Are lab-grown diamonds truly more environmentally friendly than their mined counterparts, as adherents claim? The Federal Trade Com­mission’s guides to eco-­marketing have always been clear: General benefit claims, like eco-friendly, should not be used. Yet, for years, lab-grown diamond companies have used that claim, and many others, to show the greater “ethics” of their product. And,…

To maximize profit, minimize debt, and avoid financing woes, jewelers must adapt to rising interest rates. Here’s how the industry’s top finance wonks see the current borrowing climate. The cost of cash is up, and jewelers need to adjust. The Federal Open Market Committee of the Federal Reserve System determines monetary policy to regulate the…

Our reporter spent a Saturday in April shadowing the pros at I. Gorman Jewelers in Washington, D.C. Here’s what she learned about luxury retailing in the age of smartphones and social media. “Whatever I get, it needs to be something I can wear to the gym,” says a woman dressed in upscale yoga wear as…

Five women in leadership positions in the jewelry industry reflect on the management strategies that have earned them high marks in the trade Nadja Swarovski, Swarovski A lot of jewelry businesses are family businesses, but most of them aren’t like the $4 billion Austrian crystal juggernaut founded by Nadja Swarovski’s great-great-grandfather in 1895. Swarovski has overseen…

JCK’s ongoing series on the shopping centers finding success amid an ever-changing retail landscape The Forum Shops at Caesars Palace 3500 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Las Vegas In Las Vegas, a town where fresh and fabulous reign supreme, the nearly 30-year-old Forum Shops continue to innovate and impress In Roman times, the forum represented the…

JCK would be nowhere without the industry insiders who have helped the magazine along the way—by making the news, reading it in our pages, or both. So we asked 150 of them to join the dialogue about how the jewelry business has changed over the decades and the role we have played in that evolution.…

To celebrate the return of the JCK and Luxury shows to their original location at the Sands Expo this month, we asked five veteran showgoers to reflect on what they loved most about the old venue (the parties!) and what they hope to find this year (new designers!). You can’t go home again? Watch us!…

SHOWS It’s showtime—and if you work in the jewelry biz, you’re probably reading this in Sin City. JCK Las Vegas remains the Strip’s shining star during jewelry week, and this year, America’s biggest trade fair, along with sister show Luxury, returns to where it all began, the Sands Expo and The Venetian. “The campus is…

My first JCK show was a doozy. It was 2000, and I’d just been hired by a fledgling B2B website called GemKey.com as its New York City–based pearl and watch editor. I knew nothing about pearls and even less about watches. A month into my new gig, my boss, Russ Shor, a former JCK diamond…

What JCK magazine’s Melissa Rose Bernardo is loving this month “Dark blue sapphires might be the most popular, but I’ve always preferred the lighter colors. And how sweet are these rainbow combos?!” —Melissa Rose Bernardo, JCK managing editor (Above) 44-inch sapphire knotted necklace with pavé diamond daisy and sapphire pendant; $6,600; Sheryl Lowe; 805-969-1742; sheryllowejewelry.com…

Welcome to our best-read issue of the year, the June issue of JCK! If you’re reading this at JCK Las Vegas, I hope you’ve noticed the beautiful 150th-anniversary graphics located above our show distribution stands. The milestone is such an exciting reminder of what an institution this publication (and now its website) is! We are…

In early April, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) sent ­warning letters to eight companies that sell lab-grown ­diamonds and look-alike diamond simulants, warning them that their communications don’t adhere to the commission’s Jewelry Guides and could mislead or confuse consumers. The move received widespread attention, as it is rare for the FTC to take any…

Rolex e-tailer Paul Altieri on his digital alter ego and the growth in pre-owned watch sales The demand for Daytonas, Submariners, and other iconic Rolex timepieces has made the venerable Swiss brand the most counterfeited watchmaker in the world. With so many high-quality fakes circulating, the retail landscape for shoppers has become perilous, says Paul…

With her new Full Circle collection, London-based jewelry designer Sarah Ho sources exceptional gems from around the world, creates exclusive jewelry designs highlighting those stones, then gives back to the local communities of origin. It’s a circular journey, literally from the ground up.  Gemstones have always formed the centerpiece of Ho’s designs, and the Full…

A fresh take on green—using various gems and materials—is a cool breeze on a summer day (Top) LOVE necklace with agate, pink sapphires, diamonds, and enamel in 20k yellow gold; $64,000; Buddha Mama; 305-439-2059; buddhamama.com Swivel earrings with green turquoise in 14k yellow gold; $3,960; Retrouvaí; 646-745-6831; retrouvai.com Constellation Dome ring with paraiba tourmaline and…

Gabriel & Co.’s Jack and Dominick Gabriel have built a jewelry brand founded on values they acquired in their native Lebanon When Dominick Gabriel arrived in America from war-torn Lebanon in 1983, he was 13 years old and spoke no English. “Very difficult,” he says now of settling down in suburban Long Island, where his…

Let the Brooklyn, N.Y.–based designer and JCK exhibitor show you how to stack like a pro Growing up, we learned certain rules about jewelry. Silver goes with silver, gold goes with gold, and never the twain shall meet. Fortunately, since then, we’ve learned that mixing metals isn’t verboten. But if you’re still unsure, let Freida…

A recent trip to sunny Guatemala inspired Parisian jewelry ­designer ­Lydia Courteille to create a collection of vibrantly colored pieces that pay ­homage to the ancient Mayan civilization that once flourished in Central ­America. Along with jeweled odes to Mayan embroidery, worry dolls, and ­architecture, Courteille ­conjured these exquisite mismatched parrot earrings. “I saw a…

CAN’T-MISS COLLECTION The New Guard Guard rings, typically worn on top of bridal ring sets, are traditionally more adorned than ­wedding bands. And Oscar ­Heyman’s new guard rings are ­appropriately blingy. But the collection also updates the classic style by mashing up gemstone varieties and cuts within single pieces. Diamonds, rubies, and sapphires in baguettes,…

CAN’T-MISS COLLECTION Link Big When Brazilian ­jewelry designer Jack ­Vartanian created his new Chain collection of oversize sterling silver necklaces, bracelets, and earrings, he had the buzz of distorted electric guitars whirring in his brain. “I wanted to create the links of a chain to give a punk rock feeling,” says the designer, who was…

CAN’T-MISS COLLECTION Oh Henry! Inlays of hard stones dress up William Henry’s latest sterling silver collection, Satin, in hues that range from intense (red tiger’s eye) to subdued (black jade), with some space in between (labradorite’s cosmic mix of iridescent pinks and greens). The new collection from the popular McMinnville, Ore.–based men’s jewelry brand features…

As per usual, buyers attending JCK Las Vegas will find no shortage of loose colored gemstones on the show floor. What sets this year apart, however—besides the event’s new-old home at the Sands Expo and The Venetian—is that the mix of gemstone exhibitors will include both domestic and international dealers, many of whom are known…

Retailing used to be a straightforward business. Store owners stocked, advertised, and sold products; customers bought them. But the rise of technology—first the internet, then devices, artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, and more—has presented retailers and consumers alike with innovations that are upending time-honored norms. This evolution has been so rapid, it can be difficult to…

WHO, WHAT, WEARABLE Kate Spade New York Scallop 2 Kate Spade New York’s original Scallop, released in 2018, checked a lot of boxes for female smartwatch wearers. The Bluetooth-connected timepiece was ­feminine but boasted a bigger dial, robust functionality, and on-trend appeal. Together with wearables partner Fossil Group, the brand updated the Scallop 2 in…

The Jewelers’ Circular entered the Great Depression with a not entirely surprising focus on credit, finance, and creative customer payment plans the year is 1930—which might account for the austere cover. The start of the Great Depression could also explain the feature “Customer Arranges Own Payment Plan,” focusing on Barrett W. Stephenson, credit manager of…