Advice from friends or family carries considerable weight in shaping spending decisions, but many wealthy consumers are turning to the Web for much of their education on potential high-end purchases, according to a recent survey in seven categories of luxury goods and services. However, some items remain easier to sell in person, including jewelry.

Spectore Corp., Deerfield Beach, Fla. announces an agreement with Wilkerson and Associates’ Stuttgart, Ariz., for its national sales force to market and distribute the core Edward Mirell collections of contemporary jewelry to independent jewelers.

LGI Network has agreed to supply retail sales information to JCK magazine and JCKOnline.com, to help retailers better understand the dynamics of the jewelry and watch market.

New York—Fine-jewelry expert Cindy Edelstein will lead a private guided tour of one-of-a-kind designs at the upcoming JA New York Summer Show.

New York—The next generation of star jewelry designers will make their industry debut in the 31st Annual New Designer Gallery at the JA New York Summer Show, to be held from July 27-30 at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York City.

Charlotte, N.C.—Moissanite maker Charles and Colvard and manufacturer K and G Creations are locked in a head-to-head battle in a North Carolina court, over which one owes the other money.

Los Angeles—The California Jewelers Association (CJA) has selected Allen Kessler, founder of Burbank, Calif.-based Kessler Jewelers, as the 2008 recipient of the Robert B. Westover Distinguished Service Award.

Northwest Territories, Canada—A 25-carat gem-quality diamond valued at more than $400,000 was recovered from a Canadian diamond mine, Mining Weekly's online edition reports.

New York—Store closures in the United States this year could rise by 7 percent over last year to 144,000, the largest increase in the 14 years since the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) started collecting the data, the organization reports.

New York—Jewelers of America (JA) has appointed Annie E. Doresca to the newly created position of director of finance administration.