Associate Editor Lauren McLemore headed out West for a visit to Potentate Mining’s operation hosted by gemstone wholesaler Parlé Gems.
Amazon Opens Store Focused on Best-Reviewed Products
“Amazon 4-star” joins grocery and book stores in the retailer’s growing fleet of brick-and-mortar locations.

New York—Amazon is testing out another new brick-and-mortar concept—a store stocked with only its newest or most popular items.
The retailer announced via its blog this week that it has opened “Amazon 4-star” in New York, which sells products that have received a rating of four or five stars on Amazon.com, are top sellers, or are new and trending on the e-commerce site.
The retailer said the store is “a direct reflection of our customers—what they’re buying and what they’re loving.”
Amazon 4-star also has a section for “Most-Wished-For,” products, or the most frequently added to wish lists on the website; “Trending Around NYC,” items most frequently bought by New York City-area customers; a section of “Frequently Bought Together” items; and an area for “Amazon Exclusives.”
In addition to giving the online retailer another customer touchpoint, the new store also aims to get as many customers signed up to Prime as possible. All products in the store are displayed with both the list price—which is what non-Prime members pay in the store—and the Prime price, the price the product sells for on Amazon.com with Prime membership. Amazon said any non-Prime members who want the lower Prime price can sign up for a 30-day trial in the store.
Amazon 4-star joins book stores and cashier-less grocery stores, as well as the Whole Foods chain in the once online-only retailer’s growing fleet of physical stores.
Its opening comes at a time when fresh concerns have arisen about the validity of reviews on Amazon.com, with the retailer publicly acknowledging that fighting fake reviews is a constant, ongoing battle.
Amazon 4-star is located at 72 Spring St. between Crosby and Lafayette streets in New York’s SoHo neighborhood. Hours are Monday-Saturday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
The Latest

Fordite is a man-made material created from the layers of dried enamel paint that dripped onto the floors of automotive factories.

Gilbertson has worked as a researcher, jeweler, lapidary artist, appraiser, and business owner throughout his decades in the industry.

With their unmatched services and low fees, reDollar.com is challenging some big names in the online consignment world.

A decision likely won’t come until January 2026 at the earliest, and the tariffs remain in effect until then.


The new, free app offers accessible educational content, like games and podcasts, for U.S. retailers.

Jacob & Co. partnered with the German technology company on two pairs of headphones, one set with diamonds and the other with sapphires.

Jewelers of America is leading the charge to protect the industry amidst rising economic threats.

Guillermo del Toro’s 2025 “Frankenstein” will feature 27 jewels and objects from the storied brand, including pieces from its archives.

The Waldorf Astoria New York’s grand reopening this past summer means a homecoming for the industry group’s annual event.

Anglo plans to merge with Teck Resources Ltd. to form Anglo Teck. The deal changes nothing about its plans to offload De Beers.

The 9.51-carat fancy vivid blue diamond, which set two world auction records at Sotheby’s in 2014, is estimated to fetch up to $30 million.

The industry veteran joins the auction house as it looks to solidify its footprint in the jewelry market.

The nonprofit awarded four students pursuing a professional career in jewelry making and design with $2,250 each.

The Texas-based jeweler has also undergone a brand refresh, debuting a new website and logo.

The two organizations have finalized and signed the affiliation agreement announced in May.

The single-owner sale will headline Sotheby's inaugural jewelry auction at the Breuer building, its new global headquarters, this December.

From sunrise yoga to tariffs talks, these are some events to check out at the upcoming inaugural event.

Smith recalls a bit of wisdom the industry leader, who died last week, shared at a diamond conference years ago.

The “Victoria” necklace features a labradorite hugged by diamond accents in 18-karat yellow gold.

Two lower courts have moved to block the import taxes, which will remain in place as the legal battle continues.

The Kansas City Chiefs quarterback shares Hublot’s dedication to pursuing greatness, the Swiss watchmaker said.

The Type IIa stone, recovered from Botswana’s Karowe diamond mine last month, features unique coloration.

Breitling is now the NFL’s official timepiece partner, a move that puts the brand in front of the millions of Americans who watch football.

NYCJAOS is set for Nov. 21-23 in New York City’s Chelsea neighborhood.

U.S.-based investment company SMG Capital LLC is the new owner of the luxury brand.