Carlos Jose Hernandez and Joshua Zuazo were sentenced to life without the possibility of parole in the 2024 murder of Hussein “Sam” Murray.
What you might have missed
The indictment of 17 individuals involved in smash-and-grab robberies and the increase in the number of jewelry companies consolidating or closing were the top stories last week.

New York--Here are the top five stories on NationalJeweler.com for the week of March 1 to 7, according to Google Analytics.
1. 17 individuals indicted in slate of smash-and-grabs
Members of a Detroit-based robbery crew who allegedly smashed display cases to steal Rolex watches from jewelry stores in six different states have been indicted.
2. Industry sees spike in business discontinuances
According to Jewelers Board of Trade data for 2014, the number of business discontinuances was up 32 percent to 1,010 in the United States and Canada last year. JBT President Dione Kenyon gives several explanations for the increase.
3. NC jeweler arrested for replacing stones with fakes
The owner of Custom Jewelers Gallery in Greensboro, N.C. faces two felony charges after allegedly replacing a diamond and two emeralds with simulants in the ring of one elderly customer who also used to be an employee of the store.
4. Christie’s gets sued by Elizabeth Taylor’s trust
The Sothern Trust, the trust for the late actress Elizabeth Taylor, filed a lawsuit in federal court in Los Angeles against New York-based Christie’s Inc. for cancelling sales from the record-setting sale of her jewelry without good reason and not paying the trust for other items that were sold.
5. Diamond prices remain ‘under pressure’
According to Rapaport’s RapNet Diamond Index, polished diamond prices continued to fall in February even as the market did see an uptick for 1-carat stones.
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Yood will serve alongside Eduard Stefanescu, the sustainability manager for C.Hafner, a precious metals refiner in Germany.

The New Orleans jeweler is also hosting pop-up jewelry boutiques in New York City and Dallas.

How Jewelers of America’s 20 Under 40 are leading to ensure a brighter future for the jewelry industry.

Set in a Tiffany & Co. necklace, it sold for $4.2 million, the highest price and price per carat paid for a Paraíba tourmaline at auction.


The jeweler’s “Deep Freeze” display showcases its iconic jewelry designs frozen in a vintage icebox.

Take luxury gifting to new heights this holiday season with the jeweler’s showstopping 12-carat sphene ring.

Roseco’s 704-page catalog showcases new lab-grown diamonds, findings, tools & more—available in print or interactive digital editions.

This year's theme is “Unveiling the Depths of the Ocean.”

In its annual report, Pinterest noted an increase in searches for brooches, heirloom jewelry, and ‘80s luxury.

Starting Jan. 1, customers can request the service for opal, peridot, and demantoid garnet.

The 111-year-old retailer celebrated the opening of its new location in Salem, New Hampshire, which is its third store in the state.

The new catalog features its most popular chains as well as new styles.

The filmmaker’s personal F.P. Journe “FFC” prototype was the star of Phillips’ recent record-setting watch auction in New York.

The new location in the Design District pays homage to Miami’s Art Deco heritage and its connection to the ocean.

Inflations, tariffs, and politics—including the government shutdown—were among consumers’ top concerns last month.

“Longtime favorite” presenters, as well as first-time speakers, will lead talks and workshops at the annual event in Tucson next year.

Silas Smith of Meridian Metalworks won the challenge with his pendant that blends Australian and American landscapes.

The sale of the 31.68-carat, sunset-hued stone was part of Sotheby’s first series of events and auctions in Abu Dhabi.

Most customers who walk into your store this month have made up their minds. Your job is to validate their choice, Emmanuel Raheb writes.

The collection features characters and motifs from Ukrainian folklore, including an enchanted mirror and a magic egg.

MatrixGold 3.11, the newest version of the jewelry design program, offers more flexibility, precision, and creative control.

The pavilion will be part of the 2026 JA New York Spring show, scheduled for March 15 to 17.

Kadet, a 1994 National Jeweler Retailer Hall of Fame inductee, helped grow the family-owned retailer in the Chicago area and beyond.

Billed as the world’s smallest wearable, Lumia Health’s new smart earrings have a health tracker subtly embedded in the back.

Don’t let those with December birthdays feel blue. Help them celebrate their month with blue zircon, turquoise, and tanzanite.

The new pink sapphire version of the piece dances with its wearer in the brand’s “Icons After Dark” holiday campaign.



















