The company plans to halt all consumer-facing activity this summer, while Lightbox factory operations will cease by the end of the year.
Mughal Magnificence: Christie’s Auction Nets $109M
The much-talked-about sale ranks as the second highest-grossing private jewelry collection auction in history, topped only by Elizabeth Taylor.

New York—Christie’s sale of historic Indian jewelry and art was expected to be big, and it did not disappoint.
The auction netted a whopping $109.3 million in New York Wednesday, setting a few records along the way.
“Maharajas & Mughal Magnificence” featured nearly 400 lots spanning 500 years, showcasing the culture of Indian jeweled arts from the Mughal Empire (founded in 1526) and the age of the Maharajas to present day.
It didn’t become the highest-grossing sale ever for the auction house, as some thought it could—that title still belongs to the evening auction of Elizabeth Taylor’s jewelry in 2011, which totaled $115.9 million—but it does rank as the second-highest auction total for a private jewelry collection, according to Christie’s.
It also is the highest total for any auction of Indian art and Mughal objects, Christie’s said.
Held in New York Wednesday, the auction took 12 hours and was 93 percent sold by volume and 92 percent sold by value, with bidders from 45 countries participating.
Three world auction records were set for Indian works for art, and 29 lots sold for more than $1 million.
The jewelry auction’s top lot was the Belle Époque Devant-de-corsage seen below, created by Cartier circa 1912, which sold for $10.6 million to a private collector present in the room.
There were also a number of exceptional Golconda diamonds sold.
The Mirror of Paradise, a 52.58-carat D-color internally flawless diamond, achieved $6.5 million (pictured below); and The Arcot II diamond, a 17.21-carat D IF, garnered $3.4 million.


And a spinel, natural pearl, diamond and emerald bead “Imperial Moghul” necklace and earrings from Cartier realized $1.9 million.
All contemporary pieces by JAR and Bhagat included in the jewelry auction sold.
They included the five-strand natural pearl and diamond necklace from the latter pictured below that went for $1.7 million, topping its highest pre-sale estimate, $1.2 million.


Beginning next year, works of art from the collection will be exhibited at a new museum in Paris.
Auction proceeds will support new acquisitions as well as ongoing initiatives of The Al Thani Collection Foundation, including exhibitions, publications, lectures and sponsorships of projects at museums around the world.
The Latest

Following weekend negotiations, the tax on Chinese goods imported into the United States will drop by 115 percent for the next 90 days.

“Artists’ Jewelry: From Cubism to Pop, the Diane Venet Collection” is on view at the Norton Museum of Art through October.

Gain access to the most exclusive and coveted antique pieces from trusted dealers during Las Vegas Jewelry Week.

The deadline to submit is June 16.


Moti Ferder stepped down Wednesday and will not receive any severance pay, parent company Compass Diversified said.

Lichtenberg partnered with luxury platform Mytheresa on two designs honoring the connection between mothers and daughters.

Supplier Spotlight Sponsored by GIA

The miner announced plans to recommence open-pit mining at Kagem.

Michel Desalles allegedly murdered Omid Gholian inside World of Gold N Diamond using zip ties and then fled the country.

Associate Editor Lauren McLemore shares her favorite looks from a night of style inspired by Black dandyism.

Sponsored by Instappraise

CEO Beth Gerstein discussed the company’s bridal bestsellers, the potential impact of tariffs, and the rising price of gold.

The brand’s first independent location outside of Australia has opened in Beverly Hills, California.

Cathy Marsh will lead the jewelry company’s efforts in the upper Midwest and western United States.

The company has multiple strategies for dealing with tariffs, though its CEO said moving manufacturing to the U.S. is not one of them.

Connecting with your customers throughout the year is key to a successful holiday marketing push.

Its commercial-quality emerald sale held last month totaled more than $16 million, up from about $11 million in September 2024.

National Jeweler Editor-in-Chief Michelle Graff joined Michael Burpoe to talk tariffs, consumer confidence, and the sky-high price of gold.

Expanded this year to include suppliers, JA’s 2025 list honors 40 up-and-coming professionals in the jewelry industry.

Located in Fort Smith, it’s the Mid-South jeweler’s first store in Northwest Arkansas.

The episode about the family-owned jeweler will premiere May 17.

The Houston-based jeweler’s new 11,000-square-foot showroom will include a Rolex boutique.

“The Duke Diamond” is the largest diamond registered at the Arkansas park so far this year.

The childhood craft of making dried pasta necklaces for Mother’s Day is all grown up as the 14-karat gold “Forever Macaroni” necklace.

Set with May’s birthstone and featuring an earthworm, this ring is a perfect celebration of spring.

“Bridal 2025–2026” includes popular styles and a dedicated section for quick pricing references of lab-grown diamond bridal jewelry.