Iowa City, Iowa—Many jewelers and jewelry-makers wish that their customers would regard jewelry as fine art, not merely as personal adornment.

Minneapolis—Three Minnesota jewelry designers were selected for the People's Choice Awards on May 18 during the Designer Showcase founded by the Twin Cities chapter of the Women's Jewelry Association (WJA).

Nice, France—Watch-industry icon and philanthropist Severin Wunderman died of a severe stroke on June 25, while at his vacation home in Nice, France. He was 69.

New York—Net sales for Man Sang Holdings Inc., one of the world's largest Chinese cultured- and freshwater-pearl purchasers and processors, increased 59.1 percent to approximately $81 million in fiscal year 2008, compared with fiscal year 2007, the company announced on Friday.

Wilmington, Del.—A bankruptcy judge has approved an employee-retention plan that authorizes payments for Friedman's and Crescent Jewelers employees and management, easing the way for the bankrupt jewelry chains to shutter stores nationwide over the next several months and pay their creditors.

Paris—A French court has ordered eBay to pay LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton 40 million euros (about $63 million), ruling that the online auction giant did not do enough to prevent the sale of counterfeit goods on its site, according to a report on Monday from Bloomberg.

A memorial service for watchmaker, philanthropist and art connoisseur Severin Wunderman was scheduled for noon on July 3, 2008, at Mount Sinai Memorial Parks and Mortuaries in Los Angeles.

Moissanite jewelry manufacturer K&G Creations has filed a $50 million countersuit against moissanite manufacturer Charles & Colvard, according to a report in the Triangle Business Journal.

Moissanite jewelry manufacturer K&G Creations has filed a $50 million countersuit against moissanite manufacturer Charles & Colvard, according to a report in the Triangle Business Journal.

Man Sang Holdings, Inc. said Friday that net sales for fiscal year 2008 rose 59.1 percent to HK$633.7 million ($81.2 million), consisting of HK$405.4 million ($51.9 million) attributable to pearl operations and HK$228.3 million (29.2 million) attributable to real estate sales.