COMINGS AND GOINGS
>>?On July 1 Nayla Hayek was named chair of the board of directors of Swatch Group. Hayek, formerly VP, is the daughter of Swatch Group founder and chairman Nicolas G. Hayek, who died of heart failure June 28.
>> ?On June 21, the Movado Group named Joe Faranda senior VP of consumer insights and strategic planning. Faranda most recently served as chief marketing officer of International Flavors and Fragrances.
ANNIVERSARIES
>>??Retailer Tivol recently celebrated its 100th anniversary by committing to do “100 Acts of Kindness” in its home base of Kansas City, Mo. Founded by Charles Tivol in 1910, the three-store chain remains under family management.
REMEMBERED
>>? David Kwiat, a prime force behind the famed jewelry manufacturer Kwiat, died Aug. 11 at age 94. David joined his father, Sam, in the business in 1933 at age 17. His grandson Greg notes he became one of the first diamantaires to “have an inventory of important diamond jewelry,” he says. “He wouldn’t just cut the diamonds, he would make jewelry around it. He was a craftsman and an artist who understood manufacturing both diamonds and jewelry.” He is survived by wife Shirley, children Sheldon, Lowell, and Carol, seven grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.
>> ?Nicolas G. Hayek, chair of Swatch’s board of directors, died of heart failure during work on June 28 at age 82.
>>? Gerry Gewirtz, 89, a former fashion editor at JCK and the first president of the Women’s Jewelry Association, died suddenly at her Manhattan home on July 3.
>>??Manteca, Calif., jeweler Evelyn Allen, 102, died June 22 at her home. She and her husband, Boyd, opened Allen Jewelry in 1945. She retired and sold the store in 1988 at age 80.
HONORED
>>? J.C. Penney senior vice president and general manager Pamela Mortensen, ABN Amro Bank, manufacturer Goldiam, and Indian supplier/retailer Gitanjali Group were honored at the Indian Diamond and Colorstone Association’s 26th annual awards night on June 5 at the Venetian Hotel in Las Vegas.
OPENINGS
>> ?Bailey’s Fine Jewelry opened a new store location at Crabtree Valley Mall in Raleigh, N.C., in August. The Bailey family opened a Pandora store in the same mall in October 2009.
CLOSINGS
>>? Fred Seufert Jewelers in Danbury, Conn., closed June 29 after 29 years.
>> Nashville-based Coles & Waller Jewelers closed June 25, due to its owner’s retirement.
LEGAL
>>?The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission announced a voluntary recall of Children’s Happy Charm Bracelets and Children’s Happy Football Rings due to high levels of cadmium, which can harm bones and kidneys if ingested.
>>?The owners of Elegance Fashion Mart in Los Angeles pleaded guilty June 21 to illegally importing and selling Chinese-made knockoff designer jewelry, some of which contained dangerous levels of lead. Il Keun Oh, wife Jacqueline Oh, and Jacqueline’s brother, manager Joon Yeop Kim, all face five years in prison.
>>?Washington D.C.–based Mervis Diamond Importers was awarded nearly $5 million after a battle with Congressional Hotel Corp. over a contested real estate deal.
ASSOCIATIONS
>>?The Gemological Institute of America launched its 2011 scholarship season with more than 140 scholarships. Applications are available at gia.edu/scholarships.