Mr. Simon also has interests in a chain of diamond importers, a manufacturer of casual clothing, a computerized ticket-selling operation, and the Indiana Pacers professional basketball team.

"If you're making only a few dollars at each level, the more levels you have, the better," Mr. Fischer, the diamond importer, said.

Miss Monroe, who was born on Oct. 23, 1906, in New York, was the daughter of Anna Laughlin and Dwight Monroe, a diamond importer.

He became a diamond importer and, when he died, was president of Haber-Worth Enterprises.

A diamond importer who owned a business in downtown Los Angeles, he was described as down to earth and devoutly religious.

In 1997, Matt Meis, now a 30-year veteran in the jewelry industry, was laid off from his job with a local diamond importer.

Tiffman named a firm of diamond importers in New York City.

Finally he tried to contact the diamond importers, but evidently their office was closed for the night.

Her father is president of Fullcut Manufacturers, a diamond importer in New York.

Ms. Dalfen, 23, is an executive assistant at Charles Wolf & Sons, a diamond importer and distributor in New York.