is there anything brighter than colorless diamonds set in perfectly polished platinum or shimmering white gold?

It takes a brave—and almost always blond—actress to rock a yellow dress on the red carpet. But funny girl Leslie Mann has just the kind of playful personality to pull it off. And how perfectly did the emerald Kimberly McDonald earrings accent her hazel eyes?… At the NAACP Image Awards, Taraji P. Henson, the star of…

Have you heard? Big earrings are back in a big way. They were abundant in the 2015 runway shows: Tibi’s RTW collection championed single hoops and solo shoulder-dusters; Miu Miu’s fall show was bursting with chunky floral styles; Céline’s resort line showcased enormous crystal chandelier styles. Best of all: Statement earrings are easy for jewelers…

8311½ W. Third St., Los Angeles There’s more to shopping in Los Angeles than Rodeo Drive, Robertson Boulevard, and the Sunset Strip. One recently emerged destination is West Third Street, which—in addition to funky boutiques and healthy brunch spots—must boast more cold-pressed juice bars than any mile in America. So sip your $12 blend of kale,…

“Strong lines and geometric shapes feel so fresh right now.” —Senior editor Emili Vesilind     1. This 14k gold bangle—featuring a single baguette-cut diamond—is minimalism perfected. (Jemma Wynne, $5,670, jemmawynne.com)   2. The graduated green tourmaline in this ring adds a cool pop of color to a familiar silhouette. (EF Collection, $2,750, efcollection.com) 3. I love the unexpected pairing of boho…

The 77th annual American Gem Society Conclave in New Orleans was a beads-and-bourbon-infused celebration of the nation’s finest jewelers. Click here to read editor-in-chief Victoria Gomelsky’s full report from the yearly retail-focused conference.       Billy Craig, owner of Craig’s Fine Jewelry in Ridgefield, Conn., with Forevermark’s Natalie Humphrey   Former AGS Board of…

Model Emily Doyle may not have the world’s longest hair but what it lacks in length we made up for in height at our June cover shoot, where her fab futuristic bouffant served as the perfect foil to the season’s diamond-studded gold baubles, many of them sourced from exhibitors at the JCK Las Vegas show.…

Few jewelers embodied the exuberance of the post–World War II era better than Bulgari. Founded in 1884, the Roman jewelry house hit its stride in the ’50s and ’60s, when its “distinctive style, unique aesthetics, and fine craftsmanship earned it a reputation among the master jewelers of the world,” says Terry Chu, deputy head of…

A lifelong attraction to goldsmithing has kept A.J. Boore at Bremer Jewelry for nearly two decades At Bremer Jewelry, a family-owned business with stores in Peoria and Bloomington, Ill., on-staff goldsmith A.J. Boore arrived at the store as an apprentice nearly 20 years ago and has been at the bench ever since. JCK: What made…

WHO, WHAT, WEARABLE JUNE by Netatmo Sun worshippers now have a way to determine when they’re catching too many rays. JUNE by Netatmo measures your sun exposure by gauging the UV index ­wherever you are. With its proprietary smartphone app, JUNE lets you know when to reapply sunscreen or head indoors. What we liked: The…

Apps designed to create eye-popping photos on the go A picture may be worth a thousand words. But in the social media age, a photo artfully enhanced by a great app might be worth just a smidgen more. Creativity is the most valuable currency on photo-based social sites such as Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook; the…

The inaugural VicenzaOro Dubai show proved that beauty blooms in the desert Matteo Marzotto thinks of Fiera di Vicenza as a tree. “We have to be rooted in Italy,” said the group’s president on opening day of the debut VicenzaOro Dubai. “But…our arms have to go around the world.” Dubai, he explained, is “the belly…

Since its move to Mandalay Bay in 2011, JCK Las Vegas has committed to improving the show experience for buyers—with much success It’s been five years since JCK Las Vegas and its sister events, LUXURY and Swiss Watch, vacated the Sands Expo & Convention Center for bigger, brighter digs at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center.…

Check out the Elite Enclave section of the LUXURY show May 26–June 1 at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center. Above:1. Zi Ran ring in 18k gold with wood, 0.49 ct. t.w. tsavorites, 0.3 ct. t.w. pink sapphires, 0.12 ct. t.w. yellow sapphires, and 0.11 ct. t.w. diamonds; $5,102; Yewn at Luxe Intelligence, NYC; 212-398-9700; yewn.com…

The 13th annual Swiss Watch show opens May 29 in Las Vegas The advent of the smartwatch era has had a curious effect on the traditional watch industry: Sud­­denly, timepieces—connected or not—are the talk of the town. That bodes well for the 40-plus brands exhibiting at the Swiss Watch show in Las Vegas, running May…

in a frank interview, gia president susan jacques and chief lab and research officer tom moses address recent industry controversies and the institute’s future.

The recycled diamonds trade has become a huge, under-the-radar market. But how is it affecting the industry—and consumers who may get lowballed? In an oft-cited, frequently recycled 1982 Atlantic article, Edward Jay Epstein spoke of his troubles trying to unload a diamond on 47th Street. “Retail jewelers,” he declared, “prefer not to buy back diamonds…

Kick back with one or more of the titles on our essential reading list for jewelers Caught up in the day-to-day duties of retailing, it can be easy to lose sight of the fact that, as a ­jeweler, you’re selling one of the world’s most culturally significant art forms, boasting a history that unfurls all…

On the surface, food trucks and jewelers have little in common. Burgers and ice cream cones, after all, are nothing like diamond rings and custom pendants. But dig deeper and these seemingly disparate businesses trek a similar path: Chasing consumers and battling intense competition in a fast-­turning marketplace, both face comparable challenges in sales, operations,…

How online ­jewelers are luring shoppers to their brands in reality: 1. Pop-ups: Often standalone spaces—though they may be part of a larger retail event or installation—pop-ups, such as BaubleBar’s (above), offer insight into factors like how location affects foot traffic. 2. Stores within a store: A retail experiment as old as the days of…

How online jewelry brands are adding bricks to their clicks—and what the industry can learn from them Since the dawn of e-commerce, there has never been more crossover between the physical and online retail channels. But unlike the early years, when traditional retailers added online shopping to their offerings, formerly pure-play online outlets now want…

Five authentic, visual, and ­attention-grabbing ways to tout your store’s anniversary on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram: 1. Hold a campaign for the funniest caption to a couple’s anniversary photo. 2. Compare yesteryear to modern times by featuring photos of best-selling jewelry then vs. now or sharing historical images of the shop or local community. 3.…

The wheels continue spinning in Jay Klos’ energetic mind. The owner of Florence, Ala.–based Grogan Jewelers is looking forward to celebrating his store’s centennial anniversary this June with a spirited event spotlighting the business’s longevity and community ties. He’s considering raffling off a car or staging a giveaway of ten 1 ct. diamonds. “Whatever I…

Is the family jeweler going out of business? To many in the fine jewelry business, the hard-sell marketing language that appeared on the website of Oklahoma City’s Samuel Gordon Jewelers would have been unthinkable prior to the company’s January announcement that it had decided to shut its doors. “Deepest Discounts of the Sale! Up to…

By stocking gems and jewels that are sustainably and ethically sourced, you are boosting your potential for sales, attracting millennial buyers, and doing right by the trade The federal government’s proposed regulations for the seafood industry, which would require the trade to trace its products from harvest or production to the point where they enter…

Building a designer jewelry collection using pre-vetted vendors is catching on Back in the day, small, unknown designers could wrangle an appointment with a high-profile buyer—whether through a connection or by simply refusing to take no for an answer—and sell a collection based solely on a few samples and a dream. But in today’s oversaturated…

CAN’T-MISS COLLECTION True Story Rio Tinto recently unveiled a batch of new designs for its 2015 Diamonds With a Story campaign whose aim is to impress upon retailers the importance of featuring great design in diamond jewelry. Pieces from Sandy Leong, Jennifer Dawes of Dawes Design, Suzanne Kalandjian of Suzanne Kalan, and Matthew Campbell Laurenza…

HOT STOCK TIP Irregular Season Bizzotto’s new Pebbles collection is laden with irregular cuts of gemstones that translate into one-of-a-kind looks that are delicate, organic, and—best of all—accessibly priced. The line features necklaces and earrings, but it’s the rings that prove irresistible. Stone choices include cognac diamonds, sapphires, and rubies.   TREND GAME Lobe Lights…

realm debuts a line of 18k gold vermeil and apm monoco offers trendy looks in silver and cz.

HOT STOCK TIP Stack Time Lagos’ new 18k gold Covet stacking rings truly live up to their name: Available in 23 SKUs, the designs range from super-slim bands to gemstone-accented styles to substantial, lustrous all-gold varieties—starting at just $200 retail.   CAN’T-MISS COLLECTION Double Impact Malibu, Calif., neighbors Tamara Rahaminov Goldfiner and Irit Ehrlich—the designers…

new jacket designs from kismet by milka, plus the unstoppable dancing diamond.

“I wanted the person looking at these to never be able to take their eyes off of them,” says designer Payal Shah, owner of jewelry firm (and LUXURY exhibitor) L’Dezen by Payal Shah. Mission accomplished. The pastel-hued ear candy captures the eye with a host of unique attributes, including an impossibly flowing silhouette and a…

A stylish woman feels free to mix and match. Wear Hermès with J.Crew. Tuck Italian silk into French denim. Pair an evening bag from your former ­husband with jewelry from your lover. In 1965, opera star Maria Callas attended a London soirée carrying a yellow gold and diamond basketweave clutch that her ex, Italian industrialist…

On being born into the Charriol brand Coralie Charriol Paul admits she’s been in the jewelry business pretty much since she was born. That’s just how things work in the Charriol family: Her father, Philippe, founded the brand in 1983 and runs the company; mom Marie-Olga works in public relations; Coralie’s brother, Alexandre, serves as…

how the designer parlayed a fashion background and spirited sense of style into a serious jewelry brand.

What’s trending and who’s advertising in the May issues Elle Pushing:• Gold-plated brass bracelets; gold pinky rings (“Clean Energy…laser-sharp cutouts and athletics-inspired silhouettes”)• Crystal-studded choker; raffia handbag with ­crystal and pearl accents (“Time to Reflect”) Advertisers:Chanel, David Yurman, Van Cleef & Arpels, Cartier, Tiffany & Co., Bulgari, John Hardy, Piaget, Roberto Coin, Alor, Shinola, Hearts…

Peter Engel’s path from salesman to CEO of the country’s second-largest jewelry chain Peter Engel has spent three decades at Fred Meyer Jewelers, the second-largest jewelry chain in the United States, with 327 stores, operating under the Fred Meyer and Littman nameplates. Since 1999, the jeweler has been a division of The Kroger Co. grocery…

A third-generation jeweler realizes it’s a privilege, not a right, to become part of a family business When Ryan Krasner joined the family business, San Diego’s Harold Stevens Jewelers, “it wasn’t an instant romance,” his mother, co-owner Joy Krasner, recalls. “I would say it took a good year to become passionate about it. And after…

The store shed its mom-and-pop trappings but retained its friendly West Texas ways 1. What has been your most memorable sale? I had a lady who needed a 4 mm square stone; she thought she’d like it to be rose colored. I was talking to her about sapphires and tourmalines in the $100 to $400…

Custom is king at this high-tech, hands-on shop A booming custom department is the bedrock of Phoenix-based Schmitt Jewelers’ business. So when brothers and co-owners Tim and Tom Schmitt (whose respective wives, Ginnie and Erin, are also co-owners) decided to renovate the store from top to bottom in 2013, it seemed only natural to put…

Market conditions are more muted than initially projected for midyear. Turmoil in the Middle East and Ukraine continues to foster more caution and restraint. Slower spending in China is just one of several conditions that could trigger a price correction in the ruby market. With current ruby prices greatly limiting consumer access, demand for colored…

We spoke with Unity Marketing president Pam ­Danziger, an expert on the affluent market, about her predictions of a luxury drought and how the industry should react. JCK: Why are you seeing a luxury drought? Danziger: There are two factors. The first is the aging of the population. Baby boom consumers are seven, eight years…

The top stories for April. Don’t miss a headline! Sign up for our daily newsletter at jckonline.com/newsletters/subscribe. 1. Theft May Rank Among Industry’s Largest Ever The heist, ­during which 72 safe deposit boxes in London’s Hatton Garden district were looted of some $300 million in cash and gems, drew comparisons to the criminal feats of…

True to form, the 77th annual American Gem Society Conclave, held April 22–25 in New Orleans, delivered on its reputation for providing retail-focused education against the backdrop of a ­rollicking good time. Memorable for its Crescent City setting, which included a slew of decadent Cajun meals and the requisite masquerade ball, the conference opened with…

Welcome to the June issue, the annual show issue for JCK Las Vegas! As always, this year’s edition reflects the excitement around the JCK show, with nearly 250 pages packed with terrific editorial and stunning ads. It follows fast on the heels of JCK’s May issue, which rocked a 330-page portfolio! I’m so proud of…

In the summer of 1999, a fledgling guidebook company called Get Cultured paid me $2,000 to travel around Southeast Asia—from Bangkok to Hanoi to Singapore and back to Bangkok—and write about the region’s sights and sounds. After two months of touring on the skimpiest of budgets, I had filled a stack of notebooks with my…

1. Shows Change is coming to JCK Las Vegas. With a new floor plan divided into 21 neighborhoods designed to give more space to the most-trafficked areas—including a fashion jewelry pavilion dubbed Now/Next—the show, which is celebrating its fifth year at Mandalay Bay, is evolving to reflect the new realities of the jewelry business. Trend-conscious…

before you hit the aisles at mandalay bay, consult our guide to the redesigned show floor.