Events & AwardsJun 06, 2025
Here Are the 2025 Retailer Hall of Fame InducteesThis year’s honorees include a Midwest retailer and two multi-store independents, one in New York and the other in New England.
CrimeJul 13, 2014
Cartier sues former exec for trade secret theft
Cartier has filed a lawsuit against its former director of off-line advertising, claiming she asked a co-worker to download confidential information about advertising plans and then tried to entice that same employee to follow her to competitor Tiffany & Co.
New York--Cartier has filed a lawsuit against its former director of off-line advertising, claiming she asked a co-worker to download confidential information about advertising plans and then tried to entice that same employee to follow her to competitor Tiffany & Co.
In a lawsuit filed Monday in New York federal court by Cartier parent company Richemont North America Inc., the luxury goods conglomerate alleges that in March, after New York-based Cartier advertising executive Melissa Pordy was told that she would be laid off due to restructuring, she “planned and took steps to access, procure and use plaintiffs’ confidential information.”
According to the suit, Pordy gave the assistant manager of offline advertising, who is not named in court papers, nine USB thumb drives to download confidential Cartier information contained on her work computer and Cartier’s network, including advertising plans, proposals and strategies.
Pordy told the assistant manager, who was her former assistant, that the information would be used “if we need it sometime,” court papers state.
After leaving Cartier, Pordy went to work for competitor Tiffany & Co. and solicited the assistant manager to join her there, all the while pressuring her to download the rest of the confidential information, court papers state.
The assistant manager verbally accepted a position with Tiffany and resigned from Cartier. Three days later, however, she withdrew her resignation and confessed to a colleague that Pordy had requested she download confidential files, court papers state. A week later, she officially resigned from Cartier.
Richemont’s lawsuit also claims that Pordy pretended to be a member of its company’s human resources department in order to get her work cell phone number transferred to her personal phone and, due to a clerical error, received more than $28,000 in unearned wages that she has not returned.
Attempts to reach Pordy were unsuccessful and court papers do not list any attorney for the defendant.
A Tiffany spokesman confirmed that Pordy does work at Tiffany but said that the company cannot comment on an employee’s personal matters.
Richemont is suing Pordy for violating the employee agreements she signed regarding confidential information and soliciting Cartier employees to leave the company, violation of the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act, tortious interference with contractual relations, conversion, fraud and unjust enrichment.
The company is seeking unspecified damages in the case, the return of the $28,889 in allegedly unearned wages, the return and/or
destruction of any confidential information in her possession and a permanent block on her using the telephone number once owned by Richemont.
More on Crime
The Latest
CollectionsJun 06, 2025
Piece of the Week: Harwell Godfrey’s ‘Granny Squares Eleanor’ Necklace As an homage to iconic crochet blankets, the necklace features the nostalgic motif through a kaleidoscope of cabochon-cut stones.
Events & AwardsJun 05, 2025
The 12 Fresh Faces in Couture’s Design AtelierDiscover the dozen up-and-coming brands exhibiting in the Design Atelier for the first time.
Brought to you by
The True Power Behind the Counter: Why Sales Associates Are the Heart of the Jewelry BusinessWhen investing in your jewelry business, it's important not to overlook the most crucial element of success: the sales associates.
SourcingJun 05, 2025
A Rare Suite of Rubies Has Arrived in Las VegasThe “Royal Ruby” Collection is a quintet of untreated rubies curated by collector Jack Abraham.
Weekly QuizJun 05, 2025
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
Events & AwardsJun 05, 2025
Daymond John to Give Keynote at JCK Las VegasThe entrepreneur and “Shark Tank” star will share his top tips for success.
MajorsJun 05, 2025
Platinum Guild International Updates Leadership TeamTwo existing executives have been given new roles.
Brought to you by
Clienteling Isn’t a Buzzword. It’s an Essential Business Model.More shoppers are walking out without buying. Here’s how smart jewelers can bring them back—and the tool they need to do it right.
Events & AwardsJun 05, 2025
Zillion Announces 'Women in STEM' Scholarship RecipientMeredith Tiderington, an electrical engineering student, was selected for the award.
Lab-GrownJun 04, 2025
GIA Reverting to More General Terminology for Lab-Grown DiamondsIt will quit assigning the stones specific color and clarity grades in favor of applying “new descriptive terminology.”
Events & AwardsJun 04, 2025
As JCK Talks Returns, Don’t Miss These 12 SessionsFrom design trends to sustainability, here’s a roundup of can’t-miss education sessions at JCK Las Vegas.
MajorsJun 04, 2025
Amy Curran Promoted at Hill & Co.Her new role is director of strategic initiatives.
CollectionsJun 03, 2025
In Her Latest Collection, Viviana Langhoff Is Leaning Into GoldThe designer is embracing bold pieces with weight to them in “AU79,” a collection she celebrated with a creative launch party.
FinancialsJun 03, 2025
Signet Jewelers Sees Turnaround in Q1 With Sales Ticking Up 2%On an earnings call, CEO J.K. Symancyk discussed what’s working for the company and how it’s preparing for the potential impact of tariffs.
SurveysJun 03, 2025
Consumer Confidence Improves in May The index partially rebounded after months of decline, due in part to the U.S.-China deal to temporarily reduce import tariffs.
CollectionsJun 03, 2025
Dakota Johnson Is Roberto Coin’s New Brand AmbassadorThe actress stars in the latest campaign set in Venice, Italy, and is set to participate in other creative initiatives for the jeweler.
GradingJun 03, 2025
Mason-Kay Jade Adds ‘Fei Cui’ to Jade ReportsThe company has joined other labs, including GIA and Lotus Gemology, in adopting the Chinese term for "jadeite jade."
SourcingJun 02, 2025
Gemfields’ June Auction to Include 36-Carat RubyThe large stone will be offered at its June sale along with a selection of secondary-type rubies from a new area of the Montepuez mine.
GradingJun 02, 2025
GSI Opens New Lab in Thailand Located in Bangkok, the laboratory is Gemological Science International’s 14th location worldwide.
TrendsJun 02, 2025
Amanda’s Style File: Three Gems for June Those born in June have a myriad of options for their birthstone jewelry.
SourcingJun 02, 2025
David Allouche Joins Grandview Klein DiamondsThe diamond industry veteran has been named its senior sales executive.
FinancialsMay 30, 2025
Movado’s Q1 Sales Slip Amid ‘Challenging’ Retail Environment The company plans to raise the prices of select watches to offset the impact of tariffs.
Policies & IssuesMay 30, 2025
Tariffs & Designers: Navigating Pricing in an Unstable EnvironmentBetween tariffs and the sky-high cost of gold, designers enter this year’s Las Vegas shows with a lot of questions and few answers.
CollectionsMay 30, 2025
Piece of the Week: Renato Cipullo’s ‘Hematite Blaze’ NecklaceDesigned by founder Renato and his daughter Serena Cipullo, it showcases a flame motif representing unity and the power of gathering.
Policies & IssuesMay 30, 2025
Trade Court Declares Trump’s Tariffs InvalidHowever, the tariffs remain in effect in the short term, as an appeals court has stayed the U.S. Court of International Trade’s decision.
CollectionsMay 29, 2025
Britney Spears Files Trademark for New Jewelry LineThe pop icon is one step closer to launching her “B Tiny” jewelry collection, a collection she first began posting about last fall.
Supplier BulletinMay 29, 2025
Inoveo Platinum Grain, Exclusively Distributed by StullerSponsored by Stuller
