Chandler started his jewelry career at Michelson Jewelers, joining the Diamond Council of America as president and CEO in 2001.
Gemfields’ Ethiopia Exploration Site Looted
The sort house was ransacked and emeralds were stolen from the safe.
London—Gemfields said its Ethiopian emerald exploration site, which was overrun by a mob in June, has now been looted.
On June 29, a mob of 300 to 500 entered the mining site of Web Gemstone Mining plc, an Ethiopian company in which Gemfields holds a 75 percent interest.
Though WGM employees were safely evacuated, the trespassers never left the property, and Gemfields said on July 31, they broke into the gemstone sort house, which was constructed using 40-foot shipping containers.
Several of the perpetrators were injured but no WGM employees were on-site at the time.
The safe in the sort house was ransacked and the emeralds in it looted. A Gemfields spokesperson said the company is providing no further details on the stolen goods.
The equipment and instruments in the facility also were taken, and WGM’s residential camp was ransacked.
While police stationed at the mine tried to resist the activity, they were “overwhelmed” by the group, Gemfields said, and abandoned the site.
Gemfields also said it has been advised that the site has seen a significant inflow of firearm-bearing illegal miners and handlers.
WGM will continue to work with local and national authorities on the situation.
At the time of the first incident, Gemfields said it is believed the members of the mob might have been spurred by a faction seeking a portion of WGM’s emerald exploration license. The invasion and subsequent looting also come at a time of nationwide unrest in the African country.
Gemfields acquired its stake in WGM in February 2015.
WGM’s emerald exploration license includes an area that measures 200 square kilometers, or about 77 square miles. It first established operations in June 2015 and has been conducting exploration and core-drilling since, with bulk-sampling operations beginning in August 2017.
The Latest

Scottish American designer Maeve Gillies collaborated with Platinum Guild International on jewelry created by direct metal 3D printing.

Ahead of its trade show in May, TJS awarded free registration and accommodations to five up-and-coming jewelry industry professionals.

Natural diamonds mean more than lab-grown, but when every cut is ideal, they all look the same. Customers want more—Facets of Fire delivers.

The 2025 Gem Awards are set to take place Friday at Cipriani 42nd Street in New York City.


The annual star-studded campaign for International Women’s Day encourages collective action against domestic violence.

The statement piece is seen in Yeprem’s new “You Play the Game” campaign, created for International Women’s Day.

Emergencies can happen anytime, anywhere , and Jewelers of America has what you need to be prepared for it all.

Longtime employee Kyle Slosson has been promoted to the role.

First-generation jewelers Dan and Hope Wixon are retiring and will close their Minneapolis-area jewelry store in May.

The limited-edition collection, a nod to the Year of the Snake, is Ukrainian brand Guzema’s first partnership with a U.S. brand.

After more than 50 years, Jeff Roberts is handing over ownership of the organization to IJO President Stephen Barnes.

Senior Jeweler Jay Wolff was named employee of the year.

The 111-year-old store will close following a dispute among Saks Global, a landlord, and the City of Dallas over a small piece of land.

The upcoming “Area_51” watch sale is a collaboration with heist-out, featuring vintage and modern timepieces with futuristic designs.

The trade organization, which will mark 120 years of service next year, has a refined focus and a new mission statement.

The application period is now open for established and emerging jewelers and metalsmiths to apply to the month-long residency program.

Uc Thí Vo, who co-owned Kim Tin Jewelry in Sacramento with her husband of 40 years, was killed during the November 2024 robbery.

Manashe Sezanayev pleaded guilty to grand larceny and is expected to receive five years’ probation when he’s sentenced in May.

The March birthstone pairs perfectly with hues of Mocha Mousse, Pantone’s Color of the Year for 2025.

Emmanuel Raheb shares strategies to prepare for, publicize, and engage the audience during events on platforms like TikTok and Zoom.

From Doja Cat to Mikey Madison and Selena Gomez, many of this year’s Academy Awards attendees donned drop necklaces.

Originally slated to take effect in April, official U.S. Customs and Border Protection documents now show the implementation date as “TBD.”

The recent jump in the prices of household staples, like eggs, and the potential impact of tariffs worried consumers.

The application period for the program is now open for aspiring gemologists around the world.

The work of Indigenous designer Joe Big Mountain, these earrings are similar to the pair Lily Gladstone just wore to the SAG Awards.

A metal detectorist uncovered the ring created in memory of Sir Richard Rainsford, who presided over some of England’s last witch trials.