Anne Hathaway was seen wearing the toggle necklace three times while filming scenes for “The Devil Wears Prada 2.”
Attorney: Grading report class action is coming
Early next year, a class-action lawsuit will be filed against EGL International and “major retailers” charging that the lab systematically over-graded diamonds that the retailers then knowingly sold to consumers, National Jeweler has learned.
New York--Early next year, a class-action lawsuit will be filed against EGL International and “major retailers” charging that the lab systematically over-graded diamonds that the retailers then knowingly sold to consumers, National Jeweler has learned.
Nashville, Tenn.-based attorney Brian Cummings said Monday that the suit will be filed within the next 60 days by a “major national plaintiffs’ class-action firm,” which he is not yet authorized to name because the firm is still working on the case.
Expected to be filed in California, the main causes of action in the suit will be violations of state consumer protection acts, breach of express warranty and civil RICO (Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations), which allows those impacted by organized crime to collect treble (triple) damages.
Cummings said the suit will be filed in California because of the strength of that state’s consumer protection act and the volume of business done in California by the retailers that will be named as defendants.
While the exact number of defendants is unknown at this point, there are expected to be between 10 and 20 plaintiffs to start, though that number could grow. He said the intention is for the lawsuit to be limited to large retailers and not target small independent jewelers so it can be “more effective” and move more quickly.
News of a pending major class-action against EGL International and large retailers in the United States is the latest blow to the EGL International brand, which will cease to exist shortly.
While over-grading has been a much-discussed issue in the industry for years, it exploded in 2014.
There were a total of four individual lawsuits filed over EGL International grading reports in Tennessee alone, and they made headlines. Local NBC affiliate WSMV followed the story closely and, later, touted its role in helping to change the industry.
Several months after this news emerged from Nashville, Rapaport Group announced its decision to pull stones graded by any EGL lab from RapNet, its vast diamond trading network, and Polygon removed reports from EGL International only.
Then came even bigger news out of Israel: the EGL labs outside of the United States would be reorganizing, homogenizing their grading practices and eliminating the EGL International brand name, all under the direction of a single, new global manager, Menahem Sevdermish.
Cummings is the attorney who handled three of the cases filed in Nashville involving
He also represented a plaintiff in a similar case in Georgia but it was settled before a lawsuit was filed.
Cummings said he and another Nashville attorney, Brian Manookian, who also represented a client who brought and settled a case against Genesis in Nashville, approached the national law firm regarding over-grading because they saw it as a potential class action best handled by a large, prominent firm.
“(We felt) the clients would be best served by having a prominent class-action law firm take an active role in that matter,” he said.
He said the goal of the lawsuit is two-fold: to shine a light on the “fraudulent practice” of selling over-graded diamonds and to recover money for consumers who might have been defrauded when they bought these diamonds.
Cummings added that while he would be involved in some aspect of the class action, his exact role is unclear at this time.
The Latest

Jewellery & Gem World Hong Kong is scheduled for Sept. 15 to 21, and buyer pre-registration will be available until Sept. 7.

Renovations at Tiffany & Co. stores ate into profits in the company’s watch and jewelry division.

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

Mark and Candy Udell of London Jewelers will receive the honor at the 24th annual Gem Awards next March.


While struggles continue at the mining and trading end of the pipeline, consumer demand for diamond jewelry is holding steady.

The “Fantasia” jewelry collection turns the intaglio animals from her “Close Encounters” collection into 3D characters.

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

The special Classic Avi Chronograph 42 with an Eagles-green dial is limited to 59 pieces, a nod to the Super Bowl Philadelphia just won.

JSA has received reports of mobs swarming jewelry stores, driving cars into the storefront or smashing through the windows.

The “Kashmir” collection features centuries-old craft techniques made in collaboration with the region’s master papier-mâché artisans.

Creative Director Erica Bianchini shared why the jeweler is looking to expand into the U.S. and how it’s putting Canadian craftsmanship on the map.

Two Los Angeles Fire Department stations plan to use the donations to upgrade their equipment and tools.

Next week, the auction house will kick off a selling exhibition of jewelry by British artist Hannah Martin and Coldplay’s Guy Berryman.

“Stolen: Heist of the Century” is based on “Flawless,” the book about the middle-of-the-night theft, and will debut on Netflix in August.

Emmanuel Raheb shares the top five gifting moments outside of major holidays that jewelers should build marketing campaigns around.

The wholesale trade show’s Luxury Lifestyle section will showcase established and emerging jewelry designers.

As demand for custom jewelry grows, the company is expanding its services to support retailers.

The mid-year conference for jewelry and watch appraisers is slated for Aug. 9 to 10 on Zoom.

Graduated stones make for elevated tennis-style pieces and dramatic statement necklaces.

Nominations in the categories of Jewelry Design, Media Excellence, and Retail Innovation will be accepted through July 30.

He retired last month after 28 years traveling the world to source the very best gemstones for his family’s jewelry business, Oscar Heyman.

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.

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