Stores under the Zale umbrella recorded better-than-expected holiday sales while comps at Kay Jewelers and Jared the Galleria of Jewelry fell short of expectations.
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On-trend openwork, personalized pieces, karat-gold tattoos and even jewelry created using 3D printing--see it all the show later this month.

GemFind, a technology and e-commerce provider to the gem and jewelry industry, has appointed former AGS CEO Robert Bridel as its executive director of business development.

Robert J. Wueste, who has been head of The Aaron Group since 2003, died Tuesday at his home in California.

RapNet, the diamond trading network operated by the Rapaport Group, has released a new Android-compatible version of its mobile application following the success of its app for iPhones.
U.S. retail e-commerce spending from desktop computers in November and December increased 15 percent year-over-year, which is very close to the 14 percent sales growth comScore forecast.
J.C. Penney reported that same-store sales rose 4 percent in Nov. and Dec. and said that it plans to close only a very small percentage of its stores this year.

JJ Ramberg, host of MSNBC’s Your Business and the JA New York Winter keynote speaker, shares stories of the small companies she’s covered, including a low-fat bagel baker and a laundromat.
The Independent Jewelers Organization has named three retailers and one vendor to its board of directors for a three-year term.

A new high-end jewelry line has joined the stretch of tony brands located along Fifth Avenue in Manhattan.
Larter & Sons closed its doors at the end of last year after a century and a half of manufacturing jewelry.

With wearable tech continuing to heat up, a number of companies, including the Richline Group, have announced their entry into the category in recent days with the launch of new smart products.

The Dalai Lama was honored with the Santokbaa Award by Shree Ramkrishna Exports Pvt. Ltd. during a recent visit to Surat, India.
Israel exported only slightly more polished diamonds in 2014 than it did in 2013, as the diamond industry faced “major challenges” worldwide.
Pandora announced Monday that it is aiming to acquire as many as 78 store leases in Germany and convert them all into company-owned and -operated concept stores.
The top stories on National Jeweler last week reflected on the year, and the holiday season, that just passed and looked ahead to 2015.
At a time when many people are focusing on their health and happiness for the next year, jewelers across the country share with National Jeweler what goals they’ve set for 2015.

A book on “conflict” minerals highlights this month’s list of the most intriguing new releases.
“Celebrate New York,” a now-annual event for Jewelers for Children, is back and will take place on Jan. 18, the evening of the opening day of the JA New York Winter Show.
Remembering Scott Kay, a jeweler pleading guilty to selling fakes, and the biggest mistakes jewelers make in displaying merchandise were among National Jeweler’s most-clicked-on articles of the year.
Mae Keane, the last of a group of women who were hired to paint watch dials with radium in the 1920s, died this year.
The Indian Diamond & Colorstone Association Inc. recently announced the results of its elections for 2015.

The lab is located in Gaborone, Botswana, where Gemological Science International CEO Mark Gershburg said there is a demand for labs and gemological education.
Four--David Yurman, Tiffany & Co., Alex and Ani, and Swarovski--ranked above the rest in a recent study evaluating the industry’s online presence.

National Jeweler asked retailers to use just one word to describe their holiday season sales. Responses ranged from mediocre to cheerful to unusual.