The National Retail Federation expects retail sales growth to return to pre-pandemic levels as consumers continue to face inflation.
Antiques dealer selling rare papal jewels
One antique and estate jewelry dealer from the South has come into possession of two jewels that were presented to Pope Paul VI early in his reign and is now selling them for a combined price of $1.9 million.

New Orleans--One antique and estate jewelry dealer from the South has come into possession of two jewels that were presented to Pope Paul VI early in his reign and is now selling them for a combined price of $1.9 million.
The first piece being sold by New Orleans-based M.S. Rau Antiques is Pope Paul VI’s diamond cross, which is 18-karat yellow gold with a number of large diamonds weighing more than 60 carats total. Smaller white diamonds, ranging in weight from 8.66 carats to 3 carats, also appear on the front of the cross and are nestled between scrolls and leaves filled with Colombian emeralds.
The cross, measuring seven inches in length, also features the stamp of “Cassio,” referring to Cassio Studios, one of the artisan ateliers that the Vatican used.
The second piece is a platinum ring with an approximately 13.5-carat center diamond surrounded by a halo of 14 white diamonds, with additional diamonds and red rubies along the shank. It is engraved with the Christian Chi Rho symbol, which indicates that it was most likely made by Vatican jewelers in the early 1900s from jewels in their own collection.
M.S. Rau is selling the cross for $1.25 million, while the ring is priced at $650,000.
When Pope Paul VI was invited to be the first pope to address the United Nations, he gifted both pieces in hopes that proceeds from the auction would go to human relief funds, according to M.S. Rau. The auction took two years to prepare, and was handled by Parke-Bernet, which was the largest fine art auction house in the United States until it was acquired by Sotheby’s in the late 1960s.
Chicago jeweler Harry Levinson bought both pieces of jewelry for $64,000 and the entire amount was divided between four UN agencies. The jewels were bought and sold several times after that, including, at one point, being in the possession of daredevil Evel Knievel.
The Latest

Rio Tinto unearthed the diamond at its Diavik mine in Canada’s Northwest Territories.

The multisensory experience, open April 8-13, will feature the brand’s silver creations among dream-like scenes of natural landscapes.

Bench jewelers spend years honing their skills, Jewelers of America’s Certification validates their talents.

The virtual event will take place April 7 at 3 p.m.


The pieces in “Animali Tarallo” portray animals from stingrays to elephants through portraits and interpretations of their patterns.

Parent company Saks Global said the iconic location will be open through the holiday season as it decides what to do with the space.

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.

Ronald Winston, son of Harry Winston, donated the diamonds to the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C.

The educational event will take place in Charlotte, North Carolina, this May.

The independent jeweler first opened its doors in 1888.

The layoffs come amid the TV shopping channel’s efforts to restructure and focus on live shopping through social media.

The debut event will take place in Miami’s Coconut Grove neighborhood this fall.

The roundtable will take place May 17 ahead of the trade show’s welcome dinner.

The “Peanuts x Monica Rich Kosann” collection features the comic strip’s classic vocabulary across 10 bracelet designs.

Three industry experts dive into the complexities of the material often marketed as an “ethical” alternative for metal in jewelry.

The Utah-based company known for making wedding bands has acquired Doubloon Golf.

The longtime luxury executive led one of LVMH’s watch brands, TAG Heuer, for 12 years before taking over Bulgari in 2013.

Authorities said the robbers fled with jewelry and 70 Rolex watches, later taking pictures of themselves posing with big stacks of cash.

Lotus Gemology founder Richard W. Hughes has translated Heinrich Fischer’s 1880 book “Nephrit und Jadeit” from its original German.

The ring's design features contrasting lines influenced by work from architecture-inspired photographer Nikola Olic.

The Conference Board’s index fell as consumers continued to worry about the impact of tariffs, the labor market, and the price of eggs.

However, two medieval jewels surpassed estimates at Noonans Mayfair’s recent jewelry auction in London.

The Oscar-nominated actor debuted in the campaign for the new “Top Time B31” collection, which introduced Breitling’s Caliber B31.

The Congress is scheduled to take place May 19-22 in Brasilia, Brazil.

The family-owned retailer is the new owner of Morrison Smith Jewelers in Charlotte, North Carolina.

The “150 Art Deco” collection features a Miss America timepiece and a pocket watch from the brand’s Archive Series.