IndependentsMay 13, 2025
Eiseman Jewels’ Renovated Dallas Store Is Bigger and BetterLocated in NorthPark Center, the revamped store is nearly 2,000 square feet larger and includes the first Tudor boutique in Dallas.
OtherAug 09, 2016
60 Minutes covers ‘Pink Panther’ diamond thieves
Last Sunday, CBS’s 60 Minutes included a segment about the “Pink Panthers,” a network of thieves who have stolen millions in diamonds, and showed footage of some of their biggest robberies.
New York--Last Sunday, CBS’s 60 Minutes included a segment about the “Pink Panthers,” a network of thieves who have stolen millions in diamonds, and showed footage of some of their biggest robberies.
The Pink Panthers are the largest, most successful gang of diamonds thieves in the world, 60 Minutes said, and got their moniker from the Peter Sellers crime-comedy movies of the same name. In 2003, after taking note from a scene in one of the movies and hiding stolen stones in a jar of face cream, the police dubbed the group the “Pink Panthers,” and the name stuck and helped them gain notoriety.
According to the show, the group is believed to have conducted more than 370 heists of both jewelry and fine art, grabbing more than $500 million total and hitting more than 35 countries.
The Pink Panthers gang allegedly is made up of networks of teams. Many of them fought in the Serbian Special Forces during the Bosnian War, which lasted from 1992-1995. When UN sanctions prevented products from entering the former Yugoslavia, many of the soldiers also became professional smugglers.
“The problem is that they’ve become legendary because they are so good in their planning and execution of robberies,” Ron Noble, secretary general of Interpol, said on 60 Minutes, adding that they do weeks of surveillance before making a move.
Interpol has been able to identify 800 members of the gang, but since they are known for using fake passports, they are even harder to catch. The group also appears to be leaderless.
“They’ve got networks and depending upon the robbery, there’s someone who organizes a particular robbery, but there’s no kingpin. There’s no Al Capone or John Gotti at the top of the organized crime groups like classic or traditional organized crime,” Nobel said.
60 Minutes also snagged an interview with a semi-retired Pink Panther, who wouldn’t show his face and went only by the name Phillip.
Their most notorious heists include a robbery of a Graff Diamonds store in the Wafi Mall in Dubai in 2007, when the gang drove straight into the mall and crashed into the door of the store before proceeding to steal $3.5 million in diamonds.
In another incident in Geneva, a group robbed a luxury store on the Rue du Rhone, grabbing $4 million worth of diamonds, and used motorcycles as their getaway vehicles
down a street that was too narrow for cars.
Though the Pink Panthers are known as jewelry thieves, they have begun expanding into fine art. While hundreds of arrests have been made since 2007, the group continues to grow as the next generation is recruited and copycats crimes become more prevalent.
More on Other
The Latest
MajorsMay 13, 2025
DCA Announces New Learning Platform, Course UpdatesThe nonprofit has made updates to the content in its beginner and advanced jewelry sales courses.
MajorsMay 13, 2025
BIJC Launches New Education FundBIJC President Malyia McNaughton will shift roles to lead the new foundation, and Elyssa Jenkins-Pérez will succeed her as president.
Brought to you by
Las Vegas Antique Jewelry & Watch Show: Showcasing the Most Collectible Merchandise from Across the GlobeGain access to the most exclusive and coveted antique pieces from trusted dealers during Las Vegas Jewelry Week.
TrendsMay 13, 2025
State of Jewelry Design: The Top 10 Jewelry Trends of the Past DecadeAs a nod to the theme of JCK Las Vegas 2025, “Decades,” National Jeweler took a look back at the top 10 jewelry trends of the past 10 years.
Weekly QuizMay 08, 2025
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
Lab-GrownMay 12, 2025
Lightbox to Go Dark by Summer, De Beers Says The company plans to halt all consumer-facing activity this summer, while Lightbox factory operations will cease by the end of the year.
Policies & IssuesMay 12, 2025
Tariffs on Chinese Imports Temporarily Slashed as U.S.-China Reach Deal Following weekend negotiations, the tax on Chinese goods imported into the United States will drop by 115 percent for the next 90 days.
Brought to you by
Watch: The Winston Red: GIA Examines the Smithsonian’s Newest AdditionSupplier Spotlight Sponsored by GIA
Events & AwardsMay 12, 2025
Jewelry By Picasso, Dalí on Display at Florida Art Museum “Artists’ Jewelry: From Cubism to Pop, the Diane Venet Collection” is on view at the Norton Museum of Art through October.
Events & AwardsMay 12, 2025
CASE Awards Now Accepting Entries For 2025The deadline to submit is June 16.
IndependentsMay 09, 2025
Lugano Diamonds CEO Resigns Amid Internal InvestigationMoti Ferder stepped down Wednesday and will not receive any severance pay, parent company Compass Diversified said.
CollectionsMay 09, 2025
Pieces of the Week: Marie Lichtenberg’s Collaborations for Mother’s DayLichtenberg partnered with luxury platform Mytheresa on two designs honoring the connection between mothers and daughters.
SourcingMay 09, 2025
Gemfields Resumes Emerald Mining in ZambiaThe miner announced plans to recommence open-pit mining at Kagem.
CrimeMay 08, 2025
Former NYC Jewelry Store Employee Arrested in 2017 Choking Death of Boss Michel Desalles allegedly murdered Omid Gholian inside World of Gold N Diamond using zip ties and then fled the country.
EditorsMay 08, 2025
5 ‘Superfine’ Met Gala Jewelry MomentsAssociate Editor Lauren McLemore shares her favorite looks from a night of style inspired by Black dandyism.
Supplier BulletinMay 08, 2025
Instappraise Introduces Game-Changing Trifold Appraisal FormatSponsored by Instappraise
FinancialsMay 08, 2025
Brilliant Earth Notes an Uptick in Engagement Ring Sales in Q1CEO Beth Gerstein discussed the company’s bridal bestsellers, the potential impact of tariffs, and the rising price of gold.
IndependentsMay 08, 2025
Margot McKinney Lands in the U.S. With New BoutiqueThe brand’s first independent location outside of Australia has opened in Beverly Hills, California.
IndependentsMay 08, 2025
Verragio Announces New Regional Sales ManagerCathy Marsh will lead the jewelry company’s efforts in the upper Midwest and western United States.
FinancialsMay 07, 2025
Pandora Posts Strong Q1, Plans for TariffsThe company has multiple strategies for dealing with tariffs, though its CEO said moving manufacturing to the U.S. is not one of them.
ColumnistsMay 07, 2025
The Smart Lab: Building a Seasonal Marketing Strategy for Mother’s Day and BeyondConnecting with your customers throughout the year is key to a successful holiday marketing push.
SourcingMay 07, 2025
Gemfields Says Emerald Sales Improved in Latest AuctionIts commercial-quality emerald sale held last month totaled more than $16 million, up from about $11 million in September 2024.
TechnologyMay 07, 2025
Punchmark’s Latest Podcast Features a Very Special Guest National Jeweler Editor-in-Chief Michelle Graff joined Michael Burpoe to talk tariffs, consumer confidence, and the sky-high price of gold.
AuctionsMay 06, 2025
Harwell Godfrey Reimagines 10-Carat Blue Diamond for Met Gala-Ready BroochDesigner Lauren Harwell Godfrey made the piece as an homage to the 2025 gala’s theme, “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style.”
Events & AwardsMay 06, 2025
Here’s Who Made Jewelers of America’s New ‘20 Under 40’ ListExpanded this year to include suppliers, JA’s 2025 list honors 40 up-and-coming professionals in the jewelry industry.
IndependentsMay 06, 2025
Sissy's Log Cabin Opens New StoreLocated in Fort Smith, it’s the Mid-South jeweler’s first store in Northwest Arkansas.
IndependentsMay 06, 2025
Gunderson’s Jewelers to Be Featured on ‘World’s Greatest’ TV SeriesThe episode about the family-owned jeweler will premiere May 17.
