IndependentsMay 13, 2025
Eiseman Jewels’ Renovated Dallas Store Is Bigger and BetterLocated in NorthPark Center, the revamped store is nearly 2,000 square feet larger and includes the first Tudor boutique in Dallas.
Policies & IssuesJun 19, 2020
Oxford Now Wants to Remove Statue of De Beers Founder
Oriel College, where the statue of Cecil Rhodes stands, will also launch an independent inquiry into the issues surrounding it.
Oxford, U.K.—The governors of Oriel College think the school’s statue of De Beers founder Cecil Rhodes should come down too.
Last week, protestors took to the streets of Oxford in the United Kingdom, demanding the statue of the British businessman be removed from its place of honor on the school’s façade.
Rhodes was a central figure in British imperialism at the end of the 1800s, encouraging the empire to take control of vast areas of southern Africa.
He attended Oriel College, part of the University of Oxford, in the 1870s. After his death in 1902, he left Oxford money and endowed the sought-after scholarships that still bear his name.
The protest movement around public likenesses of Rhodes, dubbed the Rhodes Must Fall campaign, started in 2015 at the University of Cape Town in South Africa and then moved north to England, adopted by those who say Rhodes represents white supremacy and his views don’t align with the university’s inclusive culture.
When students asked Oriel College to take down the statue the first time, in 2016, the school declined to do so.
Now, the global Black Lives Matter movement sparked by the murders of George Floyd in Minneapolis and Breonna Taylor in Louisville, Kentucky have reignited calls to remove the statue of Rhodes in the U.K.
Last week, Oriel College said in a statement it supports Black Lives Matter and the right to protest but told the BBC it hadn’t changed its stance regarding the statue.
But in a second statement released Wednesday, the school said its governing body has expressed its wish to remove the statue of Cecil Rhodes and its corresponding King Edward Street plaque and voted to launch an independent inquiry into the key issues surrounding the statue.
Last week, protestors took to the streets of Oxford in the United Kingdom, demanding the statue of the British businessman be removed from its place of honor on the school’s façade.
Rhodes was a central figure in British imperialism at the end of the 1800s, encouraging the empire to take control of vast areas of southern Africa.
He attended Oriel College, part of the University of Oxford, in the 1870s. After his death in 1902, he left Oxford money and endowed the sought-after scholarships that still bear his name.
The protest movement around public likenesses of Rhodes, dubbed the Rhodes Must Fall campaign, started in 2015 at the University of Cape Town in South Africa and then moved north to England, adopted by those who say Rhodes represents white supremacy and his views don’t align with the university’s inclusive culture.
When students asked Oriel College to take down the statue the first time, in 2016, the school declined to do so.
Now, the global Black Lives Matter movement sparked by the murders of George Floyd in Minneapolis and Breonna Taylor in Louisville, Kentucky have reignited calls to remove the statue of Rhodes in the U.K.
Last week, Oriel College said in a statement it supports Black Lives Matter and the right to protest but told the BBC it hadn’t changed its stance regarding the statue.
But in a second statement released Wednesday, the school said its governing body has expressed its wish to remove the statue of Cecil Rhodes and its corresponding King Edward Street plaque and voted to launch an independent inquiry into the key issues surrounding the statue.
Embed from Getty Images
Oriel College said the governors came to the decision after a “thoughtful period of debate and reflection and with the full awareness of the impact these decisions are likely to have in Britain and around the world.”
The inquiry commission will be tasked with dealing with the issue of Rhodes’ legacy, improving access and attendance of black, Asian and minority ethnic faculty, undergraduate and graduate students, and reviewing how the school’s modern commitment to diversity can “sit more easily with its past.”
The college said there will have to be consultations over planning regulations before it can take down the statue.
It remains to be seen if it will be removed in the end.
The inquiry commission will be tasked with dealing with the issue of Rhodes’ legacy, improving access and attendance of black, Asian and minority ethnic faculty, undergraduate and graduate students, and reviewing how the school’s modern commitment to diversity can “sit more easily with its past.”
The college said there will have to be consultations over planning regulations before it can take down the statue.
It remains to be seen if it will be removed in the end.
Though some critics have noted the school’s most recent statement is not far off from the one released in 2016, the fact that the governing body voted for the statue’s removal represents a departure from the school’s position four years ago, one Rhodes Must Fall founder told The Guardian.
De Beers said last week it agreed with calls to take the statue down, stating: “Symbols matter, and we will not achieve equality, social justice and healing unless those bearing symbols of inequality, injustice and pain take them down.
“Cecil Rhodes was one of our founders in 1888. We reject what he stood for, and while we can’t rewrite that history, we can bear the responsibility of history to build a better legacy.”
De Beers said last week it agreed with calls to take the statue down, stating: “Symbols matter, and we will not achieve equality, social justice and healing unless those bearing symbols of inequality, injustice and pain take them down.
“Cecil Rhodes was one of our founders in 1888. We reject what he stood for, and while we can’t rewrite that history, we can bear the responsibility of history to build a better legacy.”
More on Policies & Issues
The Latest
MajorsMay 13, 2025
DCA Announces New Learning Platform, Course UpdatesThe nonprofit has made updates to the content in its beginner and advanced jewelry sales courses.
MajorsMay 13, 2025
BIJC Launches New Education FundBIJC President Malyia McNaughton will shift roles to lead the new foundation, and Elyssa Jenkins-Pérez will succeed her as president.
Brought to you by
Las Vegas Antique Jewelry & Watch Show: Showcasing the Most Collectible Merchandise from Across the GlobeGain access to the most exclusive and coveted antique pieces from trusted dealers during Las Vegas Jewelry Week.
TrendsMay 13, 2025
State of Jewelry Design: The Top 10 Jewelry Trends of the Past DecadeAs a nod to the theme of JCK Las Vegas 2025, “Decades,” National Jeweler took a look back at the top 10 jewelry trends of the past 10 years.
Weekly QuizMay 08, 2025
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
Lab-GrownMay 12, 2025
Lightbox to Go Dark by Summer, De Beers Says The company plans to halt all consumer-facing activity this summer, while Lightbox factory operations will cease by the end of the year.
Events & AwardsMay 12, 2025
Jewelry By Picasso, Dalí on Display at Florida Art Museum “Artists’ Jewelry: From Cubism to Pop, the Diane Venet Collection” is on view at the Norton Museum of Art through October.
Brought to you by
Watch: The Winston Red: GIA Examines the Smithsonian’s Newest AdditionSupplier Spotlight Sponsored by GIA
Events & AwardsMay 12, 2025
CASE Awards Now Accepting Entries For 2025The deadline to submit is June 16.
IndependentsMay 09, 2025
Lugano Diamonds CEO Resigns Amid Internal InvestigationMoti Ferder stepped down Wednesday and will not receive any severance pay, parent company Compass Diversified said.
CollectionsMay 09, 2025
Pieces of the Week: Marie Lichtenberg’s Collaborations for Mother’s DayLichtenberg partnered with luxury platform Mytheresa on two designs honoring the connection between mothers and daughters.
SourcingMay 09, 2025
Gemfields Resumes Emerald Mining in ZambiaThe miner announced plans to recommence open-pit mining at Kagem.
CrimeMay 08, 2025
Former NYC Jewelry Store Employee Arrested in 2017 Choking Death of Boss Michel Desalles allegedly murdered Omid Gholian inside World of Gold N Diamond using zip ties and then fled the country.
EditorsMay 08, 2025
5 ‘Superfine’ Met Gala Jewelry MomentsAssociate Editor Lauren McLemore shares her favorite looks from a night of style inspired by Black dandyism.
Supplier BulletinMay 08, 2025
Instappraise Introduces Game-Changing Trifold Appraisal FormatSponsored by Instappraise
FinancialsMay 08, 2025
Brilliant Earth Notes an Uptick in Engagement Ring Sales in Q1CEO Beth Gerstein discussed the company’s bridal bestsellers, the potential impact of tariffs, and the rising price of gold.
IndependentsMay 08, 2025
Margot McKinney Lands in the U.S. With New BoutiqueThe brand’s first independent location outside of Australia has opened in Beverly Hills, California.
IndependentsMay 08, 2025
Verragio Announces New Regional Sales ManagerCathy Marsh will lead the jewelry company’s efforts in the upper Midwest and western United States.
FinancialsMay 07, 2025
Pandora Posts Strong Q1, Plans for TariffsThe company has multiple strategies for dealing with tariffs, though its CEO said moving manufacturing to the U.S. is not one of them.
ColumnistsMay 07, 2025
The Smart Lab: Building a Seasonal Marketing Strategy for Mother’s Day and BeyondConnecting with your customers throughout the year is key to a successful holiday marketing push.
SourcingMay 07, 2025
Gemfields Says Emerald Sales Improved in Latest AuctionIts commercial-quality emerald sale held last month totaled more than $16 million, up from about $11 million in September 2024.
TechnologyMay 07, 2025
Punchmark’s Latest Podcast Features a Very Special Guest National Jeweler Editor-in-Chief Michelle Graff joined Michael Burpoe to talk tariffs, consumer confidence, and the sky-high price of gold.
AuctionsMay 06, 2025
Harwell Godfrey Reimagines 10-Carat Blue Diamond for Met Gala-Ready BroochDesigner Lauren Harwell Godfrey made the piece as an homage to the 2025 gala’s theme, “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style.”
Events & AwardsMay 06, 2025
Here’s Who Made Jewelers of America’s New ‘20 Under 40’ ListExpanded this year to include suppliers, JA’s 2025 list honors 40 up-and-coming professionals in the jewelry industry.
IndependentsMay 06, 2025
Sissy's Log Cabin Opens New StoreLocated in Fort Smith, it’s the Mid-South jeweler’s first store in Northwest Arkansas.
IndependentsMay 06, 2025
Gunderson’s Jewelers to Be Featured on ‘World’s Greatest’ TV SeriesThe episode about the family-owned jeweler will premiere May 17.
IndependentsMay 05, 2025
Zadok Jewelers Opens Store in AustinThe Houston-based jeweler’s new 11,000-square-foot showroom will include a Rolex boutique.
