National retail liquidation and asset recovery firms will manage a court-ordered bankruptcy liquidation sale of Whitehall Jewelers Holdings, Inc., which operates 373 specialty jewelry retail stores. The sale, which will begin Wednesday, was ordered by the bankruptcy court as a result of Whitehall’s Chapter 11 filing in June.

Birks & Mayors said first quarter 2009 net sales increased 6.4 percent to $72.4 million, year-over-year. Contributing factors included $5.1 million in sales from the two acquired Brinkhaus stores and two new Mayors stores, and the appreciation of the Canadian dollar.

Charles & Colvard, Ltd., the sole source of moissanite, a created jewel available for use in fine jewelry, said it has begun the process of closing its Hong Kong operations with expected completion by the end of September 2008.

Mumbai, India—The 25th annual India International Jewellery Show (IIJS) closed yesterday, with visitor attendance of 44,292 beating last year's total of about 40,000.

New York—Same-store sales at Saks Inc. decreased 5.3 percent for the four weeks ended Aug. 4, and owned sales decreased 4.6 percent to $192.1 million, compared with $201.4 million for the same period last year.

Carlsbad, Calif.—Russell Shor, senior industry analyst for the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), has been honored with two prestigious journalism awards.

New York—With so many companies cutting jobs or declaring bankruptcy, today's bleak economy mimics that of recessions past, but with one major difference: the Internet.

Morrisville, N.C.—Charles and Colvard Ltd. is closing its Hong Kong operations, with expected completion by the end of September 2008.

New York—Jewelry retailer Michael C. Fina and diamond brand Hearts On Fire have teamed up with N.Y. Yankees All-Star pitcher Mariano Rivera to present one lucky Yankees fan with the opportunity to make the proposal of a lifetime.

Morrisville, N.C.—Charles and Colvard Ltd. is closing its Hong Kong operations, with expected completion by the end of September 2008.