July 10 Aurea Informatio: Your Friday Web Roundup

By Karen Dybis | July 10, 2026

If there’s a press release we look forward to receiving for the shock and awe of it, it would be one about a Jacob & Co. watch. The brand’s latest announcement, involving Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, is a prime example.

The actor wore his Jacob & Co. custom Matai Tourbillion (which retails for $265,000) to Tuesday’s world premiere at the Hollywood Bowl of Moana—in which Johnson reprises his role of Maui in live-action. Matai means “chief” or “leader” in the Samoan language, symbolizing Johnson’s connection to his culture, his role as a protector of his family, and his warrior spirit.

“The name evokes the themes of resilience, leadership, and the cultural heritage reflected in his tattoo and the design of the watch,” Jacob & Co. said in its release. “In the film, Maui’s tattoos represent his triumphs, struggles, and the traditions he holds dear—paralleling the personal meaning behind Johnson’s real-life ink.”

Here is a look at what else made JCK’s collective brain click this week.

News Worth Reading

The World Federation of Diamond Bourses is having one heck of a presidential race this year.

Helen Dimmick, director of Ainsworth Jewellers in Blackburn, has been appointed to the board of the British Allied Trades Federation.

The Dubai Diamond Exchange and London Diamond Bourse have signed a memorandum of understanding aimed at strengthening cooperation between the two diamond trading centers.

There’s a silver shortage brewing. (subscription needed)

Forbes explores why Walmart is pursuing wealthy consumers.

Kitco said gold prices were on the downward slide again as an Iran ceasefire’s apparently fallen apart.

U.K. brands are hurting from the so-called tourist tax.

Everyone is interested in what Gen Z does as shoppers.

Zendaya and her stylist Law Roach are doing it again—and jewelry inspired by her new movie The Odyssey will likely go viral and send fans to antique experts like M.S. Rau.

Financial Times looks into the diamond branding story, highlighting initiatives of the Natural Diamond Council.

How will the UAE get involved in African diamond mining?

Wedding website The Knot was not the only company quick to jump on the Taylor Swift marriage train. (subscription needed)

Import volume at the nation’s major container ports is forecast to hit an all-time record this month, driven by retailers stocking up ahead of expected tariff increases.

And gas prices are going up, up, up again.

Obsessions

We can’t stop studying this graphic about the watch industry from WatchPro’s Rob Corder.

Ice Spice has a $50,000 tongue piercing. Well. Will it trend?

Paris Haute Couture Week brought us so many great collections, and Boucheron has an amazing marketing campaign around its Human Being introduction.

Why people should admit they actually love heart jewelry.

Jewelry historian Marion Fasel on what will trend from JCK Las Vegas.

Yes, Aperol spritz should be a year-round occasion.

Podcast Queue

The Couture has Jade Trau talking to Botswana’s minister of minerals.

If Jewels Could Talk’s Carol Woolton chops it up about royal jewelry with guest Laurie Wickwire.

The 1916 Company podcast goes all out on independent (and summertime) watches.

Gold versus bitcoin: Discuss. Or listen to The Spillover.

Hodinkee’s Business of Watches talks to Henrik Ekdahl, managing director at Leica for watches and accessories.

The Luxury Society chats with professor Stéphane Girod from Swiss business school IMD Lausanne about what the “great luxury reset” demands of industry leaders.

Video Yaya

Fine jewelry brand 3 Graces of Gold started a YouTube channel.

Avi Krawitz says Pandora is not the disruptor to natural diamonds that some think it could be.

(Photo courtesy of Getty Images)