This week: There are already counterfeit Apple Watches. Some people are really into dead malls. Can you clean diamond jewelry with denture tablets? All below.
Signet has a (slightly) below-expectations holiday.
– Christmas season very last-minute, says Instore.
Riddle’s Group purchases Dakota West.
Larter & Sons shuts down.
We’re saying goodbye to a lot of good jewelers.
C. Wonder to shutter all stores.
– Deb Shops also closing.
Samuel Aaron chairman Robert Wueste dies.
Synthetic diamond mixing again feared in India.
Woman claims Sears sold her fake diamond.
What’s a nice jewelry guy doing at an electronics show?
– Five wearables from CES.
– Amazon mentoring wearables companies.
– Jewelry that makes you safer.
– Swarovski debuts wearables line.
– Guess and Martian team up.
– Montblanc announces smart watchband.
– How Swarovski solved the tech industry’s battery problem.
Apple Watch launch expected in March.
– Tech watchers split on product’s potential.
– Just 5 percent of iPhone users want Apple Watch.
– There are already counterfeits.
– Test-drive the watch from your browser.
– Bloomberg Businessweek wonders: Is there really demand?
– Smartwatch market may reach $39 billion by 2020.
J.C. Penney closing 40 stores.
– Holiday comps rise 3.7 percent.
Macy’s closing 14 stores, mulling off-price format.
Chow Tai Fook “disappointed” with latest sales.
Coach acquires Stuart Weitzman.
Swatch loses court case to Swiss bank.
What luxury forecasters predict for year ahead.
– Danielle Max on luxury myths.
Avi Krawitz: U.S. demand “driving market.”
– Diamond stories to watch in 2015.
Forecasters debate gold’s direction in 2015.
– So far, off to hot start.
– Gold is “second-best performing currency” of 2014.
Russians investing in diamonds as ruble slides.
Rough diamond companies say prices must drop.
– Are they starting to?
India sets up rough trading zone.
– Worries about Chinese “aggression.”
Mbada Diamonds workers besiege headquarters.
– Women want fair share of Zimbabwe diamonds.
Debswana installs X-ray scanners.
Report: 33 percent of Nepal’s jewelers are run illegally.
Omega Diamonds whistleblower appeals settlement.
Jeweler on trial over ponzi schemer’s wife’s diamond sale. (subscription req’d)
Jewelers Closing:
Wade’s Jewelry and Gift Shop, Horseheads, N.Y.
NRF likes Michael Hill video purchasing tool.
Mortensen, Bromberg, Gumuchian honored by WJA.
Robert Bridel joins GemFind.
Neil Goldman elected board chairman of Charles & Colvard.
The economics and nostalgia for dead malls.
A day with Apple Pay.
Arkansas diamond “myths.”
Researchers examining rock with 30,000 diamonds.
Holiday trend: Diamond rings in Salvation Army kettles.
Diamond ring hung on police department Christmas tree.
– Owner found.
Women who collect jewelry made from dead people’s hair.
Lena Dunham’s ring not for engagement.
Stephen Fry shows off man-gagement ring.
Dog eats $23,000 worth of rings.
Apartment Therapy says you clean diamond rings with denture cleanser.
HuffPo highlights “hilarious” engagement ring photo. (Spoiler: not actually hilarious.)
Media Watch:
PacificStandard asks if technology has killed the jewelry business.
Sarah Silverman: Diamonds “mean nothing.”
The Frisky writer doesn’t want engagement ring.
Elle writer buys herself an engagement ring.
More lab-grown diamond articles from the Sun Sentinel and CBS Chicago affiliate.
The New York Times on Ritani.
Glamour blogger likes Neil Lane diamonds.
EveryJoe’s ring-buying guide.
From the blog:
What’s a Nice Jewelry Guy Doing at an Electronics Show?
We’re Saying Goodbye to a Lot of Good Jewelers
Have a great 24 Karat weekend!
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