Designed to tap into the Chinese market’s growing demand for gem-set jewelry, Hearts on Fire will open its first store on mainland China when it debuts its Shanghai location this month.

Michelle Graff

Asaad Malak of Malak Jewelers in Charlotte, N.C. shares how he turns strangers into friends and first-time visitors into lifelong clients. 

The Diamond Empowerment Fund announced Tuesday that its board of directors approved the granting of funds to its three existing beneficiaries as well as an additional $15,000 donation to the Flaviana Matata Foundation.

Michelle Graff

The High Court in London ruled Friday that trademark owners now can get court orders to compel Internet service providers (ISPs) to block or otherwise impede access to websites that sell counterfeit versions of their goods.  

Michelle Graff

MJ Christensen Diamonds discusses the how and why behind their decision to carry BeadforLife, a line of fair trade, handmade paper jewelry crafted by women in Uganda.

Michelle Graff

Just ahead of its annual meeting, the World Diamond Council announced that it has chosen Patricia Syvrud, a GIA graduate gemologist who owns a jewelry industry consulting firm, as its first executive director.

Michelle Graff

Pascal Lacroix named a client of Minnesota retailer Lasker Jewelers as the winner of the Grand Giveaway drawing, meant to celebrate the designer’s 35th anniversary by giving back to the consumers and retailers who have supported him. 

Michelle Graff

Jewelry that once belonged to Rachel Lambert Mellon, a horticulturalist and art collector who died earlier this year at the age of 103, will hit the auction block at Sotheby’s in November, including a fancy vivid blue diamond estimated to garner up to $15 million. 

Gemfields has entered into a joint venture with East West Gem Investment Limited in Sri Lanka to add sapphires to its portfolio of colored gemstones, which already includes emeralds and rubies. 

Brecken Branstrator

Yet another bank seems set to exit the jewelry industry, as KBC said Friday that the sale of the Antwerp Diamond Bank to Yinren Group has fallen through and it will, according to its agreement with the European Commission, wind down the bank’s activities. 

Michelle Graff

An 18-karat gold Rolex Oyster Ref. 6305 wristwatch given to former President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1951 failed to sell last Wednesday, as bidding did not reach the reserve price established by the seller. 

International media and trade show company United Business Media (UBM) confirmed last week it is in discussions to acquire Advanstar, an event and marketing service business based in New York. 

Michelle Graff

U.S. Antique Shows announced that its bi-annual Pier Antique Show will return on Nov. 22 and 23 to New York City’s Pier 94 on the Hudson River. 

Michelle Graff

The Federal Trade Commission will be tougher on paid endorsements and how they are disclosed, according to one recent report. 

Brecken Branstrator

Apple is holding an open-to-the-public viewing of the Apple Watch Tuesday at Paris store Colette in what might turn out to be a preview of the type of retailer the tech giant will tap to carry its smartwatch. 

Michelle Graff

Columnist Jan Brassem advises retailers and others in the U.S. jewelry business to keep a close eye on the Umbrella Revolution that’s opened in Hong Kong. 

Michelle Graff

The Southern California-based brand communications, marketing and public relations agency has opened an office near Bryant Park in New York City.

Michelle Graff

Amazon is carving out its own space in the brick-and-mortar world with the introduction of a new point-of-sale solution for retailers that accepts credit or debit cards through a smartphone or tablet. 

Michelle Graff

Fine jewelry brand Annoushka has expanded from its London roots to enter the U.S. market, debuting this week exclusively with Saks Fifth Avenue in its New York and Beverly Hills locations. 

Half a century after it opened the doors to its Long Island flagship, Fortunoff Fine Jewelers is returning to the area with the launch of a Westbury store as it takes its business from the Internet to brick-and-mortar. 

Brecken Branstrator

Apple has unveiled its long-awaited entry into the “smartwatch” category, a timepiece it is simply calling Apple Watch, but remains mum on exactly where it will sell its latest introduction. 

Michelle Graff

E-commerce sales growth at The Home Depot, Costco, Macy’s and Walmart surpassed the growth rate at Amazon.com in the first quarter due to continued investment in omnichannel retail, showing the importance of brick-and-mortar retailers streamlining sales across all channels, a recent report by think tank L2 shows. 

Michelle Graff

New York and California are the latest locations for Nordstrom’s continued focus on its Rack off-price segment, with the retailer opening one in Laguna Niguel, Calif. and another in Staten Island, N.Y. 

Michelle Graff

Movement, openwork, bold colors and gemstone slices will be among the trends in jewelry this holiday season and into 2015, according to an educational seminar held at JA New York Summer Monday morning. 

The brand’s new Caliber B55 Connected can record information from the wristwatch onto a smartphone, and the watch’s settings can be controlled from the phone as well.  

Michelle Graff