John Atencio Hires New Rep for Wholesale Division
Michelle Meltesen joins the company with nearly two decades of experience in fine jewelry.

Michelle Meltesen is a 19-year veteran of the jewelry industry.
She started as the advertising and sales director at now-closed Thalheimers Jewelry in Naples, Florida. There, she was responsible for the store’s multimedia platforms and advertising campaigns.
In 2008, she joined Swiss watch brand Bertolucci as the U.S. national sales manager, working with both independent jewelers and major department stores.
She returned to media, working for Gulfshore Life magazine and Wink Media before forming her own company, MM Crème de la Crème, in 2014.
The company did business development and sales consulting for fashion and jewelry brands.
In her new position, she will focus on optimizing the expansion and distribution of the John Atencio brand nationally.
Meltesen can be reached at michelle.meltesen@johnatencio.com.
An experienced artist and designer, Colorado native John Atencio hand-sketches each design, with the piece then crafted by hand.
He has six boutiques in Colorado, as well an ecommerce business and a growing wholesale business.
The Latest

The new watch commemorates Pokémon’s 30th anniversary.

The “Lady” collection is a new take on old beauty standards with gemstone-adorned hair pins and combs, a compact mirror necklace, and more.

The new line is included in the e-tailer’s curation of jewelry celebrating America’s 250th anniversary.

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

All active members who earned their credential or designation before Dec. 1, 2025, are required to recertify.


The new jewelry collection uses a colorful palette of onyx, malachite, tiger’s eye, mother-of-pearl, lapis, turquoise, and coral.

Lee Michaels Fine Jewelry is celebrating 30 years in the Ridgeland, Mississippi community.

DCA is preparing the next generation of professionals by supporting workforce development, leadership growth, and career advancement.

Sean Milliner has joined the company.

Classes will begin in August at GIA’s new Canary Wharf location.

A ring set with “hogback” diamonds, an early stone cut dating to around the 16th century, sold for more than $20,000 at a U.K. auction.

The rainbow version of the ring, our Piece of the Week, features angel-cut, octahedral lab-grown sapphires designed to be worn as armor.

The Brooklyn-based jeweler created a limited-edition version of its “Aura” eternity band, set with gemstones in the team’s colors.

Dallow will lead the International Colored Gemstone Association, effective July 6.

Senior Editor Lenore Fedow headed to Savannah to learn more about the 10-year, $10 million partnership between JM and the art school.

Its new capsule jewelry collection features gold-finished stainless steel pieces designed for a maximalist look without a luxury price tag.

The week-long event in Geneva is slated for April 2027.

The three industry leaders bring financial, communications, and legal expertise to the nonprofit’s board of directors.

Jewelers are missing out by not offering this one key add-on at the online point of sale, Emmanuel Raheb writes.

The fourth collaborative collection from the retailer and jewelry content creator focuses on gemstone charms and strands of colorful beads.

This year’s AGTA Spectrum & Cutting Edge Awards will feature two new categories.

The collection features traceable alexandrite from Brazil in calibrated sizes that is sorted by grade.

Dhaval Raja has been appointed to the role.

The capsule collection looks to vintage trunk pins that echo the spirit of speed, freedom, and the mythology of the American road trip.

SSEF issued a notice about the potential new source of the sought-after gemstone, citing “credible reports” from trade sources.

As Amazon Prime Day kicks off, Etsy is encouraging shoppers to support small businesses.

Cole Winward is the recipient of 2026 AGA Gemological Scholarship.






















