Cartier store. Credit: Arsenie Krasnevsky/Shutterstock.comCartier, Van Cleef & Arpels Accuse Aventura Store of Pirating Trademarked Jewelry
World-famous jewelers Cartier International and Van Cleef & Arpels have set their sights on an Aventura jewelry business after allegedly discovering knock-off versions of their luxury rings, earrings and necklaces at the South Florida store.
May 08, 2019 at 11:23 AM
3 minute read
French luxury jewelry distributors Cartier International AG and Van Cleef & Arpels zeroed in on an Aventura jewelry business Monday after visits from a mystery shopper, accusing it in a federal lawsuit of imitating their luxury rings, necklaces and earrings.
The jewelry giants claim Scott King Inc. — known as Florida Diamond Brokers and King Jewelers — copied at least five of their famed designs and collections, previously flaunted by celebrities like Elizabeth Taylor, Frank Sinatra and more recently, Kylie Jenner, according to the complaint in the Southern District of Florida.
Cartier, VCA and their American branches in New York claim some of the pirated products included trademarks the companies have owned from as early as 1939 and 1968.
The Aventura business was allegedly charging between $900 and $1,125 for counterfeit earrings and more than $6,000 for knock-off bracelets — similar to what Cartier and VCA offer on their websites. The defendant did not respond to requests for comment before deadline.
The plaintiffs' undercover shopper visited multiple times, according to the complaint, and allegedly heard one employee admit the products weren't authentic but were instead “inspiration” pieces made to look like the original designs. The lawsuit claims the employee also said the pieces weren't in the store's catalog, because its suppliers ”don't want to get in trouble.”
Cartier claims its 170-year reputation could be damaged by the alleged infringement, while VCA claims its brand is of “incalculable value.”
The plaintiffs seek the store's profits and up to $2 million in damages for each fake product sold, alleging counterfeiting, trademark and trade dress infringement — which refers to a product's visual appearance or packaging. They also ask that the court to order Scott King Inc. to destroy the jewelry and recall any pieces distributed to other vendors.
Counsel to Cartier and VCA, Mark Stein of Mark Stein Law in Aventura, did not respond to a request for comment before deadline.
Read the full complaint:
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