CrimeJun 18, 2025
7 Men Indicted in $100M Brinks Jewelry HeistThe heist happened in Lebec, California, in 2022 when a Brinks truck was transporting goods from one show in California to another.
MajorsNov 13, 2017
Adwar Suing 2 Companies for Copyright Infringement
The casting company alleges that Star Gems and Mercury Ring/Interjewel USA knocked off a few of its designs.
Adwar Casting is suing Star Gems for allegedly knocking off two of its copyrighted designs, one of which is seen here at left.
Rockville Centre, N.Y.--Adwar Casting has filed two lawsuits in the state of New York against companies it alleges are knocking off its designs.
The first was filed in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York on Oct. 27 against Norcross, Georgia-based Star Gems, a wholesale manufacturer and seller of jewelry products, and its president and CEO, Anish Desai.
The lawsuit alleges that, in or around July of this year, Star Gems used two of Adwar’s copyrighted pieces of artwork without permission--one a picture of a ring and the other of a pendant--and began marketing and selling jewelry using them.
Keith Adwar, the company’s chief financial officer, said they saw posts online in which Desai was using Adwar’s image and offering to make their product without permission.
He said they talked to Desai and asked him to stop, but, as noted in the lawsuit, “despite having knowledge of its wrongful activities,” Star Gems continues to market and sell products using artwork similar or the same as Adwar’s own. 
In a statement to National Jeweler sent via email, Desai said: “When you look at the exhibits attached to the complaint, they consist of two social media posts and do not show any evidence of any infringement of manufacturing done by Star Gems. Our attorney has already send out a response to this baseless claim.”
But Adwar maintained that because the two designs are copyrighted, it is still not legal to take images of them and offer to make the designs.
“It’s important for people to learn that with the new technology we have, customers cannot just take a picture of yours and say, ‘I can make this,’” he said.
Adwar Casting filed the second lawsuit in the same court on Nov. 1 against Interjewel USA and its President Sanjay Kothari, as well as Mercury Ring and its CEO, Phyllis Bergman.
Mercury Ring is a division of Interjewel USA, which falls under India-based Interjewel. The companies sell their jewelry products through their websites, as well as through retailers.
In the lawsuit, Adwar Casting alleges that around 2016/2017, Interjewel USA and Mercury Ring took one of its designs, which is copyrighted, and started marketing and selling jewelry products using said design.
style that Adwar alleges was knocked off by Mercury Ring/Interjewel.
Keith Adwar said they approached Bergman about what they believed the company was doing, and also asked for the models and molds back of the design the companies allegedly had knocked off, offering to let it drop after that.
But, the lawsuit alleges that, “despite having knowledge of its wrongful activities,” Mercury Ring and Interjewel USA continued to market and sell products with artwork that is similar to or the same as Adwar’s artwork.
Adwar also alleges in the suit that the companies have infringed other works from the company, citing one instance in which they advised their employees via an internal document to “knock off all Adwar pieces that are ordered.”
Neither Mercury Ring nor Interjewel USA responded to requests for comment by press time.
Adwar Casting is seeking damages in both lawsuits because, it said, it has lost income and continues to do so because of these activities.
In addition to asking for a judgment permanently enjoining the previously mentioned activities, in each case it also is asking for damages paid of three times the profits made through the allegedly infringing pieces, as well as three times the amount of actual damages incurred by the infringing or the maximum amount of statutory damages that resulted, attorney and lawsuit costs, and other payment as the court deems proper.
Keith Adwar said they approached Bergman about what they believed the company was doing, and also asked for the models and molds back of the design the companies allegedly had knocked off, offering to let it drop after that.
But, the lawsuit alleges that, “despite having knowledge of its wrongful activities,” Mercury Ring and Interjewel USA continued to market and sell products with artwork that is similar to or the same as Adwar’s artwork.
Adwar also alleges in the suit that the companies have infringed other works from the company, citing one instance in which they advised their employees via an internal document to “knock off all Adwar pieces that are ordered.”
Neither Mercury Ring nor Interjewel USA responded to requests for comment by press time.
Adwar Casting is seeking damages in both lawsuits because, it said, it has lost income and continues to do so because of these activities.
In addition to asking for a judgment permanently enjoining the previously mentioned activities, in each case it also is asking for damages paid of three times the profits made through the allegedly infringing pieces, as well as three times the amount of actual damages incurred by the infringing or the maximum amount of statutory damages that resulted, attorney and lawsuit costs, and other payment as the court deems proper.
More on Majors
The Latest
AuctionsJun 18, 2025
Historic ‘Marie-Thérèse Pink’ Diamond Fetches $14M at Christie’sThe 10-carat fancy purple-pink diamond with potential links to Marie Antoinette headlined the white-glove jewelry auction this week.
EditorsJun 18, 2025
Q&A: Caryl Capeci Dives Into Cruise Jewelry ShoppingThe Starboard Cruises SVP discusses who is shopping for jewelry on ships, how much they’re spending, and why brands should get on board.
Brought to you by
Investing in the Next Generation of Bench JewelersThe Seymour & Evelyn Holtzman Bench Scholarship from Jewelers of America returns for a second year.
AuctionsJun 18, 2025
16th-Century ‘Gresham Grasshopper’ Ring Sells for $56KThe historic signet ring exceeded its estimate at Noonans Mayfair’s jewelry auction this week.
Weekly QuizJun 12, 2025
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
CollectionsJun 18, 2025
Kirk Kara Celebrates 135 Years With New JewelsTo mark the milestone, the brand is introducing new non-bridal fine jewelry designs for the first time in two decades.
SourcingJun 18, 2025
Gemfields Sells 36-Carat Rough RubyThe gemstone is the third most valuable ruby to come out of the Montepuez mine, Gemfields said.
Brought to you by
Jewelers of America is Headed to Las Vegas for JCK 2025The countdown is on for the JCK Las Vegas Show and JA is pulling out all the stops.
TechnologyJun 18, 2025
Alex Brown Named President of Smithee GroupFounder and longtime CEO Ben Smithee will stay with the agency, transitioning into the role of founding partner and strategic advisor.
EditorsJun 17, 2025
The Best New Jewelry from Couture 2025, Part 1Associate Editor Natalie Francisco shares 20 of her favorite pieces from the jewelry collections that debuted at Couture.
ColumnistsJun 17, 2025
Peter Smith: Is Your Comp Plan a Hiring Hindrance?If you want to attract good salespeople and generate a stream of “sleeping money” for your jewelry store, then you are going to have to pay.
AuctionsJun 17, 2025
Colored Gemstones, Signed Jewels Shine in Sotheby’s High Jewelry SaleThe top lot was a colorless Graff diamond, followed by a Burmese ruby necklace by Marcus & Co.
EditorsJun 16, 2025
Q&A: Bogolo Joy Kenewendo on Mining, Tariffs, and the Energy of Las VegasFollowing visits to Vegas and New York, Botswana’s minerals minister sat down with Michelle Graff to discuss the state of the diamond market.
IndependentsJun 16, 2025
Greenwich St. Jewelers Launches Commitment Campaign Celebrating LGBTQ+ CouplesThe “Your Love Has the Perfect Ring” campaign showcases the strength of love and need for inclusivity and representation, the jeweler said.
MajorsJun 16, 2025
Ivette Nersesyan-Stephanopoulos Joins Tiffany & Co.The former De Beers executive is the jewelry house’s new director of high jewelry for the Americas.
MajorsJun 16, 2025
Catbird Names WNBA Star Nyara Sabally as Its New Brand AmbassadorThe New York Liberty forward is the first athlete to represent the Brooklyn-based jewelry brand.
CollectionsJun 13, 2025
Piece of the Week: Robinson Pelham’s Pear EarringsTake a bite out of the 14-karat yellow gold “Fruits of Love Pear” earrings featuring peridots, diamond stems, and tsavorite leaves.
Events & AwardsJun 13, 2025
AGA to Host ‘Diamonds From Mine to Market’ Education ConferenceThe one-day virtual event will feature speakers from De Beers, GIA, and Gemworld International.
EditorsJun 12, 2025
15 Questions With Jewelry Photographer Ella SophieThe California-based creative talks jewelry photography in the modern era and tackles FAQs about working with a pro for the first time.
AuctionsJun 12, 2025
Vintage Patek Philippe From the ‘50s Sells for $4M at Sotheby’s Al Capone’s pocket watch also found a buyer, though it went for less than half of what it did at auction four years ago.
Events & AwardsJun 12, 2025
Gabriel Love Foundation Introduces Scholarship Honoring Elias GabrielThe foundation has also expanded its “Stronger Together” initiative with Jewelers for Children.
AuctionsJun 12, 2025
Former De Beers Exec Celine Assimon Joins BonhamsAssimon is the auction house’s new chief commercial officer.
EditorsJun 11, 2025
Q&A: Al Cook on Differentiating Natural Diamonds, Traceability, and TariffsThe De Beers Group CEO discusses the company’s new “beacon” program, the likelihood diamonds will be exempt from tariffs, and “Origin.”
MajorsJun 11, 2025
Pandora Bets on Las Vegas for First North American FlagshipThe Danish jewelry giant hosted its grand opening last weekend, complete with a Pandora pink roulette wheel.
GradingJun 11, 2025
Tiffany Stevens Exits IGI, Lab Appoints New Board LeaderIndustry veteran Anoop Mehta is the new chairman and independent director of the IGI board.
Events & AwardsJun 11, 2025
Kering Announces Winners of Sustainability-Focused AwardThe winners of the inaugural “Kering Generation Award x Jewelry” are student Lee Min Seo and China-based startup Ianyan.
SourcingJun 10, 2025
De Beers Turns to Brown, Yellow Diamonds for New ‘Beacon’“Ombré Desert Diamonds” will emphasize cream-, champagne-, and brown-colored diamonds, shades that set natural stones apart from lab grown.
