In 1957, Woolworth’s heiress/celebrated jewelry collector Barbara Hutton commissioned Cartier to design a diamond and onyx tiger brooch (not the house’s iconic panther!). Since then, Cartier’s tigers have become collector darlings. “There is something magical about the tiger that, even in the form of jewelry, gives us protective presence,” says Terry Chu, deputy head of…

Enrique Marroquin has been a goldsmith for 35 years. For the past six, he has worked at Tiny Jewel Box in Washington, D.C., where estate and antique jewelry is a big draw. Marroquin says new advances in technology make it possible to better repair old heirlooms. JCK: What’s your most indispensable tool—hand or mechanical? Enrique Marroquin:…

Follow these guidelines to take full advantage of the Web’s hottest social media site Having garnered more than 70 million users in less than five years, Pinterest is the belle of the social media ball. And for retailers, it’s one of the most effective social platforms when it comes to marketing to women. According to…

Global economic uncertainty didn’t prevent jewelers from attending March’s Hong Kong International Jewellery Show The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) has branded its city as the “gateway to Asia,” and for many attendees, the 32nd annual Hong Kong International Jewellery Show—held March 4–8 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre—really is the entrée…

The events calendar at JCK Las Vegas is chock-full of fun industry get-togethers It’s often said that business deals are done during the off-hours—on the golf course, around the dinner table, or, in the case of JCK Las Vegas, at one of the many events that populate the show’s social calendar. Because few industries appreciate…

A refreshed show experience awaits LUXURY attendees The LUXURY show, coming to the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas May 26 to June 1, will be sporting the equivalent of a snazzy new haircut this year, with booths reflecting a sleek gray and silver design scheme. But those aren’t the only innovations on tap…

Ten years ago, a fine jeweler wouldn’t have been caught dead selling anything less than 14k gold—so clear were the lines that separated the fine end of the business from its fashionable (but, on the face, less prestigious) counterpart. Then the Great Recession struck, throwing all those hoary distinctions out the window. Alexis Bittar, Erickson…

Need to take charge of your time? Here are five apps that can help. (Above)1. Wunderlist: This app’s all about lists—including to-do lists with reminders—and allows you to share them with other people. (wunderlist.com)   2. Toggl: Toggl shows you exactly how much time you spend on tasks during the day and helps you analyze…

You’ll look for any excuse to celebrate while wearing these chic, sleek and colorful fashion jewelry staples.           CUFFS     SHELL DU JOURObsedia stone bracelet in rose gold–plated brass with natural abalone; $600; Vita Fede, Los Angeles; 213-488-0136; vitafede.com   ANIMAL ARMLeopard White Bangle in silver with black rhodium, black…

We know you’re short on time, so we’ll be brief. As a jewelry retailer, you’re juggling customers, ­employees, a business, and even—could it be true?—your family and personal life. If only there were a few more hours in the day. That’s not going to happen, so your only ­alternative is to better manage the hours…

Many schools don’t offer undergraduate coursework in family business ­management but do have professional or executive ­education programs—everything from one-day presentations to webinar access. Here are five of the best. 1. Babson College (Babson Park, Mass., 781-239-4354, babson.edu): The executive education branch presents family-centered programs regularly. This year it will feature a five-day module showing…

ready to take the reins at your parents’ jewelry store? hone your business and interpersonal skills at these universities before you step behind the counter.

Money has never been cheaper. And finally, it’s easier to come by. Your relationship with your banker is a critical component of growing your profits, and improving financial options and opportunities mean now is the time to reconsider this pivotal aspect of your business. Jewelers are reporting that interest rates on working capital loans—a primary…

If there’s a single marketing element that’s imperative to nail in modern retailing, it’s photography. Crisp, well-lit product photographs are the beating heart of multichannel retailing. The brick-and-click concept relies on appealing to consumers online. And in the absence of a flesh-and-bones salesperson, it’s the photos that sell the baubles. The world’s top jewelry e-commerce…

Pony up for a good photographer, allow your images to breathe, choose the ideal font—and you just might create the perfect print ad. At the least, our guide will get you close. Don Draper, the dapper protagonist on AMC’s Mad Men, once said, “Advertising is based on one thing: happiness.” The perfectly imperfect character—who possessed…

The five top-selling jewelry shops on Etsy: 1. AppleLatteA team of five artists in South Korea, AppleLatte offers whimsical fashion jewelry featuring animals, letters, and more, much of it priced under $50. (etsy.com/shop/applelatte) 2. DistinctlyIvy As the owner of Etsy’s top-selling U.S.-based handmade jewelry store, Ivy Presho of Spokane, Wash., crafts hand-stamped name necklaces and…

the site has emerged as a compelling place for jewelry retailers to spot new talent and source fresh, uncommon styles.

Wondering what to look for at JCK? Let these Vegas-bound retailers be your guides. Attendees heading to this year’s JCK Las Vegas are feeling pretty good. With the economy on better footing, gas prices and unemployment rates down, and jewelry sales moving along at a healthy clip, buyers who spoke to JCK prior to the…

prepare yourself for sexy, swingy earrings, cool chokers, and bangin’ boho beads. the fashion forecast is in, and the ’70s and ’80s are back. then again, were they ever really gone?

CAN’T-MISS COLLECTION He’s on a Scroll Alishan Halebian’s new diamond ring collection features petite diamond centers in colorless and natural hues with entry retail prices starting at just $1,000. Numbering some 50 SKUs, the line aims to appeal to young shoppers (or stacking-ring lovers). Look for the artist’s signature scroll effect in the shanks and…

SHELF IMPROVEMENT Talking to Hue In February, Gemworld International, ­publisher of the pricing-oriented GemGuide, introduced its World of Color communication system to buyers at the Tucson, Ariz., gem shows. Two years in the making, the $495 system consists of a master comparison book brimming with more than 1,600 colors based on the Munsell color system…

CAN’T-MISS COLLECTION Louvre It Frederic Duclos’ new Louvre collection offers a wearable homage to the famous pyramid structure that fronts the legendary museum. Made in silver with 14k gold–plated accents, Louvre debuted in January with three SKUs, but expect to find more at JCK Las Vegas. Retail prices start at $200, and buy-in is $2,000.…

TREND GAME Now Ear This Ear climbers that point outward like comets or creep up the ear like vines are enjoying a popularity that doesn’t appear to be waning anytime soon. ­Catapulted to must-have status by designers like Jack Vartanian, the looks are also being celebrated by indie artists and manufacturers alike. Modern and chic…

CAN’T-MISS COLLECTION Ice Dream Unlike many East Coasters, Madstone designer Kerri Halpern has a positive takeaway from ­winter: her Melting Ice collection. Inspired by—what else?—dripping icicles, the whimsical styles feature myriad tiny stones like Paraiba tourmaline and diamonds. Retail prices start at $1,900. Melting Ice open ring in 18k gold with 0.52 ct. t.w. diamonds;…

Italian designer Roberto Coin has been creating whimsical critter-themed jewelry for his Animalier collection for years. But depicting the famously flamboyant parrot required some contemplation. “I thought about doing it many times,” Coin says. “But I didn’t know what I wanted to make.” Ultimately, he settled on a ring, but nailing its proportions—so it would…

Big enough for you? Large costume jewelry was certainly on trend in the mid-1960s. Many items, like massive acrylic flowers, were best donned during the day. Others, strictly at night. And some, such as the Jack Gilbert rhinestone collar on model Veruschka in this shot from the April 15, 1966, issue of Vogue, weren’t meant…

Marching to the beat of his own drum Many jewelry designers get their start in the fashion industry. Some come from a retail background. Alex Soldier, however, has an especially intriguing first career: computer engineer. And it’s served him better than you might imagine. “Every time I design, I envision the technical aspects as well…

The success of Dannijo, the luxury accessories line created by sisters ­Danielle Snyder and Jodie Snyder Morel, is as much due to the fine art of balance as to the fine art of the pieces themselves. There’s the alchemy of the siblings’ sensibility—“Jodie is more classic/sophisticated, while I’m more rock ’n’ roll and bohemian,” explains…

Elle Pushing:• Carved turquoise pendant necklace; turquoise and gold cabochon rings (“Its pastel color is seen as a symbol of heaven on earth”)• Double-sided cube lapis studs; lapis lazuli bronze ring (“The stone’s tried-and-true blue hue will prove to be every bit as ­classic…as your favorite denim”) Advertisers:Cartier, Bulgari, Pomellato, Rolex, Casato Roma, Alor, TAG…

Douglas Hucker has dedicated his life to the jewelry business. His varied résumé includes stints teaching at GIA, serving as director of marketing for Krementz and Co., and running The Registry, an estate jewelry com­pany.?Since 1997 (with a short gap), he has headed the Dallas-based American Gem Trade Association. Last summer, Hucker won the American…

Growing up, Wayne Addessi, owner of Addessi Jewelers in Ridgefield, Conn., worked part time in his father’s jewelry stores. But his first official day in the business came as a surprise to his dad, Rick, who at the time owned the business with his brother, John. “He had been asking me to work there, and…

the founder and ceo shares what makes her store—and customer service—so special.

why the st. augustine, fla., store owner thinks jewelry retail is ripe for reinvention.

Check out the newest designer talent in the Design Center at JCK Las Vegas, May 29–June 1.           Ring in 18k yellow gold and silver with 1.7 cts. t.w. diamonds; $8,450; Dao Fournier, Jacksonville Beach, Fla.; 912-399-4168; daofournier.com     Grid scribble earrings in oxidized sterling silver and 14k and 18k gold…

Smartwatches were the talk of Baselworld. But for serious buyers, the pull of the past—in some cases, the ancient past—makes analog technology hard to resist.                BLUE DIALS/BLUE STRAPS PanoMaticLunar in 40 mm stainless steel case on blue calfskin leather strap; $11,500; Glashütte Original, Weehawken, N.J.; 866-203-8699; glashuette-original.com   1681 in…

“Shake It Off” singer Taylor Swift flaunted her gorgeous gams in an ombré teal Elie Saab ball gown–miniskirt hybrid and supertrendy jewels—iridescent black opals by her favorite jeweler, Lorraine Schwartz—at the Grammys.… At the 2015 Academy Awards, Lupita Nyong’o, Oscar’s reigning Best Supporting Actress (12 Years a Slave) accessorized her pearl-icious Francisco Costa for Calvin…

Sometimes less is more. This is not one of those times. So stack those bracelets, bring on the big necklaces, and don’t forget to add a cocktail ring or two (or three…or four). Photographs by Greg Sorensen. Styling by Brooke Magnaghi.         PUMP UP THE GEMOur color theory? You can never have…

Turquoise turns up in jewelry designers’ summer collections as sure as tulips in the spring. Found in shades ranging from Tiffany blue to lime green, the gem is a favorite for the tropical-water imagery it evokes. And with the closure of the Sleeping Beauty mine in Arizona, availability of quality goods is poised to plummet…

2306 12th Ave. S., Nashville Like many second children, Hero was unplanned. In 2006, Claudia Robertson Fowler (pictured, left) opened Haven: Sanctuary of Style in Franklin, Tenn.; it quickly became one of the town’s go-to spots for posh runway fashion. But she never had concrete plans for a second store—until she was dining with her husband…

“These less-precious pieces easily mix and mingle with fine jewels.” —Managing editor Melissa Rose Bernardo 1. Micromosaics of seed pearls dot these one-of-a-kind Italian-made jade, ruby, and amethyst danglers. (Percossi Papi, $935, percossipapi.com)           2. Stack this groovy octagon-shape bracelet or wear it as a striking standalone piece. (Vita Fede, $390, vitafede.com)   3. This brass charmer pays homage to the colorful confetti Lucite jewels of…

Model Lisa Jackson channeled Talitha Getty, Stevie Nicks, and Cher when she starred in this issue’s cover shoot, an ode to the 1970s fashions and bohemian style that ruled the runways this spring. Throughout six outfit changes, from barely-there tube tops to stylish denim, she was bedecked in layer upon layer of the season’s sexiest…

Mechanical wonders, diamond-encrusted guitars, synthetic diamonds, and celebrities—Baselworld 2015 was an elegant and educational affair.           BASELWORLDSwiss Federal Councillor Johann Schneider-Ammann and the Swatch Group’s Marc Hayek talk timepieces at the opening ceremony. BASELWORLDChow Tai Fook’s Alex Wong, Gibson’s Mark Liu, Coronet’s Aaron Shum, and Guinness’ Richard Stenning toast Coronet’s record-setting…

On March 17, Marvin Beasley, former chairman of ­Helzberg Diamonds, become president and CEO of ­moissanite manufacturer Charles & Colvard Ltd., replacing Randy McCullough, who is retiring. Beasley has served on the company’s board since 2009. JCK: You have been retired since 2009. Is this an interim position? Marvin Beasley: I wouldn’t have taken this…

Welcome to JCK’s biggest edition of the year: our spectacular, 330-page, pre-show issue! As in years past, we hope you enjoy every page, from the gorgeous glossy ads to the info-packed (and beautiful) editorial pages. The lead-up to this year’s JCK Las Vegas show season has been exciting and action-packed. Last month’s highlight was the…

About a week before I descended on Basel, Switzerland, in mid-March to attend my (cough, cough) 13th Baselworld fair, I spent a few days in Mexico City with my boyfriend, Jim. We made the most of our long weekend—we admired the Diego Rivera murals at the Palace of Fine Arts; ate 602-day-old mole at Pujol,…

1. Shows While connected devices and pricing dominated conversations in the watch halls at Baselworld, the jewelry hall at the Swiss show was noticeably quiet, as exhibitors bemoaned the slowdown in China and the standstill in the Russian economy. There was at least one good thing about the lack of crowds: plenty of elbow room…