For the fourth year in a row, a ring—and an everyday one at that!—took the top prize, but that’s just one of the honorees in our 10th annual jewelry design competition: Shy Creation’s Kate collection 14k yellow gold starburst ring, which boasts 0.58 ct. t.w. pavé-set diamonds and rings in at just $1,490 retail. Behold the 50-plus…

CAN’T-MISS COLLECTION Race to Thin Introduced in 1957, Piaget’s Altiplano collection, which takes its name from South America’s highest plateau, was heralded for its ultrathin movement, a 2 mm marvel known as 9P. For Altiplano’s 60th anniversary, the watchmaker has created a bevy of slender wristwatches—including a number of boutique and limited editions—that evoke the…

SHOWS Heading into the Tucson gem shows in early February, all signs suggested that pent-up demand from a slow 2016 selling season would translate into strong sales. But in the end, it was the supply side that made the biggest impression. Emeralds from a brand-new deposit in Ethiopia intrigued the gem community, rubies from Mozambique…

On Jan. 13, Kay Jewelers and Patek Philippe were among the winners toasted and roasted by host Stephen Webster and 500 of the trade’s best and brightest. (Above) Cipriani 42nd Street (located in the former Bowery Savings Bank) again served as the glamorous setting for the Gem Awards. HSN’s Carol Brodie, Town & Country editor-in-chief Stellene…

In January, James Speltz, the former CEO of gifts and gadgets company Brookstone, was named president of Luxury Brand Holdings, parent company of Ross-Simons and the Sidney Thomas jewelry chain. Here, he talks with JCK about what he hopes to accomplish. What do you see as your main goals? We have a true multichannel operation…

Journalist Marion Fasel (@marionfasel), founder of the online jewelry mag The Adventurine, fills her feed with awards coverage (Bey’s 400 ct. Grammy necklace!), historic photos (hello, Liz ­Taylor), big-screen bling sightings (e.g., pearls in Jackie), and gorgeous product pics galore. (Above) Beating the “rainy Monday” blues with a David Yurman turquoise statement ring Enjoying a…

Overall jewelry sales during the season rose 0.7 percent, with sales at independents rising 1.4 percent, according to figures from MasterCard ­SpendingPulse, as cited in a speech by De Beers CEO Bruce Cleaver (pictured) at a Forevermark event in January. Perhaps the biggest winner, however, was online: E-commerce jewelry sales rose by double digits, according…

Millennial and Gen-X watch men flock to Hodinkee thanks to founder Benjamin Clymer’s unique mix of high-quality original content and high-end e-commerce Ask any male watch collector under the age of 45 what industry websites he reads, and chances are “Hodinkee” will be the first name that pops out of his mouth. By pairing magazine-quality…

215 Caledonia St., Suite 102, Sausalito, Calif. Fine jewelry meets museum-quality artifacts at this tiny shop in the shadow of the Golden Gate Bridge. Owner Sarah Greenberg prides herself on an inventory that rivals a museum collection for its eclectic, one-of-a-kind ethos. Roughly half of the nature-inspired pieces are her own designs; the rest represent…

Once strictly the purview of Valentine’s Day and uninspired husbands, heart-shape jewelry has gone from cloyingly sweet to fashionably tart. (Above) Eros Passion earrings in 18k yellow gold with black diamonds; $8,400; Elena Votsi at Muse; 866-301-6873; elenavotsi.com Diamond Heart eternity ring in 14k yellow and white gold; $2,300; Sydney Evan; 213-236-4444; sydneyevan.com Caviar Heart pendant with diamonds…

The designer boasts a collector’s eye, a commitment to charitable causes, and a love of natural colored stones Just how exceptional are Robert Procop’s exceptional jewels? He’s actually taken them on tour. The Beverly Hills, Calif.–based designer recently exhibited his ­impressive emerald collection at a select few lucky U.S. retailers. You also might remember some…

We’ve taken a shine to high-polish silver styles—accented with agate, dotted with gemstones, trimmed in gold, and simply all-sterling, all the time. Photography by Stephen Lewis  /  Jewelry styling by Randi Molofsky (Above) Earrings in sterling silver with 18k rose gold–plated accents; $160; Frederic Duclos; 866-898-3636; fredericduclos.com   Andromeda multi-hoop sterling silver necklace with quartz slide;…

Quick! What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you think of sterling silver? Is it price point? Gift-worthy? Tiffany & Co., perhaps? As the less expensive cousin of the precious metal family, sterling silver has long been favored by shoppers on a budget. While still considered fine jewelry, the metal won’t break the bank.…

Planning your trip to JCK Las Vegas in June? Here are the most mouthwatering restaurants and rockin’ concerts in sin city—guaranteed to keep you going long after business hours. If you’re a fan of the Hangover films, you can’t help but chuckle at Stu’s line in the third movie: “Someone needs to burn this place…

No jewelry request is too big, too small, or too outrageous for these visionary designers and retailers. A pair of jasper cufflinks carved and painted to resemble a client’s pet dogs; a wide platinum band dotted with inherited diamonds; a gold egg that opens to reveal an engraved family tree. All were produced by jewelers…

Meet Instagram’s new power sellers, style influencers who are changing the face of modern marketing A recent Instagram post from jewelry retailer Bernie Robbins Jewelers showed a young blond woman standing in front of the colorful, whipped meringue–shape domes of St. Basil’s Cathedral in Moscow’s Red Square. The woman’s eyes were closed peacefully to the…

Evoking an entire ­garden within the tiny confines of a ring is no easy feat. But ­designer Anabela Chan managed to conjure up Alice in Wonderland–esque grandeur with her whimsical Bumble Rose cocktail ring—a one-of-a-kind piece from her larger Secret Garden collection. The London-based designer wanted to make “an entire fairy tale in a ring,”…

CAN’T-MISS COLLECTION Most Excellent When Alyssa Mishcon was growing up, her grandmother had a favorite saying: “You should have one of everything and two of most.” That delightful wisdom finds its ultimate expression in Mishcon’s aptly named new jewelry collection, Two of Most. Introduced in November 2016, the line features 14k gold rings and earrings…

There was no shortage of sun—and sparkle—at the JIS show in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Jan. 27–29. But if you missed out, don’t despair: The next edition of JIS runs April 8–10, again at the Fort Lauderdale Convention Center. (Above) Earrings in 18k white gold with boulder opals, sapphires, and diamonds; $15,000; Royal India USA; 212-616-7661; royalindiausa.com…

The nascent field of AR portends a future in which consumers can try on their jewels virtually One of the biggest hurdles in selling jewelry and watches online is the intangibility of e-commerce. Shoppers can’t touch and try on items, so they’re forced to rely on their imaginations. But augmented reality (AR)—­technology that superimposes graphics and…

APP CHAT Mextures How do small, creative brands keep their photography looking fresh on Instagram? More and more, they’re experimenting with mobile photo editing apps. Mextures, an app that lets you layer cool effects over photographs, is a favorite with professional photographers, who dig the subtle, moody filters. The options for creativity are endless—among Mextures’…

JFK embarks on the Camelot era in an ultrathin timepiece befitting the elegance of the occasion We pause to ­appreciate the elegant timepiece a president wore to his inaugural ball in 1961: a 2 mm ­Omega Ultra Thin watch made of 18k gold, set on a black leather strap, and inscribed with the phrase President of…

A STAR IS BORN The Jewelers’ Choice Awards grand-prize winner (pictured below)—and our first glam redesigned cover—inspired a golden moment, from the accent pieces to the wardrobe. Kate collection starburst ring with 0.58 ct. t.w. pavé-set diamond rays in 14k yellow gold; $1,490; Shy Creation; 213-623-8900; shycreation.com Seven-diamond bezel hoop earrings in 14k yellow gold;…

JCK turns 148 this year! Not that you’d know it flipping through the pages of this fine-looking issue. It’s the first one to be produced by Headline Studio, a division of Advance Publications hired by Reed Exhibitions last fall to breathe new life into our publication, both in print and online. After a months-long redesign…

“I love the fresh, zingy look of Greenery, Pantone’s 2017 color of the year.” —Victoria Gomelsky, JCK editor-in-chief   (Above) Lady and the Dragonfly brooch-pendant in 18k gold with enamel, 1.04 cts. t.w. emeralds, 5.3 cts. t.w. diamonds, and 0.1 ct. t.w. rubies; $50,000; Lord Jewelry; 213-489-0039; lordjewelry.us Cuff with 13.69 cts. t.w. peridot and 0.89…

Welcome to the new JCK! We truly hope you love the updated look and feel of JCK as much as we do! As I mentioned last month, we began an internal conversation about the future of the magazine and website in June. Our goals were twofold: rethink our business to make more sense in today’s…