SourcingNov 26, 2024
De Beers Stays With ‘A Diamond Is Forever’ for 2024 Holiday Campaign“Forever Present” highlights gifting opportunities for natural diamonds, celebrating familial, friendship, and romantic relationships.
CrimeSep 27, 2019
Customs Agents in Kentucky Seize $90M in Counterfeit Jewelry
Included in the bust were 3,200 fake Cartier bracelets law enforcement officials traced to a North Carolina church pastor.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at a hub in Louisville, Kentucky seized several large shipments of counterfeit jewelry in recent months. (Photo courtesy of U.S. CBP)
Louisville, Ky.—Since mid-July, U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the Express Consignment Operations hub in Louisville, Kentucky have seized counterfeit jewelry that would be worth $90 million if genuine.
According to a CBP statement Wednesday, officers seized three large shipments of counterfeit bracelets in July—in a picture provided by the CBP one of the seizures, the items look to be copies of Cartier’s iconic Love bracelet—totaling more than $42 million.
The goods were traced to a North Carolina church pastor, JianGang “Frank” Lan, who was found to have more than 3,200 fake Cartier bracelets.
North Carolina Secretary of State Elaine Marshall charged Lan with felony criminal use of a counterfeit trademark on Aug. 2, said CBP. He was being held under $25,000 bond in the Orange County Jail as of Wednesday.
“When purchasing items from a vendor over the internet if it seems like too good of a deal, it is,” Thomas Mahn Jr., Louisville port director, said in a statement. “A Cartier bracelet listed online for $25 is definitely not authentic.”
The next large find came in September, when officers seized five shipments of counterfeit jewelry, which would be worth more than $48 million if they were genuine, according to the agency.
Mahn noted that counterfeit jewelry is often forged with lead and other hazardous materials.
“These seizures protect the rights of the intellectual property rights holder, health and safety of Americans, and the reputation of online marketplaces involved in these transactions,” he said.
CBP’s Intellectual Property Rights enforcement program combats the importation of counterfeit merchandise, which the agency said is behind significant revenue loss, damage to the U.S. economy, and a threat to the public’s health and safety.
The agency said its officers seized $3.7 million in counterfeit goods per day in 2018.
CBP advised anyone with information regarding suspected fraud or illegal trade activity to contact the agency via the e-Allegations Online Trade Violation Reporting System or by calling 1-800-BE-ALERT.
IPR violations can be reported to the National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center via its website or by calling 1-866-IPR-2060.
More on Crime
The Latest
AuctionsNov 26, 2024
Christie’s To Auction Collection of Suzanne Belperron JewelsIt’s one of the most impressive assemblages of the French designer’s pieces ever to come to auction, Christie’s said.
ColumnistsNov 26, 2024
The Smart Lab: 7 Strategies for Refining Your Holiday Email Marketing CampaignsSuccessful email marketing campaigns are all about timing, personalization, and compelling CTAs, Emmanuel Raheb writes.
Brought to you by
Navigating Cybersecurity: Essential Guidance for JewelersFrom protecting customer data to safeguarding inventory records, it's crucial to learn how to tackle cybersecurity challenges.
MajorsNov 26, 2024
GIA’s Board of Governors Adds 2 New MembersRetail leader Lisa Bridge and geology professor Dr. Wendy Bohrson joined the organization’s board.
Weekly QuizNov 26, 2024
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
MajorsNov 26, 2024
Ben Bridge Jeweler Unveils This Year’s ‘Benny Bear’ Look out for a black bear wearing a purple Santa hat and its zippered tummy pouch made for holding a holiday gift from Ben Bridge Jeweler.
SourcingNov 25, 2024
William Goldberg Celebrates 2 Major Milestones With New Book“The William Goldberg Way” was released in honor of the company’s 75th anniversary and 25 years of its proprietary Ashoka diamond.
Brought to you by
Enhance Your Expertise with IGI’s In-Person Courses in NYCThis fall, sharpen your skills in jewelry grading, quality control and diamond assessment.
Lab-GrownNov 25, 2024
Lab-Grown Co. Lusix Sold to 2 Companies for $4M Fenix and Dholakia Lab-Grown Diamonds have jointly acquired the Israel-based company, which grows diamonds using solar power.
IndependentsNov 25, 2024
Sophie Bille Brahe Opens First US StoreThe Danish brand has opened an appointment-only location on Madison Avenue in New York City.
Events & AwardsNov 25, 2024
The Original Miami Beach Antique Show Panel to Feature Fred SavageThe actor and watch enthusiast will be part of the show’s education lineup.
EditorsNov 22, 2024
Out & About: Inside the CD Peacock MansionStep inside the nearly 21,000-square-foot suburban Chicago jewelry store with Editor-in-Chief Michelle Graff.
CollectionsNov 22, 2024
Piece of the Week: Xander Jane’s ‘Spiked’ Pearl StudsThese punk-inspired earrings from the new Canadian brand’s debut collection reveal the alter ego of the classic pearl.
SourcingNov 22, 2024
Facets of Fire Expands to Include Pear, Marquise DiamondsThe company brings its nanotechnology to two new fancy cuts for diamonds that feature its signature color and brilliance.
Supplier BulletinNov 21, 2024
Tasha R Releases 2025 Labbelle Lab Diamond Jewelry CatalogSponsored by Tasha R
AuctionsNov 21, 2024
Gold Watch Gifted to Titanic Rescue Ship Captain Sells for $2MThree Titanic survivors presented him with the personalized Tiffany & Co. timepiece about a year after the tragedy.
MajorsNov 21, 2024
Harris Jewelry Ordered to Reopen Claims Portal for Refund RequestsA federal court found that the jewelry store chain violated terms of the settlement reached after it was accused of defrauding customers.
CollectionsNov 21, 2024
Channel Elphaba in Muse’s ‘Have a Heart x Cynthia Erivo’ CollectionCynthia Erivo chose Dreams of Hope, an organization dedicated to empowering LGBTQA+ youth, as the charity for this year’s collection.
MajorsNov 21, 2024
Rocksbox Opens Pop-Up Store in San FranciscoThe new space was designed to evoke a warm, inviting vibe.
IndependentsNov 21, 2024
Mary Moses Kinney Is Now Part of The Edge’s Team Kinney, who spent nearly 30 years at IJO, has been hired to head Abbott Jewelry Systems’ new virtual marketplace.
Events & AwardsNov 20, 2024
Kering Debuts New Jewelry Award With Sustainability FocusThe four finalists will present their pieces at the 2025 JCK Las Vegas show.
CollectionsNov 20, 2024
Pamela Love Channels Surrealist Artists in New CollectionThe “Camera Oscura” collection showcases earring designs celebrating female Surrealist artists Claude Cahun and Leonor Fini.
Policies & IssuesNov 20, 2024
Columbia Gem House Raises $10K for Reforestation EffortsThe money will fund the planting of 10,000 trees in critical areas across Oregon, Arizona, Montana, and other regions.
Events & AwardsNov 20, 2024
The Jewelry Symposium Opens Registration, Scholarship ApplicationsThe event centered on advancing jewelry manufacturing technology will return to Detroit in May 2025.
AuctionsNov 19, 2024
‘A Tsar’s Treasure’ Fetches $2.9M at Sotheby’s Jewelry SaleA collection of pieces owned by Ferdinand I, the first king of modern Bulgaria, and his family, blew away estimates in Geneva last week.
MajorsNov 19, 2024
Trove Opens First US Flagship in NYCThe Australian jewelry box brand’s new West Village store will showcase new jewelers each month through its Designer in Residence program.
CollectionsNov 19, 2024
Snoop Dogg’s New Jewelry Collection Is All About Love“Lovechild” was created in partnership with Carolyn Rafaelian’s Metal Alchemist brand.
