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.
MajorsFeb 11, 2014
Appointments: Freeman’s, Fruchtman Marketing, more
Freeman’s Auctioneers has named Michael Larsen as the head of the Fine Jewelry & Watches department.
New York--Freeman’s Auctioneers has named Michael Larsen as the head of the Fine Jewelry & Watches department.
Larsen has more than 20 years of experience in the jewelry industry, including expertise in appraising, manufacturing and custom design as well as an extensive understanding of watches and timepieces. Prior to joining Freeman’s, he served as the senior jewelry specialist at Bonhams in Los Angeles for more than 10 years.
He is also a graduate gemologist from the Gemological Institute of America and was awarded the certified gemologist appraiser title from the American Gemological Society.
Larsen will be working out of Freeman’s Philadelphia and Los Angeles offices.
Fruchtman Marketing has hired Dustyn Evearitt as account coordinator. Evearitt most recently served as marketing manager for the Automobile Racing Club of America, where he developed and implemented sales, advertising, promotional and marketing plans.
Evearitt is a graduate of the University of Toledo with a degree in business administration.
Concurrent with the new hire, Fruchtman has promoted Lindsay Bernsdorff to senior account coordinator and movedMallory Lee to the company’s digital department, where she will serve as the new digital account coordinator.
De Beers has made three new appointments to its executive committee--Paul Rowley, executive vice president of global sightholder sales; Neil Ventura, executive vice president of auction sales; and Balisi Bonyongo, CEO of Debswana. All three appointments are effective immediately.
Rowley just took over the executive vice president role from Varda Shine, who left the company at the end of January after 30 years with De Beers. Rowley joined De Beers in 1983, filling a number of senior positions at the company, including serving on both the DTC Botswana and Namibia DTC boards as well as acting CEO of DTC Botswana prior to his current role.
RELATED CONTENT: Varda Shine leaving De Beers
Ventura, meanwhile, joined De Beers in 1989 and since taking his current position has established De Beers as a market leader in the sale of rough diamonds to small, mid-size and large manufacturing, retailing and trading businesses via online auctions.
Bonyongo started at Debswana in 1993 as a junior plant metallurgist and has since held several senior positions, including corporate strategy manager before assuming the role of general manager at the Jwaneng processing plant and later chief operating officer of Debswana.
The Gemological Institute of America has selected Dr. Karen Smit as the first associate in the Richard T. Liddicoat Postdoctoral Research program. Smit began her tenure at the New York laboratory on Feb. 3.
She received her doctorate in the Diamond Research Group at the University of Alberta in Canada, and has gained experience using geochemical and isotopic techniques to research the origin of the sub-continental lithospheric mantle and its diamonds. She also has experience working in field mapping in Greenland and as a geologist in Tanzania.
The research position is named in honor of the GIA’s former president Richard T. Liddicoat, widely known as the “father of modern gemology.” Participants will examine issues related to diamonds, colored stones, pearls and instrument development. Each position will be tailored to focus on the associate’s expertise and interest.
Christie’s continues its development in Asia with five senior appointments. Eric Chang has been named as deputy chairman of Asian 20th century and contemporary art; Ben Kong will be deputy chairman of Chinese paintings; Vickie Sek was named deputy chairman of jewelry and jadeite; Jinqing Cai has been named president of Christie’s China; and Rebecca Wei will be President of Christie’s Asia (excluding China).
Aurouet de Mervelec S.A.S. and Gem Lab Services have achieved certification from the Responsible Jewellery Council for meeting the ethical, human rights, social and environmental standards as established by the council’s member certification system.
More on Majors
The Latest
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.
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.
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.
Weekly QuizMay 30, 2025
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
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
Brought to you by
Las Vegas Antique Jewelry & Watch Show: Showcasing the Most Collectible Merchandise from Across the GlobeGain access to the most exclusive and coveted antique pieces from trusted dealers during Las Vegas Jewelry Week.
SourcingMay 29, 2025
Grizzly Auctions 6,620-Carat EmeraldIt was featured in the miner’s latest sale, which brought in $24.8 million.
TechnologyMay 29, 2025
GemFind Launches AI Product Description SoftwareGemText AI uses artificial intelligence to generate tailored product titles, descriptions, and tags with jewelry-specific language.
CrimeMay 28, 2025
8 Convicted in Kim Kardashian Jewelry Heist TrialAging and with myriad health issues, none will serve time for their roles in robbing the billionaire celebrity at gunpoint in 2016.
CollectionsMay 28, 2025
NY Liberty’s 2024 Championship Rings Honor Historic WinThe WNBA team received rings imbued with meaning, from leaf motifs and its Liberty torch to the number of diamonds used.
MajorsMay 27, 2025
MJSA to Become Part of Jewelers of America The two organizations have signed an affiliation agreement that’s expected to be finalized in the coming weeks.
AuctionsMay 27, 2025
Al Capone’s Patek Philippe Pocket Watch Back Up for AuctionThe platinum and diamond watch is part of Sotheby’s upcoming Important Watches sale.
AuctionsMay 27, 2025
182-Carat Paraíba-Type Tourmaline Sells for $487K Recovered in Mozambique, “The Kat Florence Lumina” was part of Bonhams’ Hong Kong jewelry auction held last week.
TrendsMay 27, 2025
Amanda’s Style File: Candy-Colored GemstonesGet a taste of the delicious candy-like gemstones in this Amanda’s Style File.
CrimeMay 23, 2025
JSA Shares Holiday Weekend Security Tips Amid Spike in BurglariesJSA’s Scott Guginsky provided a list of nine security measures jewelers should observe while locking up for the long weekend.
CollectionsMay 23, 2025
Piece of the Week: Bliss Lau’s ‘Bright’ RingFrom Lau’s “Love of a Kind” series, the engagement ring was inspired by the moon and holds a different meaning depending on how it is worn.
GradingMay 23, 2025
GIA Updates Pearl Classification SystemThe lab has adjusted the scale it uses for nacre grading.
Supplier BulletinMay 22, 2025
How to Put Natural Diamonds Back in the SpotlightSponsored by GCAL by Sarine
CrimeMay 22, 2025
NY Jeweler Sentenced in Shoving Death of Colleague at IJO ShowDavid Walton will serve three years’ probation after an incident in a hotel bar led to the death of West Virginia jeweler David Ettinger.
FinancialsMay 22, 2025
Watches of Switzerland’s Full-Year U.S. Sales Climb 14% The retailer also provided an update on how the tariffs situation in the U.S. is affecting its business.
IndependentsMay 22, 2025
Adeler Jewelers Celebrates 50 YearsThe family-owned jeweler in Great Falls, Virginia, will be celebrating its golden jubilee with a year’s worth of events.
Events & AwardsMay 22, 2025
Jose Hess Design Awards Announce JudgesThe nonprofit elected five judges who will decide the winners of its design competition.
MajorsMay 22, 2025
MJSA Releases 2025-2026 Buyer’s GuideThis year’s edition includes articles on the favorite tools of notable designers, evaluating when to outsource production, and more.
CollectionsMay 21, 2025
Bulgari Highlights Its Colorful Past in Phenomenal ‘Polychroma’ CollectionThe jeweler’s high jewelry collection features extraordinary gemstones, like a 241.06-carat emerald and the world’s fourth-largest spinel.
ColumnistsMay 21, 2025
Edahn’s Take: Analyzing the 2025 ‘$100 Million Supersellers’ List In a special column for the State of the Majors, Edahn Golan breaks down what the top-performing fine jewelry sellers are doing right.
