REMEMBERED
>>?Leon Mason, cofounder of Mason-Kay, died of Alzheimer’s disease in Denver on July 24. He was 74.
>>?Donald “Mike” Elmore, former owner of Gransbury-Elmore Jewelers and Mike’s Watch Shop in Felton, Calif., died July 18 after suffering a brain hemorrhage.
>>?Alan Katz, who was vice president of operations for deBoulle Diamond and Jewelry in Dallas as well as a veteran of Friedman Jewelers and Zale Corp., died Aug. 22 at age 69.
LABS
>>?The International Gemological Institute has expanded its diamond report series to include Spanishand Portuguese language options.
COMINGS AND GOINGS
>>?Moissanite manufacturer Charles & Colvard has appointed Kyle Macemore senior vice president, chief financial officer, and treasurer.
>>?Jewelers of America has elected Bill Farmer Jr., a partner in Farmer’s Jewelry in Lexington, Ky., as its new chairman of the board.
>>?Stuart Brown, who served as joint interim CEO of De Beers following the resignation of Gareth Penny, will join miner Firestone Diamonds as CEO.
Jean-Marc Lieberherr
>>?Jean-Marc Lieberherr has been appointed managing director of Rio Tinto’s diamond division. He was most recently the division’s chief commercial officer. In addition, Kim Truter, who previously held senior positions at the Argyle and Diavik mines, has been appointed chief operating officer for the diamonds division.
>>?Fred Meyer Jewelers has promoted Kirsten Darrow to group vice president of marketing, e-commerce, loyalty, and special events.
Yakup Tecimer
>>?The Canadian Jewellers Association has appointed Yakup Tecimer chairman of its board of directors for 2013 and 2014.
>>?CIBJO, the World Jewellery Confederation, has appointed Willie Hamilton, chief executive of Master Jewellers, to executive vice president of CIBJO’s Sector B, which covers areas of the jewelry business related to distribution. British Jewellers’ Association CEO Simon Rainer, who already was serving as a Sector C vice president, was named executive vice president of CIBJO’s Sector C, which covers manufacturing, technology, and precious metals. Michael Rawlinson, chief executive of the National Association of Goldsmiths in the United Kingdom, was appointed as the third vice president of Sector B.
CRIMES
>>?SW Associates, a syndicate of Lloyds of London, is offering a reward of up to €1 million
($1.32 million) to the first person providing information that leads to the recovery of jewels from a July 29 robbery in Cannes, France. (An estimated $136 million in gems were reportedly stolen from a Leviev exhibit at the Carlton Hotel.) Persons with information should contact reward1millionE@gmail.com.
ASSOCIATIONS
>>?Platinum Guild International USA now offers women a better way to let guys know their ring references: a “hint” tool. Located at preciousplatinum.com, the tool lets users navigate a platinum jewelry gallery, select admired styles, and send suggestions.
EVENTS
Ralph Alswang/Clinton Foundation
Bill Clinton
>>?Former President Bill Clinton will deliver the keynote address at next year’s Centurion show in Scottsdale, Ariz. The address, “Remarks by Bill Clinton,” will take place on the evening of Feb. 4, 2014.
>>?The Society of North American Goldsmiths will hold a second annual Forging Entrepreneurs business symposium Oct. 19 at the Academy of Art University in San Francisco.
HONORED
>>?The Retail Jewelers Organization presented Prakash Mehta, founder of Interings, its Lifetime Achievement Award for his outstanding dedication and commitment to the retail jewelry industry.
Fredric H. Rubel
>>?The Jewelers 24 Karat Club of Southern California will honor Fredric H. Rubel of Fredric H. Rubel Jewelers and Vatche Fronjian of True Knots with the Excellence in Service Award at the club’s 69th annual dinner dance and gala Oct. 12.