Berta de Pablos-Barbier will replace Alexander Lacik at the start of January, two months earlier than expected.
Chaka Khan to headline DEF’s Las Vegas event
The Diamond Empowerment Fund announced this week that Grammy award-winning singer Chaka Khan will perform at its “Diamonds in the Sky” gala event on May 29 in Las Vegas.

New York--The Diamond Empowerment Fund announced this week that Grammy award-winning singer Chaka Khan will perform at its “Diamonds in the Sky” gala event on May 29 in Las Vegas.
Khan has released 22 albums and had ten No. 1 songs on Billboard’s charts, with hits including “Tell Me Something Good” and “I’m Every Woman.” She can sing in a wide range of genres, including R&B, jazz, pop, rock and gospel.
Khan also understands “the importance of doing good while doing well,” DEF said, with her own philanthropic endeavors. In 1999, she established the Chaka Khan Foundation, which focuses on programs and initiatives that assist women and children at risk.
“We couldn’t be more honored to have such a musical legend perform at this important event that recognizes the importance of giving back,” said Phyllis Bergman, president of DEF’s board of directors.
The black tie-optional event, which is now sold out, will take place in the Four Seasons Ballroom on May 29 beginning at 6:30 p.m.
DEF will present its 2014 Global Diamond Industry Achievement Award that night to Botswana’s President Ian Khama and the Government of the Republic of Botswana in recognition of their global leadership and contributions to democracy.
RELATED CONTENT: DEF to honor Botswana president at Las Vegas event
Premier presenting sponsors of the event include Rio Tinto, Signet Jewelers Ltd. and De Beers. Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group is also a Partner Sponsor, and KGK Group, Le Vian Corp., and Tiffany & Co. are Patron Sponsors.
DEF was co-founded in 2007 by music mogul Russell Simmons and a number of diamond industry leaders to fund programs that provide African youth with higher education opportunities, including leadership development and entrepreneurial skills building.
Its beneficiary organizations are CIDA City Campus, African Leadership Academy and the Botswana Top Achievers program.
The Latest

Sotheby’s held its first two jewelry sales at the Breuer building last week, and they totaled nearly $44 million.

Winners will receive free registration and lodging for its fourth annual event in Detroit.

How Jewelers of America’s 20 Under 40 are leading to ensure a brighter future for the jewelry industry.

Here are six ideas for making more engaging content for Instagram Reels and TikTok, courtesy of Duvall O’Steen and Jen Cullen Williams.


The honorees include a notable jewelry brand, an industry veteran, and an independent retailer.

Carlos Jose Hernandez and Joshua Zuazo were sentenced to life without the possibility of parole in the 2024 murder of Hussein “Sam” Murray.

Roseco’s 704-page catalog showcases new lab-grown diamonds, findings, tools & more—available in print or interactive digital editions.

Yood will serve alongside Eduard Stefanescu, the sustainability manager for C.Hafner, a precious metals refiner in Germany.

The New Orleans jeweler is also hosting pop-up jewelry boutiques in New York City and Dallas.

Set in a Tiffany & Co. necklace, it sold for $4.2 million, the highest price and price per carat paid for a Paraíba tourmaline at auction.

The jeweler’s “Deep Freeze” display showcases its iconic jewelry designs frozen in a vintage icebox.

Take luxury gifting to new heights this holiday season with the jeweler’s showstopping 12-carat sphene ring.

This year's theme is “Unveiling the Depths of the Ocean.”

In its annual report, Pinterest noted an increase in searches for brooches, heirloom jewelry, and ‘80s luxury.

Starting Jan. 1, customers can request the service for opal, peridot, and demantoid garnet.

The 111-year-old retailer celebrated the opening of its new location in Salem, New Hampshire, which is its third store in the state.

The new catalog features its most popular chains as well as new styles.

The filmmaker’s personal F.P. Journe “FFC” prototype was the star of Phillips’ recent record-setting watch auction in New York.

The new location in the Design District pays homage to Miami’s Art Deco heritage and its connection to the ocean.

Inflations, tariffs, and politics—including the government shutdown—were among consumers’ top concerns last month.

Silas Smith of Meridian Metalworks won the challenge with his pendant that blends Australian and American landscapes.

The sale of the 31.68-carat, sunset-hued stone was part of Sotheby’s first series of events and auctions in Abu Dhabi.

Most customers who walk into your store this month have made up their minds. Your job is to validate their choice, Emmanuel Raheb writes.

The collection features characters and motifs from Ukrainian folklore, including an enchanted mirror and a magic egg.

MatrixGold 3.11, the newest version of the jewelry design program, offers more flexibility, precision, and creative control.

The pavilion will be part of the 2026 JA New York Spring show, scheduled for March 15 to 17.




















