MajorsOct 05, 2022
WJA Is Accepting Nominations for its 2023 International BoardEvents & AwardsOct 07, 2022
WJA, Citizen Watch Want to School You on Gen Z
Citizen will release its “What Makes Gen Z Tick” study at WJA’s upcoming Women’s Executive Leadership Forum.
WJA’s fourth annual Women’s Executive Leadership Forum will be held Oct. 27 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Bohemian National Hall in New York City.
New York—The Women’s Jewelry Association is co-hosting its fourth annual Women’s Executive Leadership Forum with Citizen Watch America.
At the forum, Citizen will release its latest research study, titled “What Makes Gen Z Tick.”
The study explores how Gen Z shoppers view jewelry and watches and what it takes to make a sale to someone in this demographic.
The keynote and panel discussion will give an overview of Gen Z, examining their behaviors, beliefs, attitudes, and what motivates them when considering jewelry and watch purchases.
They will also discuss what will benefit jewelers in terms of merchandising, marketing, consumer research, sales, and sustainability.
“GenZer’s are rapidly joining the workforce and are an important part of future brand growth,” said Susan Chandler, chief merchandising officer of Citizen Watch America and president of WJA’s international board of directors.
“Our research project at Citizen was kicked off to gain a better understanding of Gen Z’s interest in the watch and jewelry categories, not covered in general research. We also looked at this as an opportunity to partner with WJA and share key learnings that can impact our industry directly.”
The speakers on the panel discussion will include Citizen Watch America Chief Marketing Officer Carla Wilke and Rob Harvath, vice president of consumer insights. They will be joined by Mark Beal, author of four books on Gen Z.
Attendees will receive a “Marketing to Gen Z Holiday Hot Sheet” and a copy of Beal’s new book,
"Gen Z Graduates to Adulthood."
Sponsorship packages are available to support WJA’s programs, including a three-hour interactive Gen Z workshop with panelist Mark Beal, a custom keynote and Q&A for your organization, and a “highlights report” of Citizen’s Gen Z study to share within an organization.
Launched in 2019, the Women’s Executive Leadership Forum is a think tank of female leaders in the jewelry and watch industries that provides opportunities for networking, collaboration, and mentorship.
The event is open to all jewelry and watch professionals.
It will be held Oct. 27 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Bohemian National Hall in New York City.
WJA is encouraging members to bring along someone in their organization who could benefit from the opportunity. One ticket costs $750 and two tickets cost $1,000.
For more information on the event or to buy tickets, visit the WJA website.
Editors' Picks
Sponsored by
More on Events & Awards
The Latest
AuctionsMay 15, 2026
American Collector Ponies Up Almost $17K for John Wayne’s RingThe Western star’s 14-karat gold signet ring sold for six times its low estimate following a bidding war at U.K. auction house Elmwood’s.
SourcingMay 15, 2026
State of Diamonds: The Way Forward for Natural DiamondsThe jewelry industry is reassessing its positioning as Gen Z reshapes the retail landscape and lab grown continues to gain market share.
AuctionsMay 14, 2026
White Diamonds Lead Sotheby’s Auction, Blue Diamond Does Not SellA matching pair of 18.38-carat, D-color diamonds from Botswana’s Jwaneng mine sold for $3.3 million, the top lot of the jewelry auction.
Brought to you by
How Modern Training Is Becoming a Competitive Advantage for Jewelry RetailersWith the trade and customer trust in mind, GIA® developed NextGem™ – on-demand training designed specifically for retail.
Supplier BulletinMay 14, 2026
A Diamond Is Forever Continues Desert Diamonds – Bridal ReinvigoratedSponsored by A Diamond Is Forever
Weekly QuizMay 14, 2026
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
SourcingMay 14, 2026
State of Colored Stones: The Spirit of Young American Gemstone CuttersThe next generation of lapidarists are entrepreneurial, engaged online, and see the craft as a means for artistic expression.
AuctionsMay 14, 2026
‘Ocean Dream’ Makes Waves at Christie’s, Fetching $17MIt was the second auction appearance for the fancy vivid blue-green diamond, which sold for $7.8 million at Christie’s Geneva 12 years ago.
Brought to you by
Discover Timeless Treasures: A Showcase of Antique Jewelry & Timepieces in Las VegasGain access to the most exclusive and coveted antique pieces from trusted dealers during Las Vegas Jewelry Week.
CrimeMay 14, 2026
Second Man Arrested in Florida Pawn Shop Shooting Members of the U.S. Marshals Task Force took a 22-year-old man into custody. He was charged with tampering with evidence.
CrimeMay 13, 2026
JSA’s 2025 Crime Report Shows ‘Concerning’ Rise in ViolenceWhile the overall number of crimes was down, there were more incidences in which robbers pulled out guns, mace, or rammed cars into stores.
IndependentsMay 13, 2026
New Orleans Jeweler Closing Canal Place StoreJack Sutton Fine Jewelry is closing its store inside the downtown shopping center after 40 years in business.
SourcingMay 13, 2026
Smithsonian Acquires ‘Winston Red’ Diamond PaintingReena Ahluwalia’s painting of the rare red diamond is the first contemporary painting to join the National Gem Collection.
TrendsMay 13, 2026
State of Design: Only the Innovative Will SurviveThe price of gold has risen, affecting the number of pieces designers make, the materials they use, and how they position themselves.
ColumnistsMay 12, 2026
It’s Official: We’re Getting ‘Brain Rot’ From Watching Short-Form Videos Peter Smith gives tips on leading meetings, developing marketing, and making trade show appointments in the age of short attention spans.
CollectionsMay 12, 2026
Jessica McCormack Debuts Antique Coin-Inspired Medallions for SummerThe 11-piece “Medallions” capsule collection features five motifs: a crying eye, a heart on fire, a spiral, a flower, and a swallow.
IndependentsMay 12, 2026
State of Retail: 6 Things Retailers Should Know About Consumers TodayFrom Gen Z’s view of luxury to “doom spending,” these are the six consumer trends to note this year.
IndependentsMay 11, 2026
Kansas Jeweler Closing After 70 YearsThe owners of Staats Jewelers are heading into retirement.
TrendsMay 11, 2026
Former Macy’s CEO Joins Signet Jewelers BoardJeffrey Gennette, who retired in 2024 after 41 years with Macy’s, is the newest member of the jewelry retailer’s board of directors.
TrendsMay 11, 2026
Amanda’s Style File: Lucky May May babies are lucky to have emeralds, a gemstone admired for centuries, as their birthstone, writes Amanda Gizzi.
TechnologyMay 11, 2026
Clientbook’s New Tool Helps Jewelers Plan In-Store EventsThe new module allows retailers to plan, promote, and measure the success of events from a single dashboard.
Lab-GrownMay 08, 2026
NDC Publicly Criticizes Pandora Over ‘Misleading’ Natural Diamond ClaimsNDC said in an open letter that Pandora’s statements about the carbon footprint of lab grown versus natural diamonds are inaccurate.
SourcingMay 08, 2026
Ronnie VanderLinden Takes Over as WDC President The diamantaire and industry leader succeeds Feriel Zerouki and said he will focus on being a “champion” for natural diamonds.
TrendsMay 08, 2026
Rihanna Chooses ‘Desert Diamonds’ for 2026 Met GalaShe wore our Piece of the Week, Glenn Spiro’s “Old Moghul Golconda” earrings, featuring fancy brown-yellow diamonds totaling 51.90 carats.
Events & AwardsMay 08, 2026
JA Announces 2026 CASE Award WinnersTwo pieces were named “Best in Show,” one from the retail category and one from the supplier category.
FinancialsMay 07, 2026
Brilliant Earth Appeals to Higher-Income Shoppers in Q1The jewelry retailer noted resilience among its higher-end customers while demand softened for its lower-priced offerings.
AuctionsMay 07, 2026
‘Spectacular’ Kashmir Sapphire Headlines Heritage Spring Jewelry SaleLed by the 6.59-carat sapphire, the sale garnered $9.7 million, a record total for a Heritage jewelry auction.
MajorsMay 07, 2026
Gannon & Scott Names New Regional Account ExecutiveIn his new role, sales specialist Billy Welshoff will focus on the eastern United States.
