At the end of every year, I like to spotlight my favorite articles from the past 12 months on jewelry and related topics that had the nerve to not appear on JCKonline.
We have a lot of great selections this year—though I’m sure there’s much I missed, and I apologize for that. But I hope the ones I did include give you food for thought. Some involve dicey social issues that many of us would rather not think about (and yet we have to). There are scandals and crimes—but also celebrations of the companies and people that make this industry great. And if you’re feeling philosophical, there are even some rules for life (with a jewelry twist, of course).
Hope you enjoy these articles as much as I did. Happy reading.
COLORED STONES
How “Healing” Crystals Are Painful to Mine
The Wall Street Journal investigates how so-called “healing” rocks come out of the ground—and, yep, it found issues.
Global Climate Change Is Directly Affecting the Gem & Jewelry Industry
Developing countries are increasingly dealing with flooding and weather crises. “We need to think about how this might affect mining communities…[and] supply chains,” writes Gary Roskin.
The Curse of the Stolen Amethyst
How the Delhi Purple Sapphire supposedly caused a “century of tragedy”—and why its curse may not yet be over.
DIAMONDS
Lab Diamonds Are Too Perfect for Their Own Good
The Atlantic thinks that lab-grown diamonds could increase overall gem desire, if “industry players were smart about it.” (We’re still waiting.)
Diamonds Brought Prosperity to Botswana. Women Workers Are Paying a Heavy Price
An investigation finds serious violations of standards in some sightholder factories.
Looking Beyond Diamonds and Money
The New York Times interviews Chie Murakami, the founder of Diamonds for Peace.
RETAIL
How Costco Hacked the American Shopping Psyche
America’s third-largest retailer is often likened to a cult, writes The New York Times, because once people “enter the fold, they rarely leave.”
Why Online Shopping Makes You So Happy
Time looks at the psychology of “friction-less” shopping—and what to do if you have a problem.
Paralyzed by Choice
On the other hand, online browsing can turn something as simple as finding a bedframe into an ordeal, says Business Insider.
Why Stores Still Spark Joy Around the Holidays
Today you don’t need to go to a store to shop. Yet most people do anyway. Retail Dive investigates why.
The Sneaky, Smart Reasons Malls Have No Windows
They range from a lower electricity costs to not wanting customers to know what time it is, according to CNN.
Tiffany’s Staff Exits Test LVMH’s Turnaround Playbook
A former Tiffany & Co. employee told me people at his old company were “shaken up” by this Bloomberg piece, which lays out how “the most expensive luxury acquisition on record doesn’t appear to be going according to plan.”
SCANDALS
Jack of Diamonds: A Colorful Conman’s House of Cards Comes Tumbling Down
The story of Jack Kronis, a “silver-tongued conman” who’s been charged with running a diamond investment scam. “This is all I really know how to do,” he told investigators.
The Mystery of the “Vanishing” Diamond Dealer
Jeweler and diamond expert Vashi Domínguez disappeared soon after his business collapsed. The Guardian tries to find him.
He Called Himself the Timepiece Gentlemen. Now He’s Facing Hard Time.
Business Insider tracks the rise, and likely fall, of the YouTube influencer, charged with running a Ponzi scheme.
SUSTAINABILITY
The Dark Side of Gifting Gold This Christmas
While everyone knows about blood diamonds, “the role of blood gold is more insidious but no less ruinous,” says Time.
How Tiffany & Co. Helped Make Mining More Sustainable
The little-known story of how the noted retailer helped found an important mining sustainability group.
WATCHES
The Watch Industry’s Role in Your Speeding Ticket
The stopwatch made it possible for police to monitor how fast something was going, says The New York Times.
Watch Execs Need to Learn to Respect Journalistic Boundaries: An Open Letter
JCK editor-in-chief Victoria Gomelsky writes in Robb Report that executives need to recognize the value of an independent press. This reporter cosigns.
Does Rolex Own a Newspaper?
Apparently, the foundation that owns Rolex does indeed own an influential Swiss newspaper, and, according to watch blog Coronet, it does not seem that interested in journalistic boundaries.
50 Guiding Principles
Substack ScrewDownCrown looks at how 50 basic life principles can apply to watch collecting. Seriously. A fun read.
MISCELLANEOUS
Sometimes Jewelry Accidents Are Just Waiting to Happen
The New York Times warns that gemstones have a habit of popping out, and gives some tips to prevent that from happening.
The End of an Era: John Kennedy Reflects on 32 Years at JSA
The industry’s top crime-fighter talks with National Jeweler on his three decades heading the Jewelers’ Security Alliance. A lovely article about a true gentleman.
She Uses Jewelry to Help Identify the Nameless
“Forensic jeweler” Maria Maclennan has a gruesome but important job: She uses jewelry expertise to identify disaster victims and other missing people.
Making the Band: An Oral History of the Livestrong Bracelet
Though it might not have been carried by JCK readers, the Livestrong bracelet was once “arguably the world’s most popular piece of jewelry,” says Texas Monthly, in an article that tells you how it got that way.
An Engagement Ring, But No Fiancé
A woman loses her boyfriend to cancer, but still has his ring.
Customer Service Hits a New Low
Chatbots have now became the future of how we interact with companies. And you know who isn’t it happy about it? Everybody.
(Top photo: Getty Images)