Wishing everybody a great 2026. Welcome back to Diamond Shavings.
This week: Saks is reportedly preparing a bankruptcy filing. Secondhand Rolexes aren’t fetching what they used to. And some people really love Cracker Barrel jewelry. All below.
That Was the Year That Was
– My 10 favorite jewelry promotions of 2025
– The 7 weirdest jewelry stories of 2025
– Top jewels that didn’t sell at auction
– Five forces that shaped the diamond market (video)
– National Jeweler’s annual rundown of people the industry lost
India to chair Kimberley Process in 2026
India to require clear labeling of lab-growns
Indian authorities drop some charges in Winsome Diamonds case
Indian diamond industry seeks urgent government help
Incoming World Diamond Council president calls for more marketing
Titan enters lab-grown diamond jewelry market
Diamond mine closures put Northwest Territories economy in possible “death spiral”
Rolex, Audemars Piguet, and Tudor raising prices
– Rolex secondary-market price rally runs out of steam
Interview with Watches of Switzerland CEO Brian Duffy
Saks Global reportedly preparing to file for bankruptcy
– CEO Marc Metrick exits
Jewelry designer, former U.S. senator Ben Nighthorse Campbell dies
International Diamond Center founder Keith Leclerc dies at 71
Couture’s retail liaison Jan Mohr dies
Edge Retail Academy shakes up executive team
GIA examines pink diamond with “mottled” look
Alrosa unearths two diamonds “shaped in the holiday spirit”
Diamond becomes “quantum super-material”
Kendall Jenner shares pics of her wearing megawatt diamond necklace
– Kanye West accused Kim Kardashian of faking jewelry theft
– North West flashes $5,000 diamond skull chain
Some people are excited about Cracker Barrel’s jewelry line
TikTokers horrified by jewelry made out of—well, you’ll see. Happy new year, everyone.
Media Watch
The New Yorker says Taylor Swift’s ring is “changing the diamond game”
Good Morning America goes inside the search for diamonds in Arkansas
The Wall Street Journal lists Marion Fasel’s engagement ring history as one of year’s best coffee table books
The Cut goes to Rolliefest (subscription)
From the Blog
The 7 Weirdest Jewelry Stories of 2025
My 10 Favorite Jewelry Promotions of 2025
From the Podcast
Olivia Landau and Kyle Simon of the Clear Cut Guest on The Jewelry District
Email: rbates –at – jckonline.com
– Connect on LinkedIn, X, and Instagram
– I’ve written four diamond industry mystery novels—check them out here!
(Photo: Getty Images)
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