IGI is buying the colored gemstone grading laboratory through IGI USA, and AGL will continue to operate as its own brand.
Gearing up for a test run
Hello again, it's Michelle Graff, National Jeweler diamond editor and world's most inconsistent (but, in my defense, extremely busy) blogger. In my last blog posting back in February, I did a roundup of the many varied and somewhat ridiculous diamond...
Hello again, it's Michelle Graff, National Jeweler diamond editor and world's most inconsistent (but, in my defense, extremely busy) blogger.
In my last blog posting back in February, I did a roundup of the many varied and somewhat ridiculous diamond products now on the market.
Since that time, diamond manufacturers haven't disappointed.
There's the diamond-encrusted mouse figurine from Diamond Trading Co. sightholder Lazare Kaplan.
According to press reports, The Mouse, as it is creatively named, was going to be auctioned off in Malaysia, with bids starting at $20,000 for the 12.36-carat figurine. The Mouse is a display piece that doubles as a brooch and is made using 563 round diamonds, as well as pink diamonds on the rodent's ears, feet and the tip of its tail.
It's 18-karat yellow gold with a silver base and has been dubbed, "the world's largest diamond mouse," as if there were a number of contenders vying for this title. Imagine how quickly the world's largest diamond-studded elephant or blue whale would trump The Mouse.
In addition to The Mouse, I've found the perfect use for the $20,000 iPhone case I blogged about back in February: storing the world's most expensive iPhone.
Priced at $176,400 and designed by Austrian jeweler Peter Aloisson, the iPhone Princess Plus is studded with 318 diamonds weighing 17.75 carats and has an 18-karat gold rim.
Alas, a Russian businessman purchased the iPhone earlier this year, according to news reports, dashing my dream of owning this magnificent phone-case combo.
Do you think he bought the $20,000 case to go along with it?
Next, I move on to hair and body care, with plans to actually test some of these products that claim to give your body and/or locks a diamond-like sparkle.
I recently wrote Nivea Corp. to request product samples of its Diamond Gloss hair-care line. You can see the entire line for yourself here.
The site enables you to watch a movie on hair care and use of the products, in case shampooing or hairspray confuse you.
I expect to be blinding men in New York City with my shiny, super-lusturous hair.
Stay tuned!
The Latest

The Texas jeweler said its team is “incredibly resilient” and thanked its community for showing support.

The medals feature a split-texture design highlighting the fact that the 2026 Olympics are taking place in two different cities.

Launched in 2023, the program will help the passing of knowledge between generations and alleviate the shortage of bench jewelers.

From tech platforms to candy companies, here’s how some of the highest-ranking brands earned their spot on the list.


The “Khol” ring, our Piece of the Week, transforms the traditional Indian Khol drum into playful jewelry through hand-carved lapis.

The catalog includes more than 100 styles of stock, pre-printed, and custom tags and labels, as well as bar code technology products.

Criminals are using cell jammers to disable alarms, but new technology like JamAlert™ can stop them.

The chocolatier is bringing back its chocolate-inspired locket, offering sets of two to celebrate “perfect pairs.”

The top lot of the year was a 1930s Cartier tiara owned by Nancy, Viscountess Astor, which sold for $1.2 million in London last summer.

Any gemstones on Stuller.com that were sourced by an AGTA vendor member will now bear the association’s logo.

The Swiss watchmaker has brought its latest immersive boutique to Atlanta, a city it described as “an epicenter of music and storytelling.”

The new addition will feature finished jewelry created using “consciously sourced” gemstones.

In his new column, Smith advises playing to your successor's strengths and resisting the urge to become a backseat driver.

The index fell to its lowest level since May 2014 amid concerns about the present and the future.

The new store in Aspen, Colorado, takes inspiration from a stately library for its intimate yet elevated interior design.

The brands’ high jewelry collections performed especially well last year despite a challenging environment.

The collection marks the first time GemFair’s artisanal diamonds will be brought directly to consumers.

The initial charts are for blue, teal, and green material, each grouped into three charts categorized as good, fine, and extra fine.

The new tool can assign the appropriate associate based on the client or appointment type and automate personalized text message follow-ups.

Buyers are expected to gravitate toward gemstones that have a little something special, just like last year.

Endiama and Sodiam will contribute money to the marketing of natural diamonds as new members of the Natural Diamond Council.

The retailer operates more than 450 boutiques across 45 states, according to its website.

The new members’ skills span communications, business development, advocacy, and industry leadership.

The jeweler’s 2026 Valentine’s Day campaign, “Celebrating Love Stories Since 1837,” includes a short firm starring actress Adria Arjona.

The new features include interactive flashcards and scenario-based roleplay with AI tools.

Family-owned jewelry and watch retailer Deutsch & Deutsch has stores in El Paso, Laredo, McAllen, and Victoria.























