It was an evening of sheer madness, professionals said as they left Christie's vast room usually reserved for Impressionist and Modern Art sales. François Curiel, the international director of the jewelry department, had just dispersed 102 jewels consigned by the movie actress Ellen Barkin.
Bling is the sound of platinum clinking against gold, the flash of light reflecting off a million-dollar rock. It is at once everything that is wrong with the world, and everything about it that is thrilling and gorgeous.
A jewel thief makes a very expensive exchange at a local store. But the store owners are coming up with a way to get their diamond back, and the man responsible, behind bars.
AMONG THE COMPANIES ON THE LIST this year, energy and defense firms jump out as the big winners--for obvious reasons. But the 100 companies represented here also offer a few less intuitive success stories, businesses that don't operate in a booming industry yet manage to generate their own momentum.