A gemstone designer has taken Goldsmiths to the High Court, alleging the British jewelry retailer copied his blueprints for a diamond with 88 facets, in what he describes as an infringement of his intellectual property.
Shmuel Cohen told the court on Dec. 23 that Watches of Switzerland Co. Ltd., trading as Goldsmiths, sold diamonds in its “Goldsmiths Brightest Diamond” range that replicate his designs. Cohen claims the retailer exploited his reputation, marketing the diamonds as exclusive to Goldsmiths, which prevented him from selling the 88-facet designs to other buyers.
Alleged Infringement and Misrepresentation
Cohen said his attempts to market the 88-facet diamonds to other retailers failed because Goldsmiths claimed exclusivity over the designs. The claim highlights the alleged misappropriation of Cohen’s goodwill and brand as a designer.
An Israeli national based in Bangkok, Cohen has over 35 years in the diamond industry and has supplied retailers such as Fraser Hart Ltd., Ernest Jones Ltd., and F. Hinds Ltd. He created the 88-facet diamond in 2015, inspired by the number 88’s significance as a symbol of luck in Chinese culture, believing it would appeal to Asian consumers.
Cohen said his company, Utopia Jewellery Co. Ltd., began supplying 88-facet diamonds to Goldsmiths in 2017. But by 2019, the retailer was sourcing similar diamonds from Utopia Diamonds Co. Ltd., allegedly without his consent. Cohen invested in Utopia Diamonds under a verbal agreement to take over the company, but claimed the owner reneged on the deal without reimbursement.
