The Omaha retailer said it still believes in the “goodness of people” even after it came to light that a woman the jeweler rushed to help might have been dishonest.   

Michelle Graff

Investigators believe that thieves followed a van from a trade show in Chicago to a rest stop near Rochester, Minn. before allegedly carrying out a $500,000 heist in a matter of minutes.  

Michelle Graff

MJSA just named Ann Arnold, the chief strategy officer at the Buyers Intelligence Group (BIG), as the chair of its board of directors.  

Michelle Graff

An independent jeweler’s $170,000 sale and Q&A with the man working to clean up the grading practices of EGL labs outside the United States were the top stories on National Jeweler last week.

Michelle Graff

The third season of The Weather Channel’s hit television show Prospectors, a reality show that follows the endeavors of gemstone miners in Colorado, returns this month. 

Michelle Graff

White Pine Trading has launched its Retail Partnerships Service, a program designed to help retail jewelers improve sales and increase customer loyalty via their customers’ unwanted jewelry. 

Michelle Graff

Next week, key diamond industry leaders, and reportedly even Russian President Vladimir Putin, are slated to attend a conference in India that will address challenges facing the industry today.  

Michelle Graff

Sears Holdings Corp. reported Thursday that a total of 235 stores, mostly Kmarts, have been closed or marked for closing in an effort to cut costs amid stagnant sales and growing losses. 

Michelle Graff

I am, admittedly, a bit late in coming around to my second word of the year for 2014, as it’s already been done.

Michelle Graff

The top lots from the “Bunny” Mellon sale and analysis of Signet Jewelers Ltd.’s latest financials were among the most read stories on National Jeweler last week.

Michelle Graff

Palladium Equity Partners LLC, a New York-based private equity firm, has made a majority investment in 73-store California chain Daniel’s Jewelers. 

Michelle Graff

The “Jewels for Children” raffle, supported by various Richmond jewelers, held its annual fund-raising event this fall, garnering more than $9,000 for charity. 

Michelle Graff

The World Gold Council’s Sally Morrison and Marcus Grubb on price, demand, #FutureHeirlooms, and what Anthropologie launching a karat-gold collection says about young consumers’ interest in the category. 

Michelle Graff

Even though fewer people are tying the knot overall, those who already have been married once aren’t afraid to try again, the latest data from the Pew Research Center shows.  

Michelle Graff

Think consumers can ‘trick out’ their smartwatch with a virtual version of a mechanical timepiece’s face? Not on our watch, said some of the industry’s biggest brands.  

Michelle Graff

The Israel Diamond Institute announced Monday that it will launch a direct-to-consumer, pop-up sales platform for loose diamonds and diamond jewelry on Dec. 1, the day known as Cyber Monday because of the high volume of online shopping. 

Michelle Graff

 While results were mixed for Tiffany & Co. globally, sales in the U.S. market were relatively strong, led by consumer demand for fashion jewelry in karat gold.

Michelle Graff

Names like Neil Lane, Le Vian and Vera Wang remain the main sales drivers for Signet Jewelers, which is in the process of transforming the sales floor of its Kay Jewelers stores into a series of branded boutiques.

Michelle Graff

A roundup of the major chain stores that’ll be open on Thanksgiving Day and one independent retailer’s plan to compete with big-box Black Friday deals were the top stories on National Jeweler last week. 

Michelle Graff

EGL USA laboratory plans to introduce a new, free diamond trading platform for the industry that will list certified diamonds from “all major labs”--but not any diamonds graded by EGL labs outside the United States.   

Michelle Graff

Actors Henry Winkler and Marlee Matlin will open the education sessions at Centurion in February, taking the stage to talk about triumphing over adversity. 

Michelle Graff

Diamond manufacturer Kiran Gems is partnering with the Smile Foundation to bring quality education to underprivileged children in India through the Mission Education program.

Michelle Graff

Though Comscore Inc. is predicting double-digit gains for online spending this holiday, the digital metrics firm notes that wage stagnation and lack of discretionary income among the middle class could weigh on the season.

Michelle Graff

Following a tough fiscal year, specialty jeweler Birks Group Inc. has rebounded with a strong second quarter and first half, driven by watch sales and an increase in average ticket, number of transactions and store traffic.  

Michelle Graff

Third quarter sales were soft for major chain retailers, which are grappling with a lack of compelling product and continued competition from pure-play online retailers.  

Michelle Graff