Our Pieces of the Week honor the 2026 nominees for the Gem Award for Jewelry Design, Silvia Furmanovich, Cece Fein-Hughes, and Catherine Sarr.
Report: Angola Continues to Cut Ties with Former First Family
State-owned mining company Endiama is selling the diamond licenses once belonging to Isabel Dos Santos to investors, according to Reuters.
Luanda, Angola--The Angolan government is selling diamond exploration rights that once belonged to the former president’s daughter to investors, Reuters reports.
According to a video clip viewed by the news agency, José Manuel Ganga Júnior, president of state-owned diamond company Endiama, told several mining companies in a meeting last month that Isabel dos Santos’ licenses had expired and now are open to new exploration partners.
While Endiama did not respond to a request for confirmation from National Jeweler by press time, it did confirm to Reuters that the video was authentic.
The licenses open to investors were for Camafuca-Camazambo, Mulepe, Sangamina, Chiri and Tchiegi, all located in the country’s northeastern diamond-producing provinces of Lunda Norte and Lunda Sul, Reuters said.
The Camafuca-Camazambo and Chiri licenses were the ones that had belonged to Dos Santos.
Russia’s Alrosa is currently the only major diamond company producing in Angola. It has a stake in the Catoca mine.
Dos Santos is the daughter of former Angolan President Jose Eduardo dos Santos and the richest woman in Africa with a current net worth of $2.7 billion, according to Forbes.
Her father named her as head of Sonangol, Angola’s state oil firm, in June 2016. Her husband, Sindika Dokolo, has a stake in Swiss jewelry brand De Grisogono.
RELATED CONTENT: Gem Explorer Goes on Hunger Strike to Boycott De GrisogonoIn September, Angola elected a new president, João Lourenço, and the government has been distancing the country from the business interests of his predecessor’s family in its effort to break up family monopolies and make the country more attractive to investors.
Lourenço removed Dos Santos as head of Sonangol in November. Sodiam, a subsidiary of Endiama, also divested its stake in De Grisogono after a board meeting Dec. 1, saying it was doing so for “reasons of public interest and legality.”
The Latest

The 24-piece watch collection is set to debut in spring 2027.

The reopening of the Waldorf Astoria means a homecoming for the industry group’s annual event, which will take place Saturday.

Every jeweler faces the same challenge: helping customers protect what they love. Here’s the solution designed for today’s jewelry business.

McCormack looked to the 19th century’s “golden age” of astronomy when designing her new celestial-themed collection.


Nelson will be honored as the inaugural grant winner at the Gem Awards gala on Friday.

The new smart design software allows jewelers to configure, price, and confirm a custom engagement ring in real time for in-store customers.

With refreshed branding, a new website, updated courses, and a pathway for growth, DCA is dedicated to supporting retail staff development.

The MJSA Education Foundation’s scholarships support students pursuing jewelry careers.

The largest white diamond to come to market in the U.K. in more than a decade, the VVS1, I-color stone is expected to top $1 million.

Skelly shares her plans for reimagining the fine jewelry retailer she re-acquired after it faltered last year.

The collection takes inspiration from the emotional space between people, moments, and experiences.

In 2026, the jewelry retailer is celebrating a milestone only a small percentage of family-owned businesses survive to see.

The group of jewelers held a jewelry raffle in support of the Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU.

The jewelry giant released preliminary results for the fourth quarter and full year on Monday, with final results slated to come next week.

The retailer also gave an update on its vendor partnerships.

The award-winning actress is the “epitome of modern allure,” the brand said.

The “Bloom” collection draws from the flower power movement of the 1960s and ‘70s with inlay pendants offered in eight colorways.

The unique piece was one of the custom works offered at the foundation's recent silent art auction, which garnered nearly $15,000 in total.

Bulgari named Gyllenhaal as its brand ambassador for his embodiment of artistic depth, intellectual curiosity, and warmth.

Awards were given to four students, one apprentice, and an emerging jeweler.

The top jewelry lot of the late model’s estate sale, hosted by John Moran Auctioneers, was an Oscar Heyman & Brothers for Cartier necklace.

Moses, who started at GIA’s Santa Monica lab in 1976, will leave the Gemological Institute of America in May.

Increased competition, falling lab-grown diamond and moissanite prices, and the rising cost of gold took a toll on the moissanite maker.

The earrings, our Piece of the Week, feature pink tourmalines as planets orbiting around an aquamarine center set in 18-karat rose gold.

“The Price of Freedom” campaign video for International Women’s Day confronts the quiet violence of financial control.

Also, a federal judge has ordered that companies that paid tariffs implemented under the IEEPA are entitled to refunds.






















