Luxury jeweler Birks & Mayors Inc. said Wednesday that third-quarter net sales increased 6.4 percent to $122.6 million year-over-year. Meanwhile, same-store sales decreased 6 percent for the period, ended Dec. 29.

Antwerp, Belgium—The Antwerp diamond industry is the latest to announce it is sending a large delegation to an Asian shown, yet another example of the industry's growing interest in this area of the world.

Austin, Texas—Samuels Jewelers President Randy McCullough has been promoted to chairman of Gitanjali USA, and Deepak Gandhi has been promoted as the company's new president and chief executive officer.

New York—The Jewelers Vigilance Committee's (JVC) educational seminar on legal regulations regarding how jewelers do business will hit Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania and New York City in March.

New York—Sotheby's recorded its highest fourth-quarter and full-year results in the company's 264-year history in 2007, according to results released by the auction house this week.

Houston, Texas—Jewelry business and philanthropic leader I.W. Marks died yesterday of Aden carcinoma and multi-organ failure.

Gold’s per-ounce price could top $1,000 this year, say some gold industry analysts. Meanwhile, as global demand set records in 2007, the precious metal's current high-price and volatility poses “challenges” to the jewelry industry generally, and U.S. jewelry retailers specifically, says a new World Gold Council report.

Diamond and jewelry online retailer Blue Nile, Inc. said Tuesday that net sales for the fourth quarter (ended Dec. 30, 2007) grew 23.3 percent to $111.9 million, compared to $90.7 million in the fourth quarter of 2006.

Retail industry sales for January (excluding automobiles, gas stations, and restaurants) rose 2 percent unadjusted over last year and 0.1 percent seasonally adjusted from December, according to the National Retail Federation. The organization says that the results show that consumers last month were focused on buying necessities more than discretionary items.