CrimeAug 18, 2026
2 California Men Arrested in Fatal Vehicle Smash RobberyOne is the driver who allegedly crashed a car into a Sacramento jewelry store in April, striking a 71-year-old employee who later died.
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.
Editors' Picks
Sponsored by
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
ColumnistsAug 18, 2026
Peter Smith: The IKEA Effect and Bridal Branding In a new column, Peter Smith posits that people actually enjoy putting together IKEA furniture, and the same is true for engagement rings.
CrimeAug 18, 2026
Thieves Snatch $1M in Jewelry From New Jersey Jeweler9lakha Jewelers in Iselin, New Jersey, was the target of a smash-and-grab robbery on Aug. 8.
Brought to you by
Why More Jewelry Retailers Are Hosting Turnkey Estate Buying EventsRetailers are seeking new ways to attract customers, increase traffic, and create revenue – Estate buying events are a popular solution.
Lab-GrownAug 18, 2026
Ring Concierge, Kendall Jenner Collab on Bridal Earrings GiveawayThe jeweler has partnered with Jenner’s 818 Tequila brand to gift lab-grown diamond studs to a bride-to-be and their bridal party.
Weekly QuizAug 13, 2026
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
Events & AwardsAug 17, 2026
Exhibition on Louis Comfort Tiffany’s Studios to Open at The MetThe exhibition will feature more than 100 drawings of stained-glass lampshades, windows, and more, many created by women and émigrés.
CollectionsAug 17, 2026
Marquise Diamonds Dance in Spinelli Kilcollin’s ‘Wren’ CollectionMarquise-cut diamonds in drop charms are the center of the new collection, reflecting the movement of a dancer in modular styles.
Brought to you by
Wedding Band Trends 2026: Personalization Takes Center StageColored gemstones, artisan finishes, mixed metals, and meaningful details are shaping demand in bridal jewelry.
Events & AwardsAug 17, 2026
There’s a New Jewelry Show Coming to FloridaThe inaugural Fort Lauderdale Jewelry, Antique, & Object Show will be held from Jan. 28 through Feb. 1, 2027.
IndependentsAug 14, 2026
Smyth Jewelers to Open Fourth LocationThe family-owned jeweler will open a new showroom in Bel Air, Maryland, this fall.
CrimeAug 14, 2026
Wife of Man Convicted in Jeweler’s Murder Sentenced for Conspiracy Amanda Ileana Hernandez is married to Carlos Hernandez, one of two men in prison for the 2024 murder of Michigan jeweler Hussein Murray.
TrendsAug 14, 2026
Paul Morelli’s Latest ‘Wavey Vine’ Earrings Embrace ColorThe reimagined jewel, our Piece of the Week, trades the diamonds in the original 1998 design for blue, pink, yellow, and green sapphires.
Supplier BulletinAug 13, 2026
Your Piece Could Be the One Editors Talk AboutSponsored by American Gem Trade Association
FinancialsAug 13, 2026
Pandora’s ‘Talisman’ Collection Shines, Lab-Grown Diamond Sales FallIn the United States, second-quarter sales were flat amid soft consumer sentiment and lower in-store traffic.
AuctionsAug 13, 2026
This Gold Cadbury ‘Conundrum’ Egg Set a World Auction RecordThe 22-karat gold egg, sold at Batemans Auctioneers in the U.K., was part of a 1980s treasure hunt ad campaign for Cadbury Creme Eggs.
SourcingAug 13, 2026
2,488-Carat Diamond, Largest Found in Botswana, Has a New Owner Lucara Diamond Corp., which recovered the “Motswedi” diamond from the Karowe mine, sold the stone for an undisclosed amount.
CollectionsAug 13, 2026
John Hardy Infuses ‘Icon,’ ‘Heishi’ Collections with ColorThe expanded collections now feature hand-cut gemstones like topaz, tanzanite, chrysoprase, chalcedony, smoky quartz, and fire opal.
Lab-GrownAug 13, 2026
Jean Dousset Opens Third StoreThe lab-grown diamond jewelry brand’s newest boutique is in Westfield Valley Fair in Santa Clara, California.
SourcingAug 12, 2026
Eshed-Gemstar on the Painstaking Process of Cutting ‘The Legacy Emerald’The gemstone supplier and manufacturer acquired the remarkable 104-gram Zambian emerald at Gemfields’ auction in May.
CrimeAug 12, 2026
Elderly NYC Woman Targeted in Jewelry Swap SchemeTwo suspects offered to trade the woman a “winning” lottery ticket for her jewelry.
SourcingAug 12, 2026
Another Diamond Mine Poised to CloseFinsch has been in business rescue since May, and owner Petra Diamonds said it sees no viable path forward for the mine.
CrimeAug 12, 2026
Jewelry Store Employee Gets 20 Years to Life in Choking Death of BossMichel Patrick DeSalles was sentenced after pleading guilty to the 2017 murder of Omid Gholian, who owned a jewelry store in Manhattan.
AuctionsAug 11, 2026
Verdura Unicorn Brooch With Royal Connection Up for Auction The brooch was owned by Virginia Fortune Ryan Ogilvy, who served as a lady of the bedchamber to Queen Elizabeth II for nearly 50 years.
IndependentsAug 11, 2026
Polly’s Fine Jewelry Co-Owner Richard Moore Dies at 69Moore, Polly’s husband, is remembered as a family man with an easygoing spirit and a love for sports and the outdoors.
ColumnistsAug 11, 2026
Creative Connecting: How to Sell Colored Gemstones to Gen ZDuvall O’Steen and Jen Cullen Williams share the best ways to display, present, and explain colored gemstones to younger customers.
Events & AwardsAug 11, 2026
NAJA Announces Lineup For 2026 Fall Virtual ConferenceThe mid-year conference for jewelry and watch appraisers will take place Sept. 5-6 on Zoom.
TechnologyAug 10, 2026
Colorado Jeweler Launches Customization Tool He Built HimselfHonest Hands Ring Co. Founder Benjamin Bosworth shared his thoughts on jewelry technology and why AI can never replace the human element.
