralds from Colombia’s Muzo mine. They docked at The Winter Show, an invite-only event held in New York in January.
5) Dateline to Feature Ted Shaughnessy Case
The Austin, Texas, jeweler was murdered in his home in 2018, and his son later pleaded guilty to hiring a man to kill him. The long-running NBC true crime series detailed the case in an episode that aired in January.
6) IGI Detects 6-Carat Lab-Grown Diamond With Fake Inscription
The pear-cut stone was engraved with a GIA report number for a natural diamond of the same size and shape.
7) Sotheby’s Withdraws 101-Carat Yellow Diamond from Auction
“The Allnatt” was supposed to be the star of Sotheby’s “Magnificent Jewels and Noble Jewels” sale held in Geneva in May.
8) Fox’s Seattle to Close After 112 Years
The Emerald City mainstay held its final Leap Year Sale beginning in February, and permanently closed its doors in April.
9) Sotheby’s to Offer Rare VCA Necklace, ‘Lavender Dream’ Diamond
A circa 1929 tie necklace from Van Cleef & Arpels and a pinkish purple diamond were considered to be the highlights of the auction house’s “Magnificent Jewels” sale, held June 7.
10) Indian Lab-Grown Diamond Manufacturers Keep Growing
A combination of factors is driving growth in the industry despite the precipitous drop in prices across the board, contributing editor Stephen Rego reported for the India Diamond Report, published in April.
The Latest
In a CNBC interview, CEO Tehmasp Printer discussed the IPO in India and what declining lab-grown diamond prices mean for the company.
The offering included vintage Rolexes, timepieces worn in “Titanic,” Steve McQueen's watch, and a special Citizen pocket watch.
For over a century, Jewelers of America has been the voice of the industry and valuable resource to jewelers across the country.
The 13-piece “Stephanie Gottlieb x Studs” collection is the piercing studio’s first fine jewelry offering to feature the gemstone.
The Brazilian jewelry brand made a home on New York City’s Madison Avenue with exclusive pieces only available at the location.
An Adobe Analytics report explored the rise in mobile shopping, the popularity of Buy Now Pay Later options, and peak shopping hours.
While no reputable jeweler would knowingly sell lab-grown stones as natural, it's a growing possibility.
The inaugural Dick Greenwood Memorial Scholarship in Gems Science will cover the fall 2025 and spring 2026 semesters.
A Piazza Italia pavilion will feature Italian designers and manufacturers while “MJSA Showcase” brings over a piece of the MJSA Expo.
“Ray Griffiths: The Works” tells the story of the master jeweler’s career, which started with an apprenticeship in Australia at age 15.
Davis is the director of business development at Select Jewelry Inc., and Mobley is the jewelry and watch editor at the Natural Diamond Council.
The retailer has been upping its marketing spend to drive revenue growth and brand awareness.
Mike Straub and John Treiber opened Treiber & Straub in 1980 with the goal of bringing Milwaukeeans the best jewelry brands.
The color for 2025, “Mocha Mousse,” embodies thoughtful indulgences and everyday pleasures.
The Yoruba word for ant, “Kokoro” embodies the strength of womanhood in ant society while highlighting responsible sourcing.
The retailer’s jewelry sales doubled, with branded jewelry performing especially well.
The jewelry retailer addressed the lab-grown diamond “disruption,” the price of gold, and its holiday weekend performance.
A more positive view of the current labor market boosted the Conference Board’s index last month.
The director of the Swiss Gemmological Institute (SSEF) will be honored for his impact on gemology and dedication to advancing the science.
Sponsored by 2025 AGTA GemFair Tucson
At the annual event, in its second year, the organization honored those making remarkable contributions to the jewelry industry.
Celebrate December babies with 20 pieces of jewelry featuring this month’s birthstones—turquoise, tanzanite, and zircon.
A total of 126 million consumers shopped in stores over the five-day period, about 5 million more than last year.
The FTC’s Jewelry Guides require “clear and conspicuous” disclosure when advertising lab-grown diamonds.
The fine jewelry designer, who came out of retirement in 2017, is putting down his sketchpad for good.
The Type IIa, very light pink colored diamond was the highlight of the recent Hong Kong jewelry auction.