In his new column, Smith advises playing to your successor's strengths and resisting the urge to become a backseat driver.
Alrosa’s World Cup Play Continues
The individual who gives a 76.53-carat rough diamond the best soccer-related name will win a ticket to the World Cup final.

Moscow--With the 2018 World Cup taking place in its home country through mid-July, Alrosa is staying on the ball.
Thursday, the diamond mining company announced a competition open to the public to give the best original, football-related name, consisting of one or two words, to a rough diamond weighing 76.53 carats.
The winner will receive a ticket to the FIFA World Cup final, scheduled to take place at 11 a.m. EST on July 15 in Moscow, as well as a certificate proving the stone was named at her or his suggestion.
Suggestions are being accepted now through July 8 on DiamondsofRussia.Ru. The winner will be announced July 10.
Alrosa mined the 76.53-carat rough diamond at the International kimberlite pipe in March. It’s octahedron in shape with a yellowish tint, the company said.
It’s the main stone in a collection of large (more than 10.8 carats) diamonds Alrosa is selling at auction now in Moscow. There are 33 other stones in the group.
The results of the auction will be announced July 30.
“FIFA World Cup 2018 is a landmark event for the fans not only in Russia, but all over the world,” said Evgeny Agureev, member of the executive committee and director of the USO Alrosa. “It has just started, but has already given people a lot of positive emotions and many unexpected turns. We believe that the diamonds from this collection will be of particular interest to our customers, since these are not just stones, but the story behind them.”
The news of the contest follows closely on the heels of a few other World Cup-related announcements and events from the company as it aims to draw attention to Russian diamonds while the international football tournament is taking place.
Alrosa announced June 22 that it is selling a collection of 32 round diamonds—one for each team that made the international tournament—that are 0.3-carats each but D to F color and VVS2 to IF clarity.
The company also has had its name and logo displayed on the digital advertising boards at the various stadiums used throughout the tournament, alongside advertisers like Coca-Cola, Visa, Budweiser and Russian natural gas company Gazprom.
The Latest

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.

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

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

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

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.

The Italian luxury company purchased the nearly 200-year-old Swiss watch brand from Richemont.

Micro-set with hundreds of diamonds, these snowflake earrings recreate “winter’s most elegant silhouette,” and are our Piece of the Week.

Ella Blum was appointed to the newly created role.

Sponsored by RapNet

Investment firm Enhanced Retail Funding, a division of Gordon Brothers, was the successful bidder.

It explores the history of the iconic tagline and the company’s strategy to redefine the role of diamonds in society.

Retail veteran Sindhu Culas has stepped into the role.

Taylor Burgess, who has been at Stuller since 2013, was promoted to the newly created role.

Was 2025 a good year for jewelers? Did lab-grown diamonds outsell natural? Find out on the first episode of the “My Next Question” podcast.

Whether you recognize their jewels or are just discovering them now, these designers’ talent and vision make them ones to watch this year.

Plus, JSA’s Scott Guginsky discusses the need for jewelers to take more precautions as the gold price continues to climb.

Morris’ most cherished role was being a mother and grandmother, her family said.























