Quadrino had pleaded guilty to one count of conspiring to commit wire fraud in 2018. Sentencing was delayed because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to a press release about the sentencing from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York, Quadrino told investors that his three companies—Princess Cut Industries, Sassy Jewelry Buyers, and Golden Glitter Trading—would buy jewelry and gold and then resell them to refineries and jewelers.

Investors were promised a “guaranteed, fixed rate of return at the end of the agreed upon time period,” said the Justice Department press release.

However, “Quadrino never actually purchased gold, jewelry, or diamonds in any significant quantities. Instead, Quadrino systematically engaged in a classic Ponzi scheme, over the course of five years, returning investor principal and interest from the investor capital of other victims,” said the release. He also used “investor capital to issue checks to himself and to pay for his personal gambling expenses,” it said.

All in all, Quadrino raised $13.1 million from a variety of local investors, who eventually lost a total of $3.3 million, the government charged.

According to Newsday, Quadrino apologized in court to his victims, some of whom were old family friends who testified against him. He said he’d intended to establish a legitimate business, but early mistakes were compounded by later ones.

Defense attorney Robert LaRusso asked for home confinement, saying his client suffers from a serious medical condition and won’t get the medical attention he needs in prison, the newspaper reported. LaRusso said in court that Quadrino “has changed his life. This will not happen again.”

The attorney could not be reached for further comment.

(Photo: Getty Images)

She has been Hearts on Fire’s acting global president since 2021, leading items teams across Hong Kong, China, Taiwan, and North America. She reports to Sonia Cheng, vice chairman of Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group, which purchased the company in 2014.

Maltez previously worked at miner Rio Tinto in a variety of roles, eventually serving as head of Rio Tinto Diamonds for Asia. Following that, she founded Bravva Consulting, where she worked with GIA and Swarovski on corporate strategies and new business initiatives.

Hearts on Fire recently added several employees to its sales staff, including veterans of De Beers, Gabriel and Co., and Pandora.

(Photo courtesy of Hearts on Fire)

Disney’s new live-action version of The Little Mermaid hits theaters May 26, and fans of the 1989 animated movie are ready to experience Ariel’s story all over again—with the lilting voice of Halle Bailey and music of Lin-Manuel Miranda refreshing a longtime favorite.

Jewelry designers have often been inspired by the sea and sand, drawing on the allure of the waves and beachfront vibes. Add Mermaid characters like weary yet adoring Sebastian, thoughtful Flounder, and even the sexy villain Ursula to their canvas, and they create jewelry that tells a story and shows off stones, pearls, and precious metals.

The Disney film’s influence on fashion has been called mermaidcore, and it includes plenty of great jewelry to wear this summer.

Some designers get to work directly with the source material: RockLove Jewelry is licensed by Disney, and owner/designer Allison Cimino has crafted earrings and other pieces inspired by Ariel’s journey from sea to land to love.

The Little Mermaid is “an enduring ‘tail’ of love and sacrifice,” says the RockLove website, and the brand’s bubble stud earrings “are an homage to Ariel’s courage, reminding us that when faced with challenges, we must believe in ourselves and never give up on our dreams.”

Designer Yvonne Leon’s jewelry is not “officially” related to the movie, but she also feels inspired by the water and the creatures found there. “The sea is my element,” Leon says. “I have always loved to incorporate all the elements of the universe into my work. To me, the ocean brings happiness and joy to my life.”

Here is some jewelry, by Leon and others, that feels like it was inspired by The Little Mermaid or connected to Ariel and the underwater world.

Top: Kay Jewelers mermaid necklace ($499), in 14k yellow gold with diamonds, looks like Ariel dancing through the ocean waves. (Photo courtesy of Kay Jewelers)

The first is a natural diamond update, which will be held Friday, June 2 at 10 a.m. at the Showcase Stage, level 2 of the Venetian Expo. It will feature Tiffany Stevens of the Jewelers Vigilance Committee, Kristina Buckley Kayel of the Natural Diamond Council, and Ferel Zerouki of De Beers, and will cover Russian diamonds, attracting young consumers, and sustainability. Plus: questions from you!

The second panel covers “Lab-Grown Diamond Updates” and will be held Saturday, June 3 at 10 a.m., also at the Showcase Stage. Panelists Edahn Golan of Tenoris, Ari Levy of IGI North America, and Joanna Park-Tonks of the International Grown Diamond Association will discuss pricing, detection and disclosure, and sustainability. And answer questions from you!

Hope to see you there. I’ll be happy to sign books. I have even updated my website.

This week: Why some people are hiding their Tiffany bags. How lab-grown diamonds are like freshwater pearls. And a woman discovers her engagement ring contains part of her tooth. All below.

The “luxury party in the U.S. is over”

– Big luxury stocks take a dive

– LVMH chief Arnault loses $11 billion after stock plunge

– Industry confident despite headwinds

– Bulgari CEO says he’s selling “less but better” (subscription)

– Cartier goes all in on high jewelry (subscription)

Tiffany’s flagship now topped by a “jewelry box”

– Inside LVMH’s rift with former Tiffany creative director (subscription)

New trend: “stealth wealth”

– Tiffany customers hiding blue bags due to crime

How long will gold prices stay high?

U.S. imposes sanctions on Russian gold miners

– United Arab Emirates cashes in as Russian sanctions bite

G7 still discussing Russian diamond sanctions

– Indian industry still worried about them

– Antwerp still against them

– Russian colored stones still being sold  (subscription)

– John Jaffay: So what’s the deal here?

Michael Schechter: What freshwater pearls can teach us about lab-grown

Lightbox opens first concept shop

Diamond industry trends and predictions

De Beers CEO optimistic about Botswana deal

– Wants to partner with Botswana in jewelry retail market  (subscription)

– Botswana president not backing down, threatening litigation

– HB Antwerp hopes Botswana deal will usher in “more transparency”

– Richard Chetwode: Has Botswana gone rogue?

– Victoria Gomelsky’s report from Botswana

Namibian newspaper calls for more domestic cutting

– Angola wants beneficiation, too

– Marange still not seeing much benefit from its diamonds

De Beers CEO hails $2 billion investment in South Africa

– Speaks at opening of South African industrial zone (video)

– South African mining minister: De Beers left “too many holes”

How De Beers is rehabbing the Victor mine in Canada

De Beers sees “progress” in sustainability goals

Indian workers sent on unpaid “vacation”

How artificial intelligence will affect diamond grading

How jewelers can make the most of ChatGPT

QRate sells Zulilly to investment firm

Singapore bespoke jeweler Madly raises venture funds

Swarovski CEO on luxury business in China

Genderless jewelry new “high jewelry frontier”

Jewelers Vigilance Committee details “Made in the USA” rules

Daniel’s Jewelers makes jewelry “accessible”

Gen Z loves Rolex, Patek Philippe

Interview with Ben Bridge CEO Lisa Bridge

Hearts on Fire named Rita Maltez global president

– Hearts on Fire beefs up sales team

Audemars Piguet appoints new CEO

LVMH appoints new chief omnichannel and data officer

Bruce Rubin named senior VP of Frederick Goldman

Hunter Tivol McGarth takes over family store 

Jocelyn Zimmer becomes president of Zimmer Brothers

Stanley Zale joins Hill & Co.

Signet appoints new senior VP, investor relations

Hoover & Strong adds members to its sales team

Veer names Pat Henneberry as head of business development 

Terry Castro’s son on maintaining his father’s legacy

Palm Springs luxury jewelry executive murder case heads to trial

Man sentenced for running jewelry-related Ponzi scheme

The ugly fight over massive Brinks jewelry robbery

– Inside job?

Miners use war weapons to hunt rare jewels in Afghanistan (video)

Proliferating gold mines in Venezuela show “grueling, dangerous work”

– How Venezuelan gold is trafficked through Brazil

Signet’s conflict minerals report

World Diamond Council president hails Kimberley Process “diversity”

– KP Civil Society Coalition sees “little reason for celebration”

Despite Nazi shadow, Christie’s sale sets $202 million record

– Yad Vashem rejects Christie’s donation

Sotheby’s to auction Mellon family jewels

Last emperor of China’s watch sells for $6.2 million

New Koh-i-Noor exhibit calls it “symbol of conquest”

– What the crown jewels reveal about Britain’s colonial past

Interview with biographer of Harry Oppenheimer

How Houston jeweler Johnny Dang became “king of bling”

Rihanna rocks a massive diamond on her toe

Woman finds ring she bought for nothing isn’t worth that much

“Horrifying moment” as bride realizes giant diamond is missing from ring

Bride learns engagement ring contains a part of her tooth

Media Watch

The New York Times on the use of black in jewelry, the Mikimoto pearl farm, lab-grown diamond “mourning jewelry,” seashells sold with gems, Maria Callas’ jewels, jewelry brands adapting to the digital age, and jewelry inspired by bugs

From the Podcast

The Jewelry District, Episode 96: Tiffany’s New Flagship, AGS Conclave and AI, JCK Las Vegas Preview

Have a great weekend!

– Email: rbates – at – jckonline.com.

– Twitter: @robbatesjck

– Connect on LinkedIn

 (Photo: Getty Images)  

But brands like Super Smalls, which was founded in 2019 by Maria Dueñas Jacobs, are changing that. With jewelry and accessories intended for ages 3–13, Super Smalls gives kids the opportunity to express themselves like any jewelry lover would—and as a jewelry editor with two super small girls, might I just say they couldn’t have come at a better time.

Jeweler Emily P. Wheeler has made the line even more covetable by bringing her signature design to the children’s accessories. Wheeler’s collaboration with Super Smalls offers the ultimate mama-and-me family matching opportunity: a popular Super Smalls piece for the little one, and a full-size unique fine jewelry version for the grown-up, to complement the mini.

JCK had a few questions for Wheeler about her work with Super Smalls, how becoming a mom has affected her business, and her plans for Jewelry Week in Las Vegas.

How did the collaboration come about? 

Super Smalls and my own brand share the same whimsy-meets-luxury perspective. The only difference is our target audiences—though we both have very keen admirers on the opposite end of the age spectrum. I’ve been a follower of Super Smalls since they launched in 2019, and when I first saw their Magic Unicorn pendant, I knew we had to make something out of our joint philosophies. I reached out to Maria, and it all came together very naturally.

The pieces I created for the collaboration were based on Super Smalls’ best sellers but elevated with precious materials. The integrity of each design is still Super Smalls at its core, but I added my own signature touches like ombré sapphires and hard stones like tiger’s eye, agate, and turquoise.

What has been the reactions to the new releases?

The reception has been amazing! We celebrated the launch with a Mother’s Day event in L.A., and it was so fun to see moms and kids together enjoying and twinning in our pieces. We’ve also had an enthusiastic response on social. I mean, how can you see bejeweled four-leaf clovers and unicorns, and not smile?

You welcomed a little one not too long ago (congratulations and happy belated Mother’s Day!). Has designing jewelry changed for you since becoming a mom?

My Bernadette collection is dedicated to my daughter, Byrdie—it debuted at Couture last year, just after she was born. The collection is a celebration of female empowerment, so it was particularly fitting and important for it to come into the world at the same time as my daughter. In true Emily P. Wheeler fashion, the pieces are unapologetically feminine, and I hope that my work teaches her to embrace her identity.

Beyond designing, the impact of our work has become even more important. Since I started the brand, it’s been my mission to create jewelry that is as responsible and sustainable as possible. I’ve always felt we have a responsibility to do our part to better our industry and the planet, and it’s all for the generation my daughter is a part of and those that follow.

I’m a sucker for anything mama-and-me, especially when the kids are still too small to be embarrassed by me. Do you design any jewelry with your child in mind?

Byrdie is so little that I haven’t created anything for her to wear right now (I leave that to Super Smalls), but I definitely design pieces with the hope that she’ll want to wear them when she’s older.

What are you most looking forward at Las Vegas Jewelry Week?

I’m excited to debut my new Rebels collection at Couture this year. It’s a throwback to my teens in the ’90s—think: black silk cord chokers, pink and green color blocking, and of course more ombré.

Top: Super Smalls’ Lucky Streak four-leaf clover necklace (left, $34) and Emily P. Wheeler’s fine jewelry version (right), a clover necklace in 18k yellow gold with 3.48 cts. t.w. sapphire and crystal quartz, $9,800

It is one of 20 shops within Showfields, an “experiential lifestyle store,” and plans to stay in the space until November.

Lightbox—which will have its first-ever booth at the JCK Show in Las Vegas next month, in the lab-grown pavilion—has done pop-up stores in the past.

Last year, the brand said it was looking into opening brick-and-mortar stores in the United States in 2024. A statement announcing the Brooklyn location said Lightbox “will continue to grow its retail presence.”

The 250 sq. ft. shop in Williamsburg is outfitted with mirrors, prismatic crystals, and hidden lighting elements that showcase the jewelry, including earrings and solitaire pairs up to 4 cts. t.w.

While Lightbox once vowed to keep its offerings under $1,000, it is now stocking higher price-point items, with pieces that start at $250 and go up to $3,700.

“With its future-forward approach and unique retail platform, Showfields gives us the ability to meet and engage with customers and share the Lightbox story in a more meaningful way,” said Antoine Borde, who was appointed Lightbox CEO last year.

Lightbox product is sold online and at 165 retail stores across the United States and Canada.

A rendering of the new Lightbox concept shop (photo courtesy of Lightbox)

She is the first female president of the fifth-generation family business, which has a flagship in Poughkeepsie, N.Y., and a boutique in Rhinebeck, N.Y. She joined the 130-year-old retailer in 2001.

Zimmer takes over from her father, Michael Gordon, who has served as company president for 15 years. He will remain on its board of directors.

“The jewelry industry has always been a male-dominated profession, but women are continually breaking through,” said Zimmer in a statement. “It’s an honor to be in a position where I can use my voice and actions to support and elevate causes that I care deeply about. And as the mom of two daughters, it’s even more special to reflect on what this represents for women in the industry.”

She has begun a partnership with Moyo Gems, an organization that supports colored gemstone mining regions in Africa. The Zimmer Brothers Legacy Collection, hand-selected by Jocelyn Zimmer, will debut this summer.

Some of those pieces will feature a gemstone mined by East African women, cut and faceted by women in the United States, and crafted by one of the jeweler’s female designers.Fifteen percent of those purchases will be donated to Gem Legacy, a nonprofit that provides vocational training, entrepreneurship, and community development in East African gem mining communities.

The other version of Sadoughi is a practical old soul whose prowess in math, marketing, and business has built a wildly successful accessories company, also named Lele Sadoughi, that just opened its fourth retail location within two years. The Houston store opened in April in Sadoughi’s home state of Texas, and she plans to add as many as four stores per year going forward.

Her life has often been a balancing act, Sadoughi says. The girl who always wore a bow on her head that matched her clothing grew up to be a woman with an eye for products people love to wear, and the ability to analyze costs and determines value.

“I’ve always had a point of view. I’m not a trend follower. I know what I like, and I’ve known it since a young age,” Sadoughi says. “Our brand champions color and maximalism—that’s our DNA, and it spreads across every category.”

Sadoughi was born and raised in Dallas, the middle of three sisters—her older sibling was sporty, and the youngest was the family comedian, she says. Their parents supported Lele’s creativity: Her mother recognized her ability to draw and made sure she could take art classes, explore the arts, and feel free to be that kid who loved to dress up when everyone else was wearing sweatshirts and bike shorts.

At the University of Texas at Austin, Sadoughi majored in advertising but kept up her interest in fashion. She thrifted, went to weekend flea markets, searched eBay for the costume jewelry she adored. Her jewelry blossomed into a collection, and she enjoyed researching a piece’s provenance as much as wearing it.

“Advertising seemed practical; I was never forced into it,” Sadoughi says. “But I am practical about how I do things. I know what things should cost. I know how to get things done.… My best advice [for young designers] is to learn on someone else’s dime. Absorb everything—production, planning, copywriting.”

Her first job after college was at a small fashion brand in Los Angeles. She later moved to New York, working at Rebecca Taylor as an associate trim designer and then at Ippolita as an associate jewelry designer, creating pieces for accounts including Banana Republic, Club Monaco, and Neiman Marcus. In 2005, Sadoughi joined J. Crew, where she started its jewelry selection and grew it into a $60 million department.

In 2012, Sadoughi made the decision to establish her own brand of jewelry and a wider range of accessories. Lele Sadoughi‘s categories now include its beloved headbands, belts, handbags, home goods, and more.

Sadoughi’s office today shows off her feminine style—her chair is hot pink, and her bookcases are filled with hundreds of headbands—and her desk is covered at all times with fabric, gemstones, and trim. Though she spends more time on the business side, Sadoughi pursues creative opportunities when she can, developing new product and designing her stores.

“I felt very prepared and had a lot of confidence. When you’ve done something long enough, you mitigate the risk of not knowing what you’re doing,” Sadoughi says. “But even with your own company, you have to be agile. I’m learning new things all the time.”

Top: Lisa “Lele” Sadoughi just opened her fourth retail store and plans to open dozens more in the coming years. (Photos courtesy of Lele Sadoughi) 

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The auction will also include signed jewels by Cartier, Harry Winston, and Van Cleef & Arpels and jewelry from the collections of Adolphus Andrews Jr. and Emily Taylor Andrews, Betsey Cushing Whitney, and the Rothschild family. Below is a closer look at some notables in the Christie’s sale.

(Photos courtesy © Christie’s Images Limited 2023)

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Marcus Orduña (top) joins the company as business national account manager. He previously spent five years with De Beers Forevermark as a wholesale sales executive.

Brooke Penuela also comes to Hearts on Fire from De Beers, where she served as education manager for North America for more than seven years. She will be Hearts on Fire’s retail training director.

Both Orduña and Penuela are filling newly created roles at Hearts on Fire.

The Boston-based brand has also hired Liz Paris and Jenny Pak as territory managers, supporting the California and Pacific Northwest markets, respectively. Paris was most recently a regional sales manager for Gabriel & Co. Pak worked for 10 years at Pandora as a divisional sales manager.

In other news, Hearts on Fire promoted Kevin Sweeney, who has been with the company for 15-plus years, from customer experience manager to senior manager, key accounts. Cecily Bowen, a Hearts on Fire employee for over five years, was also promoted to senior manager, key accounts, from territory manager, key accounts.

The hires and promotions come as the company seeks to connect more with its retail partners, through more frequent in-store visits, regional training events, and in-person engagements.

“Over the course of the last year, we listened and heard they were missing the one-on-one in-person connection,” said Rebecca Foerster, president of Hearts on Fire North America, in a statement. “Now, with this team in place, we can expand and improve our reach through more frequent travel and through Hearts on Fire–hosted training and events.”

Hearts on Fire is owned by Chinese jeweler Chow Tai Fook, which purchased the diamond brand in 2014.

(Photos courtesy of Hearts on Fire)