Virtual Chicago Responsible Jewelry Conference to Be Held Next Week
It features 14 sessions over two days, preceded by a Responsible Gem Fair buying event.

Jewelry designer Susan Wheeler launched the Chicago Responsible Jewelry Conference in 2017 to build awareness and knowledge as well as find solutions for more equitable and sustainable supply chains.
This year’s conference is slated for Friday, Nov. 12 and Saturday, Nov. 13.
The event features 30 speakers in 14 sessions, with presenters coming from such organizations as the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, Human Rights Watch, Jewelers Vigilance Committee, Zimbabwe Diamond and Allied Workers Union, and the U.S. Department of Labor, among others.
Session highlights include the following.
-- “How to Elevate a Nation’s Gemstone Trade Through a Single Gemcut Design;”
-- “What is Currently Happening in the Supreme Court, Child Soldiery, and Laws Pertaining to the Jewelry Industry;”
-- “How the Jewelry Industry Funds Governments and their Militaries;”
-- “Sex Trafficking and Gender-Based Violence in Mines and Mining Communities;”
-- “Adaptations and Implementations of Craft Code in Artisanal Mining: Where Can Market Expectations and Artisanal Miners Meet?” and
-- “How Do Jewelers Form Partnerships to Create Positive Change? A Responsible Design Panel.”
There will also be a virtual Responsible Gem Fair taking place the day before the conference begins, on Thursday, Nov. 11. Gem suppliers focused on responsible mining and social impact will offer the trade the chance to hear their stories and buy stones directly from them.
All-access admission tickets to the 2021 Chicago Responsible Jewelry Conference are $350. There are also student tickets available for $50 per day.
Additionally, to encourage involvement from all sectors, event organizers are offering a pay-what-you can ticket option.
For full session information about the 2021 event and to register, visit ChiResponsibleJewelryConference.com.
The Latest

The goal is for the De Beers sale to be finished by the second half of 2026, with the subsequent approvals process expected to take a year.

David Bonaparte, along with Tim Haake and Ronnie VanderLinden, continue to lobby for tariff exemptions for diamonds, gemstones, and pearls.

Survey respondents were concerned about the rising prices of food and groceries as well as unemployment.

Retailers are seeking new ways to attract customers, increase traffic, and create revenue – Estate buying events are a popular solution.

Endiama Commercial Director Elton Escrivão knows people have a lot of misperceptions about Angola. He wants to change that.


Reilly has been with PGI USA for the last 20 years, leading partnership development and professional education.

Boucheron reached record sales while Pomellato found success in its signature collections.

Colored gemstones, artisan finishes, mixed metals, and meaningful details are shaping demand in bridal jewelry.

She was one of more than 120 American designers who created flags for the “United Flags of Fashion” project led by CFDA and Vogue.

Smith reveals the method The Retail Smiths use to help retailers and vendors write better job postings.

LVMH’s jewelry and watch brands outperformed the company’s other divisions in an environment the company described as “disrupted.”

“Sacred Heart” features symbols like crosses, angel wings, the Star of David, and the evil eye as a representation of coexistence.
The scholarships will go to early-career professionals looking to study gemology, bench work and jewelry design, or store operations.

Bain & Company delved into the trends shaping the luxury market, the impact of AI, and more in its recent study.

The exhibition reveals the gemology, geology, and cultural history of the iconic red gemstone.

The new sweeping slate of tariffs impacts 60 countries, including India, China, Thailand, Hong Kong, and the United Arab Emirates.

From coin pendants to diamond shields, these old world-inspired jewels are the perfect accessory for an epic journey.

Our Piece of the Week pairs a checkerboard-cut amethyst with an ivy green silk cord.

Mildred Marcano Abrams and Yael Reinhold join the podcast to talk community connections, holiday plans, and preserving Reinhold’s legacy.

Production also was up in the first half of 2026 but is expected to “substantially” decrease in H2 as two key mines undergo maintenance.

“Art Deco” fuses ancestral techniques, rare materials, and modern perspectives as a tribute to the optimism and curiosity of the movement.

The jeweler’s newest store is inside Arkansas’ Saracen Casino Resort.

The watch company will design, manufacture, and distribute Kate Spade New York watches.

The higher tax is set to go into effect in August and will apply to loose polished diamonds as well as precious and base metals jewelry.

The “Enchanted Garden” series features a cherry, lemon, and pear that each hold a little secret inside.

It’s located in Tysons Galleria, an upscale shopping center in the Washington, D.C., metro area.

The show, recently acquired by Rockview Management Group, will be held at New York City’s Javits Center from Aug. 2-4.

























