The “Tiffany Céleste” collection reimagines designer Jean Schlumberger’s interpretations of the universe.
MK Diamonds’ Julio Ramirez Dies at 43
He succumbed to an undiagnosed illness with symptoms similar to the coronavirus.
Los Angeles—Julio Ramirez, a husband and father of two and a beloved member of the M.K. Diamonds family, died in his sleep March 16 following an undiagnosed illness with symptoms similar to the coronavirus.
He was 43.
Ramirez worked for Los-Angeles based jewelry manufacturer and its bridal brand, Natalie K, as a senior account executive. He was at the company for nearly 16 years.
According to a GoFundMe page started by M.K. Diamonds employees to support Ramirez’s family, their longtime employee fell ill after returning from a business trip to Indiana on Sunday, March 8.
The GoFundMe page details the grim odyssey of Ramirez’s illness, laying out how he was initially diagnosed with and treated for the flu but wound up in urgent care by the following Friday because his condition was worsening.
This time, a doctor diagnosed him with pneumonia via telephone. He was sent for a chest x-ray and told to call his doctor in a week. Neither the doctor nor anyone at urgent care took Ramirez’s vitals or “addressed the fact that he was having difficulty breathing,” the GoFundMe page states.
He died three days later.
KCAL9, the CBS affiliate in Los Angeles, reported that the Los Angeles County coroner’s office is not doing an autopsy because the health system that treated Ramirez, Kaiser Permanente, gave his cause of death as pneumonia.
His wife, Julie Murillo, is paying for an independent autopsy to find out if her late husband had COVID-19, the news station reported.
Tributes to Ramirez from members of the jewelry industry were all over social media; the Atlanta Jewelry Show said in a post on its Facebook page that he was known as the mayor of the show because he always greeted people as they entered.
“He will be missed by many. Prayers to his beautiful wife and sons, family, the MK family and his friends,” the post states.
Ramirez is survived by his wife Julie and their two sons.
As of Friday morning, the GoFundMe page for Ramirez’s family topped $42,000, nearing its goal of $50,000. The site remains open for donations.
The Latest
The brand also created a 100-carat lab-grown diamond necklace in honor of its centennial.
Tim Schlick has been promoted from his previous position as COO.
Meet Ben Claus—grand prize winner of For the Love of Jewelers 2023 Fall Design Challenge.
It’s the second year for the event, slated to take place in October in Toronto.
Supplier Spotlight Sponsored by GIA
Sales will be paused while the relocation takes place over the next few months.
With Ho Brothers, you can unlock your brand's true potential and offer customers the personalized jewelry experiences they desire.
“SIS x MISA Denim and Diamonds” is a collaboration between the designer and celebrity stylist Misa Hylton.
Gifts that are unique and thoughtful are top of mind this year, according to the annual survey.
The necklace is featured in the brand’s “Rebel Heart” campaign starring Adam Levine and Behati Prinsloo.
The two organizations will host a joint event, “Converge,” in September 2025.
Big changes appear to be on the horizon for the diamond miner and its parent company, Anglo American.
Padis succeeds Lisa Bridge, marking the first time the organization has had two women board presidents in a row.
Jesse Cole, founder of Fans First Entertainment, shared the “five Es” of building a fan base during his AGS Conclave keynote.
The Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar "John Mayer" was celebrated at a star-studded party in LA last week.
The announcement came as the company reported a 23 percent drop in production in Q1.
The three-time Pro Bowler continues to partner with the retailer, donating to a Detroit nonprofit and giving watches to fans.
A double-digit drop in the number of in-store crimes was offset by a jump in off-premises attacks, JSA’s 2023 crime report shows.
Inspired by the Roman goddess of love, the designer looked to the sea for her new collection.
The luxury titan posted declining sales, weighed down by Gucci’s poor performance.
The selected nine organizations have outlined their plans for the funds.
The mining company’s Diavik Diamond Mine lost four employees in a plane crash in January.
The crown introduced a dozen timepieces in Geneva, including a heavy metal version of its deep-sea divers’ watch.
Emmanuel Raheb recommends digging into demographic data, customizing your store’s communications, and retargeting ahead of May 12.
A 203-carat diamond from the alluvial mine in Angola achieved the highest price.
Ruser was known for his figural jewelry with freshwater pearls and for his celebrity clientele.