To quote the queen of pop, put your troubles down; it’s time to celebrate. Here’s all the jewelry you’ll need. Beaded Necklaces (Top) Heishi beaded necklace in 18k yellow gold with 0.5 ct. t.w. diamonds, shell, and turquoise, $4,400, Jenna Blake, info@jennablake.com, jennablake.com 24k gold Luxe collection one-of-a-kind beaded necklace with blue sapphires and diamonds, $25,500,…

Improving your gold sourcing isn’t easy or cheap. But it’s possible. The jewelry industry is full of problematic materials, from conflict diamonds to Burmese rubies. But arguably the most problematic material is also the most common: gold. The yellow metal is frequently used in ­money laundering and has funded uprisings in the Democratic Republic of…

How the right in-store music mix can boost customer loyalty—and sales Music for retail stores has come a long way since the days of cheesy, easy-listening “elevator music” or staticky FM radio shot through with blaring commercials and DJ patter. In an era when consumers are seeking engaging and interactive in-store experiences, creating a unique…

More isn’t always better—sometimes it’s just more. Before you create a new social media profile for your jewelry business, consider these 5 questions. As part of a jewelry store’s marketing mix, social media has graduated from a nice-to-have to a need-to-have tool. Platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, and Pinterest serve as high-powered marketing…

We asked five retailers to share their favorite jewelry of 2020, what clients are buying, and what they’ll be stocking the rest of the year.   Beth Kato Store manager, bridal buyer, and diamond specialist Continental Diamond Minneapolis   “Stacking rings are huge right now for wedding bands. Different metals, mixing and matching, is really,…

The luminous gem is popping up in engagement rings. Jewelers, hear us out: Start tracking this microtrend as a way to diversify your bridal business. Blank stares. Wrinkled noses. And one “Uhhhh…no,” coupled with an expression that seemed to ask, “Are you nuts?” These were the responses JCK received when we asked various pearl dealers…

Cover photography by Jason Kim Hair: Nicolas Eldin/Art Department Makeup: Charlotte Day/Art Department Stylist: Daniel Edley/Walter Schupfer Manicurist: Roseann Singleton/Art Department Model: Noel Berry/IMG Safari dress: Saint Laurent That’s a Wrap Our annual holiday survival guide, packed with dozens of made-for-gifting jewels (Top) 14k rose gold Lily earrings with 0.25 ct. t.w. diamonds, 0.48 ct. t.w.…

Cover Photography by Jason Kim Hair: Nicolas Eldin/Art Department Makeup: Charlotte Day/Art Department Stylist: Daniel Edley/Walter Schupfer Manicurist: Roseann Singleton/Art Department Model: Noel Berry/IMG Wetsuit: Roxy Glow Up Jewelry’s most luminous gem is having a major moment (Top) Power Pearl baroque pearl necklace with composite tagua and coral hand-carved flowers, pearl and jade beads, and…

TRENDS Buyers looking for insights on emerging trends in the COVID-19 era got an earful during the JCK Virtual show, held online Aug. 10–14. In a series of video talks hosted by JCK editor-in-chief Victoria Gomelsky, medallion necklaces, talismans, beaded jewelry with bold and bigger stones, custom designs, and pearls were cited as top sellers…

Remember the time. Science tells us that our brains are built to remember negative experiences better than positive ones. That’s because when emotions such as fear kick in, they focus our mental resources on enhancing those memories. From an evolutionary standpoint, it all makes sense. (If you can recall, say, the snake that bit you,…

What JCK magazine’s Victoria Gomelsky is loving this month “JCK Virtual featured a bounty of new jewels in this season’s most au courant color combination: gold paired with accents of green.” —Victoria Gomelsky, JCK editor-in-chief (Top) Smalto earrings in 18k white gold and silver with green enamel, diamonds, and 17.4 cts. t.w. lemon citrine; $4,000;…

As I write this, we’ve just concluded the JCK Virtual show, and what a success it was! The mid-August event saw more than 4,500 participants, with 3,400+ attendees and 734 exhibiting companies, who, together, brought the product discovery, expert insight, and networking of the JCK and Luxury shows to ­attendees’ computers in a way we…

The virtual version of the jewelry show brought Las Vegas to living rooms all around the world It wasn’t your typical show. But this isn’t a typical year. After deciding not to hold the JCK Las Vegas show in June, Reed Exhibitions (which owns this publication) debuted JCK ­Virtual 2020, its first online jewelry trade…

In mid-July, Gemist, a 1-year-old startup that lets consumers design their own jewelry and test-drive a prototype, secured an undisclosed investment from diamond giant De Beers Group. Here, Madeline Fraser talks with JCK about why she ­founded Gemist, why it’s different, and how she plans to go retail.  Why did you introduce Gemist? I experienced…

COMINGS AND GOINGS Regine Basha has been named CEO of New York City–based charm manufacturer Aaron Basha. She previously served as chief creative officer. She takes over from her father, Aaron, the company’s founder and namesake. Top: Beirut stack with Allah charm on beaded bracelet, gold bangle with good luck charms, gold bangle with rose…

Love Locked’s Kerry Lynn on the scent-sational connection between jewelry and wellness products Step into Love Locked, a small boutique in downtown Jersey City, N.J., and you’ll find a trendy mix of wedding and everyday jewelry from designers such as Erica Weiner, Maniamania, and La Kaiser Jewelry. You’ll also find a well-curated selection of modern apothecary…

2644½ N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago Jewelry designer Viviana Langhoff’s 3-year-old store delivers wearable art in an intimate, welcoming environment Adornment + Theory, Viviana Langhoff’s retail shop in Chicago’s Logan Square neighborhood, exudes the hip, diverse character that resides beyond its sleek glass door. The narrow 750-square-foot space is unapologetically modern with a crisp black-and-white color…

Gold medallions with ancient roots are adorned with talismanic signs and symbols (Top) Pink enamel and diamond Starburst pendant in 18k gold with 14k gold chain; $9,030; Andrea Fohrman; sales@andreafohrman.com; andreafohrman.com 5-Coin necklace with white diamonds, emerald, white pearls, and Tahitian pearls in 14k gold; $17,500; Marlo Laz; sales@marlolaz.com; marlolaz.com Alchemy Vitality Padlock in 14k…

On the eve of Yael Designs’ 20th anniversary, we chart Yehouda Saketkhou’s journey from Union Square kiosk to San Francisco giant Brilliant purples. Piercing, almost neon, blues. Searing oranges. When so much of the industry seems to be moving toward monochromatic pieces and diamonds, Yael Designs has doubled down on palette, building heart-stopping pieces around…

The Paris-born, Chicago-based designer behind Almasika and its “grown-up talisman” jewelry Talismanic jewelry has arguably never been more popular. But Almasika isn’t simply jumping on the proverbial bandwagon. Its signature collection, Le Cauri Endiamanté, is built on a beloved centuries-old symbol: the cowrie shell. “They represent spirituality, prosperity, and even fertility in many cultures around…

These extraordinary floral earrings started out as soda cans. Part of designer Anabela Chan’s Blooms collection, they were forged from recycled and refined aluminum drinking cans, then made dazzling with lab-grown and simulated gemstones. The seed idea for the collection “all began at my kitchen table at home in London with a can of Sanpellegrino…

CAN’T-MISS COLLECTION Under Her Spell For obvious reasons, talismanic ­jewels, designed to protect the wearer, have taken on new resonance in 2020. Harwell Godfrey designer Lauren Harwell Godfrey has always woven protective symbols into her designs—her new Hexed capsule collection incorporates gemstones that promote healing. Each of the four pendants in the collection pairs two…

CAN’T-MISS COLLECTION Love for Scale Gold mania in the fine jewelry industry has a downside: “It has narrowed the offerings to pieces that are very diminutive and delicate,” says Austin, Texas–based jewelry designer Nak Armstrong. “I craved designing in larger-scale silhouettes again.” Armstrong’s latest collection, Nakard, showcases of-the-moment stones (think pink opal, black spinel, and…

Intimate, informal, and interactive, the social platform’s livestream feature is a cool new way to connect with consumers From filters that shoot cartoon hearts onto your face to the mishmash of Stories and the YouTube-like IGTV, Instagram is packed with features. But when it comes to engaging followers in an intimate way, nothing on the…

WHO, WHAT, WEARABLE The Apollo If you could strap on a bracelet that was guaranteed to help you improve your focus and cognitive functions—and achieve a deeper state of calm—you’d do it, right? Neuroscientists and University of Pittsburgh professors David Rabin and Greg Siegle claim they’ve made that fantasy a real-life possibility with their invention…

Model Marisa Berenson makes the most of the ’70s yellow gold trend in larger-than-life animal-themed Tiffany bracelets Yves Saint Laurent once called supermodel Marisa Berenson “the girl of the ’70s.” Berenson, who was discovered by legendary fashion editor Diana Vreeland, was also the granddaughter of influential couturiere Elsa Schiaparelli. And it was Schiaparelli who gave…