Hearts on Fire announced a global expansion that calls for up to 15 stores by the end of 2013 in major U.S. cities and internationally and up to 75 within five years.

Marketers are keying in on shoppers based on their Internet behavior. It’s an advantage for retailers. But among the general public, it’s fueling the ongoing debate over online privacy. Read our special report.

The possible participation of Côte d’Ivoire and re-examining the scope of the Kimberley Process were addressed by KP Chairwoman Gillian Milovanovic in a question-and-answer session with National Jeweler.

De Beers Diamond Jewellers, the retail partnership of De Beers and LVMH, is launching a bridal application next month that will be available for both iPhones and iPads in five different languages.

CIBJO, the World Jewellery Confederation, is supporting the World Diamond Council’s call to begin discussion on broadening the definition of “conflict” diamonds, the international organization announced at the conclusion of its recent congress.

Glendon Group Inc. is acquiring struggling online retailer Bidz.com Inc. and taking the now-public company private, Bidz.com announced.

Same-store sales trended positive in the first quarter for department stores, discounters and other major U.S. retailers that sell fine jewelry.

Global sales of jewelry and watches rose 32 and 31 percent, respectively, in the fiscal year ended March 31, Swiss luxury goods conglomerate Richemont reported Thursday.

A woman who served as an educator, interpreter and advocate for her hearing-impaired daughter is the grand-prize winner in Helzberg Diamonds’ nationwide “Show Mom She’s Loved” contest.

At its annual meeting held here on Monday, both the World Diamond Council and the current chairwoman of the Kimberley Process said they support broadening the definition of “conflict” diamond.

Blue Nile has signed a multi-year agreement with Alliance Data Systems Corporation (ADS) and will now offer its customers a new private label credit card program.

The Silver Institute has commissioned a new report on the Chinese silver market that will focus on the country’s growing importance in the global silver industry and identify emerging trends that may impact the broader market.

Revenues fell nearly 30 percent while losses quadrupled in the first quarter for Bidz.com, the online retailer announced late Friday.

Online retail spending reached $44.3 billion for Q1 this year, a 17 percent increase versus the same quarter last year, according to comScore.

Some social media sites are seeing much of their traffic coming from smartphone users, according to a recent report from comScore.

The human rights activist recently recognized with an international award for his work on behalf of the people in Zimbabwe’s Marange diamond fields is slated to speak at the Rapaport Fair Trade Jewelry Conference on June 3 in Las Vegas.

The World Jewellery Forum will be held from May 13-23 here, and the organization has launched a website that provides assistance to participants and the media who will be attending the 11-day event.

Sales rose 4 percent in the first quarter for Blue Nile, aided by a 20 percent increase in new customers, the Seattle-based online retailer reported late Tuesday.

Sales of Pandora jewelry in the United States fell from $118.6 million to $106.6 million in the first quarter, with retailers there accounting for more than half of the returned merchandise received worldwide as part of the company’s stock balancing program.

Multimedia retailers HSN and QVC both reported that revenue increased moderately in the first quarter, with e-commerce activity continuing to account for a higher share of overall sales.

Hearts on Fire will open its second retail store later this month in Las Vegas, a shop operated by Cliff and Darlene Miller of MJ Christensen Diamonds.

Graff Diamonds started pre-marketing its planned $1 billion initial public offering in Hong Kong on Monday, The Wall Street Journal reported, citing sources familiar with the deal.

The Jewelers Board of Trade announced that it has developed a mobile application for its Sectional Red Book for Android smartphones and tablets. It is available now for $35 to $45, depending on the number of territories covered.

Multi-media retailer QVC is selling charms created by a number of big-name jewelry and fashion designers throughout the month of May with proceeds benefiting two children’s charities.

Martin Thomas Gatins, a senior vice president at Cartier North America and one of the key organizers of the industry’s annual Gem Awards, died Friday at the age of 61 following a five-year battle with leukemia.