JCK Take 3: Romanov Sapphire, Rolex-PGA, Kendra Scott

By JCK News Desk | November 12, 2026

Romanov Sapphire Bracelet Sells for $4.9M at Sotheby’s

A nearly 198 ct. sapphire with ties to Russia’s imperial family sold for more than 4.1 million Swiss francs ($4.9 million) at Sotheby’s in Geneva Wednesday, far exceeding its estimate, according to the Associated Press.

The 197.80 ct. cushion-shape Ceylon sapphire, now mounted on a diamond-covered bracelet, had been expected to fetch between 850,000 and 1.7 million Swiss francs ($1 million–$2 million). The buyer was identified only as a private collector.

According to the AP, the sapphire (shown at top left, photo courtesy Sotheby’s) likely originated in the Mughal Empire in South Asia before making its way into Russia’s imperial jewels during the 19th century. Sotheby’s described it as one of the most important surviving gems associated with the Russian imperial court.

Dowager Empress Maria Feodorovna, mother of Czar Nicholas II, wore the sapphire at the Winter Palace Ball of 1903, an elaborate gathering that Sotheby’s described as the last great spectacle of Imperial Russia.

Following the Russian Revolution, the sapphire was documented in an inventory of imperial treasures before being included in sales conducted by the Soviet government as it dispersed jewels formerly belonging to the Romanovs, according to the AP.

Rolex Renews Partnership as Official Timekeeper of PGA Tour

Rolex has renewed its sponsorship agreement with the PGA Tour, extending the Swiss watchmaker’s role as the tour’s official timekeeper under a new multiyear deal. Rolex has sponsored the PGA Tour since 2005, and the extension will take the relationship beyond 25 years.

Under the renewed agreement, Rolex will remain the exclusive official timekeeper of the PGA Tour, PGA Tour Champions, Korn Ferry Tour, and PGA Tour Americas. The brand will continue to receive exposure at tournaments and through PGA Tour broadcasts, social media, and digital platforms.

The partnership also gives Rolex a platform to highlight professional golfers associated with the watch brand. Current Rolex celebrities include Tiger Woods, Scottie Scheffler, and Jackson Koivun.

The watchmaker’s relationship with professional golf predates its PGA Tour sponsorship by several decades. “Rolex has been a part of men’s professional golf since Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, and Gary Player first captivated fans of our game,” Dhruv Prasad, the PGA Tour’s chief commercial officer, said in announcing the extension.

Kendra Scott Names Kerry Feldmann Chief Merchandising Officer

Kendra Scott has named Kerry Feldmann, a jewelry-industry veteran with experience at Tiffany & Co. and John Hardy, its new chief merchandising officer, effective Nov. 16.

Feldmann will oversee merchandising, planning, and allocation and join the company’s executive leadership team, reporting to CEO Chris Blakeslee. The appointment comes as Kendra Scott prepares to celebrate its 25th anniversary in 2027 and sharpens its focus on product innovation, design, and assortment.

In the newly created role, Feldmann will work to refine the company’s merchandise assortment and strengthen the connections among its collections. She will also explore additional product categories that could expand the Kendra Scott brand and oversee efforts to get appropriate assortments into individual stores and markets.

Feldmann brings more than 20 years of jewelry experience to the position, including 15 years at Tiffany in global merchandising and product development leadership roles. Most recently, she served as senior vice president of merchandising, planning, and design at John Hardy, where she oversaw product strategy, collection architecture, and commercial execution.

The JCK News Desk uses AI to help research and produce the first draft of articles. The story was then reviewed by staff writer David Blomquist.