The Jewelry Independent Summit, an educational event for jewelry entrepreneurs that focuses on the major pillars of doing business—from sales and financing to branding, manufacturing, and marketing—has announced that its third annual conference will take place Feb. 3, 2019, in New York City.

The event is open to all industry professionals, including editors, retailers, and influencers, but its programming squarely targets independent jewelry designers.  

Past summits have featured fantastic speakers, including designer Jade Trau, Barneys New York’s senior fine jewelry buyer Gurki Basra, and Angela Koh, senior market editor for T: The New York Times Style Magazine. 

And this year’s lineup does not disappoint: Speakers scheduled to appear include fine jewelry influencer and bridal consultant Stephanie Gottlieb, designer Polly Wales, Gem Jewelry Boutique owner Laura Kitsos, gemstone expert and retailer Katherine Jetter, jewelry photographer Alain Simic, EliteTraveler.com jewelry editor Manon Crespi, Vincent’s Fine Jewelry boutique owner Vincent Perugini, and Sofia Zakia jewelry collection founder Sofia Ajram.

Moderators will include fine jewelry consultant and writer Jackie LeBental and Nan Lung Palmer, a former Women’s Jewelry Association Colorado chapter president and a former senior retail buyer for David Yurman.

February’s summit will debut a new format—one that pivots one-on-one discussions instead of group panels.

The goal, according to a press release on the event, is “for each speaker to leave a larger impression on [digital attendees watching via live streaming] and audience members as a result of having focused time to hone in on their specific skill set within the jewelry category.”

As of yesterday, more than 300 jewelry brands and professionals—located in the U.S., China, New Zealand, Canada, and other countries—have registered to attend the event virtually. Streamers can tune in live and/or watch and rewind as many times as they’d like for up to 30 days after the summit (live audience members will also will receive a link to rewatch if they want).

Both live and virtual tickets for the Jewelry Independent Summit can be purchased here.

Top: Industry professionals at the 2018 Jewelry Independent Summit (photo courtesy of the Jewelry Independent Summit)

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