He retired last month after 28 years traveling the world to source the very best gemstones for his family’s jewelry business, Oscar Heyman.
Richland begins production at sapphire mine
The mining company officially has started mining at its Capricorn mine in Queensland, Australia, which is producing both traditional blue as well as yellow and green sapphires.

Mining of Open-pit 1, located within the defined JORC Resource, now is underway, with sapphire-bearing ore passing through the Capricorn processing plant. The initial mining phase is being conducted in an area of about one acre, in the region where the infill drilling (the process of adding new wells to an existing field to test recovery methods) was conducted.
The company said that it will slowly ramp up production to reach the full scale of capacity over the following months.
While large quantities of blue sapphires have been discovered at the site so far, Capricorn also has produced yellow and green material as well.
Richland said that it expects its first sapphire sales to be in late June, coinciding with the Hong Kong Jewellery & Gem Fair.
The Capricorn sapphire mine is one of the largest of its kind in the southern hemisphere, according to Richland, and capable of treating up to 200 loose cubic meters per hour. It consists of two new mining leases including 490 hectares, and is 100 percent owned by Richland.
The mine is an important expansion for Richland as it moves away from Tanzania and tanzanite mining into other colored stone markets, the company said.
Last fall, Richland sold off its Tanzanite One mining and beneficiation business as well as tsavorite license interests in Tanzania to Sky Associates Group Limited for approximately $5 million. Soon after it closed all retail outlets across the country, as Sky declined to purchase them as part of the deal.
The Latest

The charm necklace features six nautical charms of shells and coral that founder Christina Puchi collected on Florida’s beaches.

The organization elected its youngest vice president as it looks to draw in fresh talent.

As a leading global jewelry supplier, Rio Grande is rapidly expanding and developing new solutions to meet the needs of jewelers worldwide.

Campbell joins the company as vice president of business development while Liebler is the new vice president of operations.


The medals feature a split-texture design highlighting the Games’ first time being hosted by two cities and the athletes’ journeys.

Sponsored by The INSTORE Jewelry Show 2025

The Seymour & Evelyn Holtzman Bench Scholarship from Jewelers of America returns for a second year.

Globally, travel and transportation brands reigned, while in the U.S., alcoholic beverage companies and a lingerie brand took the top spots.

The Brooklyn-based jewelry designer is remembered as a true artist and a rare talent.

Production at the mine in Canada’s Northwest Territories topped 1 million carats in Q2, the third consecutive quarter of growth.

A new slate of Learning Workshops will take place in Oklahoma, Mississippi, and Georgia.

The middle class is changing its approach to buying jewelry and affordable luxury goods, the NRF said.

It marks the third consecutive quarter of growth for Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels, Buccellati, and Vhernier.

The reseller’s market trends report, based on its sales data, also shows exactly how much Rolex prices have jumped since 2010.

The auction house will be hosting a retrospective paying tribute to jeweler Jean Dinh Van and his company’s 60th anniversary.

Jake Duneier and Danielle Duneier-Goldberg have stepped into the roles of CEO and president, respectively.

The “Impermanence” collection contemplates nature through the Japanese art of Ikebana (flower arranging) and philosophy of wabi-sabi.

The Texas-based jewelry retailer has set up shop in Tennessee and Arizona.

Eric Ford will step into the role, bringing with him decades of experience.

In addition to improved capabilities, the acquisition will allow the jeweler to offer support to other independent jewelers.

The “Celestial Blue” capsule collection campaign features Olympian Kateryna Sadurska.

The seasonal store, located in Mykonos, Greece, offers exclusive events, personal styling, and curated experiences.

The New England jeweler is hosting a bridal event for the month of August.

The trade-only event will host its debut fair in the Emerald City later this month.

Its sessions will focus on inventory strategies, staff performance, retention and acquisition, emerging market trends, and more.

For its 10th anniversary, Miseno designed the “Arco” earrings based on the Arco Felice, an arch conceptualized in A.D. 95 in Miseno, Italy.