The Gemological Institute of America’s campaign for the sixth annual Richard T. Liddicoat Scholarship Fund campaign is currently underway.

Shareholders of Richemont, one of the world’s top luxury goods groups, on Oct. 9 overwhelmingly approved its restructuring.

U.S. chain store sales for September 2008 rose by 1 percent on a year-over-year same-store basis according to the International Council of Shopping Centers, Inc.

LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton, the world’s leading luxury products group, reported a 4.5 percent growth in revenue to nearly 12 billion euros ($16.3 million) for the first nine months of 2008, year-over-year. The company added that when stripped of foreign exchange rates (organic growth), revenues were up 10 percent for the period.

U.S. luxury watch industry veteran Ronald L. Wolfgang was named president of Roger Dubuis North America, effective Oct. 1, by the Richemont Group, which made the announcement Wednesday.

The International Council of Shopping Centers reports that preliminary sales tallies were up 1.7 percent for September, which were lead mostly by value retailers according to the International Council of Shopping Centers, Inc.

Hong Kong billionaire and business magnate Cheng yu-Tung has agreed to pay over $90 million ($HK700 million) for some assets of bankrupt Hong Kong luxury watchmaker and retailer Peace Mark (Holdings) Ltd., say Peace Mark’s liquidator and Hong Kong and Shanghai press reports.

Joseph Freedman, a retired long term executive of Sterling Jewelers Inc., died Saturday. He joined Sterling in 1982 as vice president of Merchandising and served in that role through 1986, responsible for merchandising, marketing, and advertising. From 1986 to 1991, he was executive vice president.

U.S. Customs & Border Protection has issued Phase 1 of its plan enforce the “Tom Lantos Block Burmese JADE Act of 2008.”

The Gemological Institute of America, Carlsbad, Calif., is collaborating with local Boy Scout and Girl Scout Troops that help the scouts obtain merit badges through GIA’s Junior Gemologist Program—Merit Badge Series.