AuctionsNov 14, 2025
Napoleon’s Diamond Brooch Blows Away Auction Estimates A buyer paid $4.4 million for the piece, which Napoleon wore on his hat for special occasions and left behind when he fled Waterloo.
Policies & IssuesMar 30, 2021
Report Ties Chicago Jeweler to Hospital Vaccine Controversy
The city’s Loretto Hospital is under fire for allegedly vaccinating ineligible people at several locations, including a jewelry store.
Chicago—One high-end Chicago jewelry and watch store finds itself in the midst of a citywide controversy for allegedly providing a space for ineligible people to receive COVID-19 vaccinations.
According to a recent report from Block Club Chicago, a nonprofit news organization that covers the city’s neighborhoods, Geneva Seal Fine Jewelry & Timepieces hosted a vaccine clinic at its store, located in the tony Gold Coast neighborhood, on March 3.
It allegedly received the vaccine doses from Loretto Hospital, whose recently resigned Chief Operating Officer Dr. Anosh Ahmed is a “high-spending and frequent” customer of Geneva Seal.
Ahmed and hospital CEO George Miller, who was just suspended for two weeks without pay, are under fire for steering doses away from the city’s underserved West Side—the neighborhood the hospital is meant to serve and one that has been devastated by COVID-19—and to people and organizations with which they have ties, including via the clinic at Geneva Seal.
A source—who went to the jewelry store to get a vaccine and said she later regretted it—told Block Club Chicago that nurses were set up on the second floor of the boutique, helping people fill out their paperwork and administering the shots.
She also told the news site that she saw people entering and exiting the store for hours who did not appear to fit the city’s eligibility rules for receiving the vaccine at that time.
Geneva Seal store manager Leonard Goldberg denied the event happened.
He said in an emailed statement to National Jeweler: “Geneva Seal has not sanctioned any vaccination events. If anyone has received a vaccine, it was a personal decision for the safety and health of their families.”
A spokeswoman for the hospital also denied the event happened in a response to Block Club Chicago.
The city of Chicago has cut off Loretto’s supply of vaccine doses as it investigates the hospital’s allocation and reporting of vaccinations following an earlier report from Block Club Chicago that the hospital administered vaccinations to ineligible people at Trump Tower, where several hospital leaders live.
In addition, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot has demanded an independent investigation of the hospital, according to the Chicago Sun-Times.
According to a recent report from Block Club Chicago, a nonprofit news organization that covers the city’s neighborhoods, Geneva Seal Fine Jewelry & Timepieces hosted a vaccine clinic at its store, located in the tony Gold Coast neighborhood, on March 3.
It allegedly received the vaccine doses from Loretto Hospital, whose recently resigned Chief Operating Officer Dr. Anosh Ahmed is a “high-spending and frequent” customer of Geneva Seal.
Ahmed and hospital CEO George Miller, who was just suspended for two weeks without pay, are under fire for steering doses away from the city’s underserved West Side—the neighborhood the hospital is meant to serve and one that has been devastated by COVID-19—and to people and organizations with which they have ties, including via the clinic at Geneva Seal.
A source—who went to the jewelry store to get a vaccine and said she later regretted it—told Block Club Chicago that nurses were set up on the second floor of the boutique, helping people fill out their paperwork and administering the shots.
She also told the news site that she saw people entering and exiting the store for hours who did not appear to fit the city’s eligibility rules for receiving the vaccine at that time.
Geneva Seal store manager Leonard Goldberg denied the event happened.
He said in an emailed statement to National Jeweler: “Geneva Seal has not sanctioned any vaccination events. If anyone has received a vaccine, it was a personal decision for the safety and health of their families.”
A spokeswoman for the hospital also denied the event happened in a response to Block Club Chicago.
The city of Chicago has cut off Loretto’s supply of vaccine doses as it investigates the hospital’s allocation and reporting of vaccinations following an earlier report from Block Club Chicago that the hospital administered vaccinations to ineligible people at Trump Tower, where several hospital leaders live.
In addition, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot has demanded an independent investigation of the hospital, according to the Chicago Sun-Times.
More on Policies & Issues
The Latest
FinancialsNov 14, 2025
Richemont’s Q2 Jewelry Sales Up 12%Plus, how tariffs and the rising price of gold are affecting its watch and jewelry brands.
CollectionsNov 14, 2025
Piece of the Week: Silvia Furmanovich’s ‘Butterflies in Flight’ Jewelry BoxFurmanovich designed the box to hold Mellerio’s “Color Queen,” a high jewelry collection consisting of 10 rings.
Brought to you by
Roseco Releases New Full-Line CatalogRoseco’s 704-page catalog showcases new lab-grown diamonds, findings, tools & more—available in print or interactive digital editions.
Events & AwardsNov 14, 2025
JCK Names New Event DirectorJennifer Hopf, who has been with JCK since 2022, will lead the execution of the long-running jewelry trade show.
Weekly QuizNov 13, 2025
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
IndependentsNov 13, 2025
127-Year-Old New Orleans Jeweler to CloseAdler’s Jewelry is set to close its two stores as 82-year-old owner Coleman E. Adler II retires.
IndependentsNov 13, 2025
Green Lake Jewelry Works to Move to New Seattle StudioFounder Jim Tuttle shared how a dedication to craftsmanship and meaningful custom jewelry fueled the retailer’s double-digit growth.
Brought to you by
Jewelers of America Aligns New Mission to Create Meaningful Impact for MembersFrom educational programs, advocacy, and recent MJSA affiliation, Jewelers of America drives progress that elevates businesses of all sizes.
MajorsNov 13, 2025
Vahan Jewelry Founder Leon ‘Sacha’ Der Calousdian Dies at 85The third-generation jeweler is remembered as a passionate creative with a love of art, traveling and sailboat racing.
CrimeNov 12, 2025
Father, Son Jewelers in Chicago Victims in Double Homicide JSA and Cook County Crime Stoppers are both offering rewards for information leading to the arrest of the suspect or suspects involved.
AuctionsNov 12, 2025
‘Mellon Blue’ Diamond Sells for $7M Less Than It Did a Decade AgoA buyer paid $25.6 million for the diamond at Christie’s on Tuesday. In 2014, Sotheby’s sold the same stone for $32.6 million.
AuctionsNov 12, 2025
Historic Rolex Oyster Fetches $1.7M at Sotheby’sMercedes Gleitze famously wore the watch in her 1927 swim across the English Channel, a pivotal credibility moment for the watchmaker.
GradingNov 12, 2025
It’s Time: GIA’s Express Holiday Service Is Back GIA is offering next-day services for natural, colorless diamonds submitted to its labs in New York and Carlsbad.
MajorsNov 10, 2025
Jewelers Focus on Love, Joy In 2025 Holiday Campaigns Tiffany & Co., David Yurman, and Pandora have launched holiday campaigns depicting their jewelry as symbols of affection and happiness.
SurveysNov 10, 2025
5 Things Retailers Should Know About Holiday Shoppers This YearThe National Retail Federation is bullish on the holidays, forecasting retail sales to exceed $1 trillion this year.
AuctionsNov 10, 2025
300+ Colored Diamonds Up for Auction at Christie’sLate collector Eddy Elzas assembled “The Rainbow Collection,” which is offered as a single lot and estimated to fetch up to $3 million.
EditorsNov 07, 2025
Piece of the Week: An MVP’s Sapphire Tennis Necklace At the 2025 World Series, the Los Angeles Dodgers’ Yoshinobu Yamamoto sported a custom necklace made by California retailer Happy Jewelers.
IndependentsNov 07, 2025
Foundrae’s New Palm Beach Location Is a ‘Golden Solarium’The brand’s seventh location combines Foundrae’s symbolic vocabulary with motifs from Florida’s natural surroundings.
FinancialsNov 07, 2025
Watches of Switzerland’s H1 Sales Up 8%The retailer also shared an update on the impact of tariffs on watch customers.
SourcingNov 06, 2025
Pink Tourmaline Bracelet, Emerald Suite Take Top Spectrum Honors Pink and purple stones were popular in the AGTA’s design competition this year, as were cameos and ocean themes.
IndependentsNov 06, 2025
Greenwich St. Jewelers Hosts Raffle Supporting Food RescueAll proceeds from the G. St x Jewel Boxing raffle will go to City Harvest, which works to end hunger in New York City.
IndependentsNov 06, 2025
Cornell’s Jewelers Names New PresidentCourtney Cornell is part of the third generation to lead the Rochester, New York-based jeweler.
SourcingNov 06, 2025
De Beers’ Production, Sales Increase in Q3 De Beers also announced more changes in its upper ranks ahead of parent company Anglo American’s pending sale of the company.
WatchesNov 05, 2025
Shinola President Steps Down Just as He Starts Former Signet CEO Mark Light will remain president of Shinola until a replacement for Ulrich Wohn is found.
AuctionsNov 05, 2025
Taylor Swift’s Engagement Ring Designer Makes Her Auction DebutKindred Lubeck of Artifex has three rings she designed with Anup Jogani in Sotheby’s upcoming Gem Drop sale.
FinancialsNov 05, 2025
Pandora Posts Modest Q3 Sales Growth Amid ‘Weak’ Consumer Sentiment The company focused on marketing in the third quarter and introduced two new charm collections, “Pandora Talisman” and “Pandora Minis.”
FinancialsNov 05, 2025
Brilliant Earth’s Q3 Sales Climb 10%The jewelry retailer raised its full-year guidance, with CFO Jeff Kuo describing the company as “very well positioned” for the holidays.
