Vincent Peach’s career trajectory reads like a coming-of-age novel: Child grows up with a jeweler father and starts learning the secrets of the trade from a young age. Teen goes on to jewelry design school in Memphis, only to wind up owning an antique business for more than a decade. Adult realizes he’s in the…

What Melissa Rose Bernardo is loving this month “Live la vie bohème with gold-accented, neutral-hued fashion jewels.” —Managing editor Melissa Rose Bernardo     (Above) These supremely stackable styles offer a grown-up-glam take on that teenage staple, the friendship bracelet. (LeJu London, $14–$60, lejudesigns.com)            This cool, chunky gemstone combo—pink jasper, rutilated quartz, and smoky topaz—is a…

RECORDS When Sotheby’s sold a 12.03 ct. fancy vivid blue last November, it was dubbed the Blue Moon because it seemed like the kind of diamond that came around—well, you know. Now, seven months later, Christie’s Geneva is selling a gem in the same rarefied ballpark. On May 18 it will auction the Oppenheimer Blue…

In March, I flew to New York City to attend the Women’s Jewelry Association’s 13th annual In the Know conference. This year’s event was made all the more special because my sister, Julia, came with me. (The conference organizers—Luxury Brand Group’s Jen Cullen Williams and NPD Group’s Desiree Hanson—had hired her to design a slew…

Welcome to the annual preshow May issue of JCK, aka our “September Vogue,” as we like to (humbly) say! This year’s edition is one of our most beautiful to date, with nearly 300 pages of compelling editorial, stunning photography, and (of course) spectacular advertising. The past few months are traditionally the busiest of my year,…

May birthday babies will be green with envy scrolling through @muzoemeralds. The International Emerald Exchange lets you virtually visit the emerald region of Boyacá, Colombia, and follow the stunning stones on their mine-to-market journey.   (Inset) A 4.72 ct. heart-shape gem Workers at La Pita mine 22 cts. t.w. emeralds! 2,712 cts. t.w. rough Ready for…

WJA’s 13th annual In the Know conference in mid-March, themed “Blurring the Lines,” served up a smorgasbord of education, inspiration, and networking. Meanwhile, the Baselworld fair suffered a dip in attendance, but enthusiasm for new watches and jewels remained high. IN THE KNOW (Top) NPD Group’s Desiree Hanson, speaker Randi Zuckerberg, Synchrony Financial’s Shelly Schulz,…

COMINGS AND GOINGS >>?Hannah Connorton (pictured) has joined JCK Events as a retailer account manager for LUXURY Las Vegas and LUXURY Privé. She was most recently a senior editor for National Jeweler.   >>?Charles & Colvard, the moissanite manufacturer and seller, has sold the main assets of its Lulu Avenue direct-selling business to Yanbal USA. >>?Stacie Orloff, who served as president of Miami…

In February, Anne Bowers, an associate professor of strategic management at the University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management, published a study that found, all things being equal, consumers will pay less for an engagement ring that was involved in a divorce. Bowers (pictured) discusses her findings with JCK.  Why did consumers want to pay…

Even with a year of hype over smartwatches, the tech gadgets remain very much a niche item, and it is not clear what effect they are having on the traditional watch industry. Apple debuted its smartwatch in May 2015 with a flurry of hype, including a high-end 18k gold version. Yet indications are mixed on how…

Corey Schifter  Casale Jewelers Staten Island, N.Y. casalejewelers.net facebook.com/casalejewelers Twitter/Instagram: @casalejewelers When Cory Schifter bought the Staten Island, N.Y., store Casale Jewelers from his father in 2009, he was determined to create marketing strategies that excited local jewelry lovers. But the road to marketing greatness was rocky—in his first year of ownership, he hosted a…

Ashwin Bhindi  Sanat Bhindi  Bhindi Jewellers Artesia, Calif.  Owners bhindi.com   How do you differentiate your business from the competition? Ashwin: We have a big Indian clientele, and we’re one of the few jewelers in our area with an inventory for weddings and religious occasions. But a lot of our clientele has assimilated to the…

Q: What social network has had the biggest effect on your business? “Having a strong social media presence on Facebook and Instagram is important for our branding strategy as a whole. Our main purpose on social media is to support our local community—sharing customers’ nonprofit events and local goings-on—as well as sharing unique photos of our products that establish…

Joe Thacker Thacker Jewelry Lubbock, Texas 68, first generation Ann Thacker Thacker Jewelry Lubbock, Texas 55, first generation Amanda Thacker Thacker Jewelry Lubbock, Texas 31, second generation Amanda Thacker’s first career was about as far from jewelry as one could imagine. The 31-year-old worked as an emergency medical technician for four years after college. “I…

22B E. Andrews Dr., Atlanta by Caroline Eubanks Over the course of a few years, the image of Atlanta’s uptown Buckhead district has gone from art galleries to dive bars to luxury apartments. But the strip of shops on East Andrews Drive has remained constant—a flagship of the area’s retail community. Longtime Atlanta resident Kelly…

Sleek cabochon cuts have swiftly become the design set’s go-to stone style. Like a wearable crystal ball of color, these smooth operators perfectly capture a gem’s brilliant hues. Cool inclusions, meanwhile, are a focal point of interest, captured forever in precious dome form. Bonus: Cabs often cost less than their faceted (and more formal) counterparts.…

Since we’re suckers for sparkling chunks of drusy and slices of geodes, we had to track down Colorado-based designer Nina Nguyen for our annual fashion issue. We found her (alas, only via email!) traveling in her native Vietnam. But soon she’ll be in Vegas, at the Design Center at the JCK show, with “solid gold,…

When Naomi Sarna saw the concave natural pearl that anchors the design of this otherworldly brooch, she knew immediately what she wanted to do with it. “I said, ‘That’s the queen of the sea and she needs a crown,’?” recalls Sarna, who’s known for creating profoundly fluid shapes in her work. “I buy my pearls…

TREND GAME Kite Runner Why fly one when you can wear one? Kite-shape diamonds are rising in popularity in finished jewelry. The silhouette appeals to those in the market for one-of-a-kinds (read: millennials), while the bold look is a no-brainer for designers to use in striking settings. It’s a fresh, still-uncommon cut, and the time…

CAN’T-MISS COLLECTION Brooklyn Calling Freida Rothman’s new Industrial Finish collection channels the hipster New York City borough of Brooklyn in sterling silver and 14k gold vermeil. Pieces are accented with black rhodium with CZ to offer an understated pop of sparkle. The designer’s reflections of her humble surroundings—Rothman’s headquarters are in Brooklyn—are completed in matte…

CAN’T-MISS COLLECTION Color Corrections After 40 years on the market, Lagos’ iconic Caviar Color gemstone collection is getting a youthful boost. Now featuring bezel-set gems and one sugarloaf-cut cabochon gemstone a year (for 2016 it’s amethyst), the addition “gives our Caviar gemstone portfolio a modern update,” says designer Steven Lagos. Besides the plentiful purple stone,…

TREND GAME Staying Power Flowers continue to be perennial favorites among jewelry designers, especially in the arena of wedding jewelry. Look for oversize diamond petals haloing center stones, leafy designs on bands, and abstract flower designs in gold accented with small diamonds that offer big appeal to younger brides. Live bouquets may fade, as they…

As Miranda Priestly ­might say: Florals? For fall? Groundbreaking! Next season’s fashions are ­bursting with heavy petalwork, romantic prints, and artisanal styles. Break out the big ­earrings and the tiaras. (Yes, tiaras.) Did you feel that? The ground beneath us is shifting. It has been for some time, ever since we blurred the noun-verb divide…

The era of high-low living is upon us. In practice, it’s the ability to master the pairing of items made for the few with those made for the many. For example, a favorite blogger dons a limited-edition Chanel handbag to accessorize a Zara dress, or an interior designer pairs a custom couch with a lamp…

Photographs by Ted Morrison, Props by Catherine Peridis ALL CHOKED UP OVER THIS RED PYTHON AND BLACK VELVET COMBO (Above) Shoe by Christian Louboutin; velvet ribbon chokers in 18k gold and platinum with diamonds, $11,760–$17,850, Shay, Los Angeles, 310-962-4422, shayfinejewelry.com BLACK (RHODIUM) & WHITE (LEATHER) & RED-HOT ALL OVER Shoe by Atrous; flower ring in 18k gold with…

Gugu Mbatha-Raw It may have been February, but the Concussion actress breezed into the NAACP Image Awards like a ray of summery sunshine. While her cutout Narciso Rodriguez gown was definitely daring, the marigold shade dialed up the sweetness factor. And the yellow gold and turquoise jewelry (courtesy of California girl Irene Neuwirth) provided a…

Armed with consumer wish lists that include big-name fashion brands, colored gemstones, estate jewelry, and fill-ins like silver and pearls, retailers heading to JCK Las Vegas in June say they’re expecting a vibrant show. This year’s presidential race creeps into most conversations, to be sure, but most people who spoke to JCK don’t anticipate drastic…

Pandora was something of a godsend for jewelers during the dark days of the 2008–2009 recession. The brand kept their cash registers humming at a time when they weren’t selling much of anything. But there was always a nagging question lurking beneath the hype: How long will this last? Isn’t all this charm stuff just…

With a flat and highly volatile stock market well into its second year and uncertainty stemming from what’s being viewed as the most bizarre presidential election cycle in a generation, jewelry consumers have grown skittish. As we head toward the critical fourth quarter of 2016, many independent jewelers are facing the most challenging market since…

Without Soraya Cayen, Victor Velyan might still be focused solely on making pieces for other designers—instead of for his own acclaimed fine jewelry collection.  Cayen, owner of Cayen Collection in Carmel, Calif., was the contemporary who persuaded Velyan to make the leap from manufacturer—he was crafting collections for a bevy of brands—to full-fledged designer. And…

Employing the right people means everything to Bryan Moeller.  The manager of Edina, Minn.–based R.F. Moeller Jeweler—one of the 65-year-old family-owned company’s three retail locations in the Twin Cities area—Moeller knows employees influence his brand’s public standing. Friendly, knowledgeable, and capable team members can heighten the store’s credibility, while unfocused or abrupt employees can threaten…

Jewelry stores are closing at an alarming rate even though the category is growing. Who’s selling the bling? Meet a competitor that’s gaining momentum: the lifestyle store. Ray Griffiths has a secret for selling jewelry: Do business with stores where jewelry isn’t the main attraction. Like the time he did a trunk show in New…

PINKS ON THE IRREGULAR (Above) Cuff with salmon topaz and diamonds in 18k gold; $9,000; Suzanne Kalan, Van Nuys, Calif.; 818-885-8420; info@suzannekalan.com; suzannekalan.com CZ YOU LATER (Inset) Clutch necklace in 14k rose gold vermeil with CZ; $99; Genevive, NYC; 800-724-4315; genevivebyczc.com SAPPHIRE STARTER Scallop earrings in 22k pink gold with blackened sterling silver, 2.38 cts. t.w.…

Long known as a showcase for industry icons  before they make it big, the Design Center at JCK Las Vegas—running June 3–6—is getting an overhaul for 2016. The update coincides with a slew of improvements throughout Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino and the convention center, including a reimagined floor plan that moves the Design Center…

JCK’s sister show, coming to Mandalay Bay May 31–June 6, offers a luxe experience from breakfast to bedtime.   (Above) Stud earrings in 18k white gold with emeralds and sapphires; $35,200; Andreoli, NYC; 212-582-2050; andreoliusa.com   (Inset) Y necklace in platinum with 37 cts. t.w. diamonds (including 3.01 ct. Forevermark center); price on request; A. Link, NYC; 212-838-5355; alinkandco.com   Braided bangle;…

The HKTDC Hong Kong International Jewellery Show dazzled despite a tough business climate Modest growth was perhaps the most ubiquitous phrase heard during the 33rd annual HKTDC Hong Kong International Jewellery Show at the Hong Kong Convention and Exposition Centre, where 2,500 exhibitors from more than 40 countries set up booths March 3–7. The phrase…

If your social feeds feel stale—or your online outreach needs a boost—it might be time to up your hashtag game.  Platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter allow users to create topic-specific feeds by filtering posts that use the same word or phrase, preceded by a #. It’s one of the easiest ways to insert…

WHO, WHAT, WEARABLE Martian Electra E10 Predictably, wearable devices known as “notifiers” do just that—notify their user (usually with a light or a vibration) when they’re receiving calls, emails, and texts. Yet some connected devices can actually stand in for smartphones on occasion. Martian’s sporty-chic Electra E10 smartwatch still has to be tethered via Bluetooth…

“It’s amazing anytime we get a piece from the duchess’s collection. But these are really works of art.”   Chalcedony, the quartz that composes these pale-blue bracelets, is an unusually humble material for rarefied, auction-worthy jewelry. “Chalcedony is really a dive material,” says Frank Everett, vice president and sales director for Sotheby’s jewelry, which sold the…