Designers were recognized in 12 categories, from platinum to pearls, before the evening ended with a new, retail-focused award.
Richey debuts interactive blog with Rio Grande
Marlene Richey hopes to ignite a digital conversation with jewelers and designers through a series of articles she’ll file on The Studio, the blog of jewelry supply company Rio Grande.

In the blog, Richey, who consults with jewelers on building successful business strategies and is the author of Profiting by Design, will explore industry professionals who are shaping, and have shaped, the contemporary jewelry landscape in the past century.
“My goal is to create a showcase for past and contemporary makers, influencers and trendsetters in the jewelry world,” Richey said. “I want to discover how the world of metals and jewelry has changed due to the invaluable contributions of these talented artists.”
Richey said she encourages input from all readers, as she “can only tell each person’s story from my own perspective.”
The first of Richey’s articles was posted on The Studio last month, and invited jewelers to join the conversation by leaving comments about who has had the biggest impact on their work.
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Going forward, she’ll pen an article each month about an industry influencer, with some profiles drawn from her own experience in the industry but most written in response to comments left by readers.
Richey’s next article, to be posted this month, will examine the work of jeweler Ramona Solberg.
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