Newswire

By JCK Online Staff -- JCK Online, 4/1/2009 2:00:00 AM

Guzzi's, a Stratford, Conn., jewelry store for more than 37 years, is closing its doors, according to local station WTNH. The owner still owns Diamond Designs in Orange, Conn.

Jewelers of America has named Robert Headley its first chief operating officer. A former naval officer, Headley comes to JA after 20 years with Tiffany & Co., where he oversaw the brand's quality control standards.

Donald Haack, 78, founder and owner of Donald Haack Diamonds & Fine Gems, in Charlotte, N.C., who was sometimes called the "Indiana Jones of the diamond industry," died March 1 after a brief illness, the Charlotte Observer reports. He and his wife of 54 years, Janet, were well respected for their philanthropy.

Swiss luxury watchmaker Bedat & Co. was sold by Gucci Group to LuxuryConcepts Watches & Jewelry of Malaysia, which had been its distributor in East Asia. The watchmaker will continue to design, market, and sell luxury Swiss watches under the Bedat & Co. brand.

Rolex has lost an eight-year legal battle in Germany against eBay, over fake Rolex watches allegedly sold by third parties on eBay's Web site. The court said eBay had removed counterfeit watches and was actively monitoring for flagrant trademark violations.

Merit Diamond Corp. has settled its copyright lawsuit against Samuels Jewelers and Rogers. The two chains, owned by Gitanjali Group, will discontinue selling alleged knockoffs of Merit's Solitaire and Three Stones pendants, signature pieces of Merit's Sirena Collection, Merit said.