This year’s honorees include a Midwest retailer and two multi-store independents, one in New York and the other in New England.
Sotheby’s Finds 2 Partners for 60-Carat Pink Diamond
Diacore and Mellen Inc. have formed a partnership with the auction house to acquire an ownership interest in the 59.60-carat diamond known as the Pink Star.

Geneva--Diacore and Mellen Inc. have formed a partnership with Sotheby’s to acquire an ownership interest in the 59.60-carat Pink Star diamond.
“The three parties have formally partnered to achieve the value of the 59.60-carat stone, which Sotheby’s holds in its inventory,” the auction house said in a brief statement, declining to comment on the specific percentage of the stone owned by each entity.
The stone could be sold in the future, either privately or at auction, with proceeds split among the three companies per their ownership percentage, according to a Sotheby’s spokesman.
The stone is the largest internally flawless, fancy vivid pink diamond that the Gemological Institute of America has ever graded.
De Beers unearthed the 132.5-carat piece of rough that became the Pink Star in 1999 in South Africa.
Sotheby’s auctioned the polished diamond in November 2013, when it sold for $83.2 million, beating out the Graff Pink to become, at the time, the most expensive gemstone ever sold at auction.
New York diamond cutter Isaac Wolf bought the diamond but, according to Forbes, he defaulted on the payment and the stone was put into Sotheby’s inventory. The auction house reportedly had to buy the Pink Star for $60 million, the price it guaranteed the original seller.
Diacor is a multinational company with interests ranging from manufacturing to retail, and specializes in the creation of large, fancy colored and rare stones.
The firm is responsible for cutting some of the world’s most famous diamonds, including the 203.04-carat De Beers Millennium Star; the Heart of Eternity, a 27.64-carat fancy vivid blue, heart-shaped diamond; and the Pink Star.
Mellen, a family-run organization based in New York, is one of the top sources for exceptional stones.
The Latest

As an homage to iconic crochet blankets, the necklace features the nostalgic motif through a kaleidoscope of cabochon-cut stones.

Discover the dozen up-and-coming brands exhibiting in the Design Atelier for the first time.

When investing in your jewelry business, it's important not to overlook the most crucial element of success: the sales associates.

The entrepreneur and “Shark Tank” star will share his top tips for success.


Two existing executives have been given new roles.

Meredith Tiderington, an electrical engineering student, was selected for the award.

More shoppers are walking out without buying. Here’s how smart jewelers can bring them back—and the tool they need to do it right.

It will quit assigning the stones specific color and clarity grades in favor of applying “new descriptive terminology.”

From design trends to sustainability, here’s a roundup of can’t-miss education sessions at JCK Las Vegas.

The Jewelers’ Security Alliance offers advice for those attending the annual trade shows.

Her new role is director of strategic initiatives.

The designer is embracing bold pieces with weight to them in “AU79,” a collection she celebrated with a creative launch party.

On an earnings call, CEO J.K. Symancyk discussed what’s working for the company and how it’s preparing for the potential impact of tariffs.

The index partially rebounded after months of decline, due in part to the U.S.-China deal to temporarily reduce import tariffs.

The actress stars in the latest campaign set in Venice, Italy, and is set to participate in other creative initiatives for the jeweler.

The company has joined other labs, including GIA and Lotus Gemology, in adopting the Chinese term for "jadeite jade."

Located in Bangkok, the laboratory is Gemological Science International’s 14th location worldwide.

Those born in June have a myriad of options for their birthstone jewelry.

The diamond industry veteran has been named its senior sales executive.

The company plans to raise the prices of select watches to offset the impact of tariffs.

Between tariffs and the sky-high cost of gold, designers enter this year’s Las Vegas shows with a lot of questions and few answers.

Designed by founder Renato and his daughter Serena Cipullo, it showcases a flame motif representing unity and the power of gathering.

However, the tariffs remain in effect in the short term, as an appeals court has stayed the U.S. Court of International Trade’s decision.

The pop icon is one step closer to launching her “B Tiny” jewelry collection, a collection she first began posting about last fall.

Sponsored by Stuller

It was featured in the miner’s latest sale, which brought in $24.8 million.