This year’s honorees include a Midwest retailer and two multi-store independents, one in New York and the other in New England.
The ‘King of Jewelry’ in Asia Dead at 91
Billionaire Cheng Yu-tung, who made Chow Tai Fook a household name, died last week after suffering a debilitating brain hemorrhage four years ago.
Hong Kong--Cheng Yu-tung, the man responsible for the widespread success of Asian jewelry chain Chow Tai Fook and founder of property group New World Development Co. Ltd., died on Thursday, the company announced, as reported by Reuters.
Cheng was 91. Four years prior, he relinquished control of his companies to son Henry Cheng after suffering a brain hemorrhage.
“He had spent the past four years in bed. He was unconscious,” said the younger Cheng to reporters.
Cheng was reported to be worth more than $16 billion, making him the third-richest man in Hong Kong.
The South China Morning Post noted that in Asia, Cheng was “known as the king of jewelry.”
Chow Tai Fook was launched in 1929 by Chow Chi Yuen. Cheng worked for Chow and eventually married Chow’s daughter; the couple had four children.
Cheng grew Chow Tai Fook to become Asia’s largest luxury jeweler. The company’s website lists 2,305 points of sale. It is also the owner of Boston-based jewelry brand Hearts On Fire, which it acquired in 2014.
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 “Royal Ruby” Collection is a quintet of untreated rubies curated by collector Jack Abraham.


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

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.

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."

The large stone will be offered at its June sale along with a selection of secondary-type rubies from a new area of the Montepuez mine.

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.