Events & AwardsFeb 29, 2024
Symposium ’24 Announces Speaker LineupEvents & AwardsFeb 29, 2024
JVC Announces Luncheon Speakers
Ukrainian jewelry designer Valeriya Guzema will be the focus of a live interview segment.
Victoria Gomelsky (right), editor-in-chief of JCK, will host a discussion with jewelry designer Valeriya Guzema at the JVC Annual Luncheon next Friday.
New York—The JVC Annual Luncheon, slated for next week, has announced the speakers and topic for its live interview segment.
The event will be held at the New York InterContinental Barclay on March 8, beginning with cocktails at noon, followed by lunch at 12:30 p.m.
It will feature a live interview, “A Conversation with Valeriya Guzema,” hosted by Victoria Gomelsky, editor-in-chief of JCK.
Gomelsky will sit down for a discussion with Ukrainian businesswoman, jewelry designer, and philanthropic activist, Valeriya Guzema to explore the human impact of the Russian sanctions through Guzema’s eyes.
Guzema is the founder and creative director of the Guzema Fine Jewelry brand and the Guzema Foundation. Before getting into the jewelry business in 2015, she worked as a fashion editor for Elle Ukraine and as a fashion journalist for HD Fashion TV channel.
The designer began her journey with $500 in savings, and received, from her mother, gold teeth that belonged to her grandfather. She sold the gold, and with the capital, created her first pieces. Her first collection was stolen, but she continued creating.
In March 2016, she founded Guzema Fine Jewelry and has since created more than 50 collections and opened three boutiques in Ukraine.
In 2021, she established the Guzema Foundation, a charitable endeavor initially formed to help children receiving heart treatments at the Chernihiv Regional Children’s Hospital. In 2022, following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the foundation expanded its efforts to support the Ukrainian army and civilians affected by the war.
Guzema has been included in the “Top 30 Under 30” list by Ukrainian media company Kyiv Post in 2020, and in 2021, appeared on Ukrainian Forbes’ “30 Under 30” list and was named “Best Accessory Designer” by Best Fashion Awards.
She is also a graduate of the Aspen Institute, an educational and policy studies organization based in Washington, D.C.
Host Gomelsky specializes in jewelry and watch writing and her freelance work has appeared in the New York Times, Robb Report, AFAR, the Hollywood Reporter, WSJ Magazine, and Waking Up American: Coming of Age Biculturally, an anthology published by Seal Press.
She graduated summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa from UCLA with a Bachelor of Arts in political science in 1995 and earned her MFA in nonfiction writing from Columbia University in 2002.
Related stories will be right here …
The event will be held at the New York InterContinental Barclay on March 8, beginning with cocktails at noon, followed by lunch at 12:30 p.m.
It will feature a live interview, “A Conversation with Valeriya Guzema,” hosted by Victoria Gomelsky, editor-in-chief of JCK.
Gomelsky will sit down for a discussion with Ukrainian businesswoman, jewelry designer, and philanthropic activist, Valeriya Guzema to explore the human impact of the Russian sanctions through Guzema’s eyes.
Guzema is the founder and creative director of the Guzema Fine Jewelry brand and the Guzema Foundation. Before getting into the jewelry business in 2015, she worked as a fashion editor for Elle Ukraine and as a fashion journalist for HD Fashion TV channel.
The designer began her journey with $500 in savings, and received, from her mother, gold teeth that belonged to her grandfather. She sold the gold, and with the capital, created her first pieces. Her first collection was stolen, but she continued creating.
In March 2016, she founded Guzema Fine Jewelry and has since created more than 50 collections and opened three boutiques in Ukraine.
In 2021, she established the Guzema Foundation, a charitable endeavor initially formed to help children receiving heart treatments at the Chernihiv Regional Children’s Hospital. In 2022, following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the foundation expanded its efforts to support the Ukrainian army and civilians affected by the war.
Guzema has been included in the “Top 30 Under 30” list by Ukrainian media company Kyiv Post in 2020, and in 2021, appeared on Ukrainian Forbes’ “30 Under 30” list and was named “Best Accessory Designer” by Best Fashion Awards.
She is also a graduate of the Aspen Institute, an educational and policy studies organization based in Washington, D.C.
Host Gomelsky specializes in jewelry and watch writing and her freelance work has appeared in the New York Times, Robb Report, AFAR, the Hollywood Reporter, WSJ Magazine, and Waking Up American: Coming of Age Biculturally, an anthology published by Seal Press.
She graduated summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa from UCLA with a Bachelor of Arts in political science in 1995 and earned her MFA in nonfiction writing from Columbia University in 2002.
Also at the luncheon, Matthew G. Stuller Sr., founder and CEO of Stuller, Inc., will receive the 2024 JVC Stanley Schechter Award, which honors individuals who exemplify industry ethics.
The award was established in 2002 and pays tribute to Schechter’s legacy of integrity and courage, JVC said, recognizing his contribution to JVC and the jewelry industry over the course of 50 years.
“Matt’s commitment to customer service, staying ahead of market trends, and his significant philanthropic efforts, including the Stuller Family Foundation, Parish Proud, and Love Our Schools, truly align with the values celebrated by the Stanley Schechter Award,” JVC writes of the honoree.
“His leadership, both in business and philanthropy, embodies the spirit of the Stanley Schechter Award, recognizing those individuals who go above and beyond in upholding industry ethics and making a positive impact on the community.”
Stuller has “consistently upheld the highest standards of industry ethics,” JVC said, starting from when he began his entrepreneurial journey at 19 years old. Over 54 years, Stuller Inc. has produced 340,000 jewelry-related products while remaining committed to integrity.
Stuller’s leadership is shown through the company’s CAD/CAM software, Matrixgold and CounterSketch, as well as through his dedication to ethical business practices, said JVC.
His legacy is not just in Stuller, Inc.’s success, the committee said, but in his “profound commitment to ethical business practices that resonate throughout the jewelry industry and beyond.”
JVC’s website said that at the event, it will also be announcing several new initiatives to “support our industry’s success into 2024 and beyond.”
More on Events & Awards
The Latest
MajorsJul 26, 2024
Diamonds Direct Opens Store in AtlantaIt’s the Signet-owned banner’s first location in Georgia.
TrendsJul 26, 2024
Piece of the Week: Bea Bongiasca’s ‘Double Loop’ EarringsCommemorate “brat summer” with these green hoops.
EditorsJul 26, 2024
Out & About: A Dispatch from the Nation’s Smallest StateEditor-in-Chief Michelle Graff returns from Rhode Island with thoughts about in-store shopping and a trends report.
Brought to you by
The End of an Era? Lab-Grown Diamonds' Journey Towards Price StabilityAs the demand for lab-grown diamond jewelry may still be increasing, the most notable change we are likely to see is price stabilization.
Supplier BulletinJul 25, 2024
Meet Gemology’s Next Generation Microscope: GIA® Gemolite® NXT Professional EditionSponsored by Gemological Institute of America
Weekly QuizJul 25, 2024
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
TechnologyJul 25, 2024
Amazon, BBB Sue Website Allegedly Peddling Fake Reviews They claim ReviewServiceUSA.com was selling both positive and negative reviews of products and businesses.
SourcingJul 25, 2024
De Beers’ H1 Revenue Falls 21% in ‘Weak’ MarketLab-grown diamond sales in the United States and ongoing economic challenges in China are impacting natural diamond demand.
Brought to you by
Meet Gemology’s Next Generation Microscope: GIA® Gemolite® NXT Professional EditionGIA®’s most advanced microscope has new features to optimize greater precision and comfort.
IndependentsJul 25, 2024
Store Designer Ruth Mellergaard DiesA longtime member of IJO, she’s remembered for her passion for design, learning, and environmentalism.
FinancialsJul 25, 2024
Boucheron, Pomellato Post Double-Digit Growth in Q2 The gains come amid a tough time for parent company Kering, which saw sales slide 11 percent in the first half of the year.
MajorsJul 25, 2024
Shane Co. Partners With Kids In Need Foundation to Donate 7,200 BackpacksThe fine jewelry retailer filled backpacks with back-to-school essentials for students in 13 states.
FinancialsJul 24, 2024
LVMH’s First-Half Jewelry, Watch Sales Dip 5%Tiffany & Co. is focusing on its “iconic” collections while the company has made changes at the top at TAG Heuer and Hublot.
MajorsJul 24, 2024
See Chaumet’s Paris Olympic Medals Inspired by its High JewelryThe Parisian brand is the first jewelry company in the history of the Olympic and Paralympic Games to design the medals.
MajorsJul 24, 2024
Jewelers Mutual Acquires Pawnbroker Insurance ProviderUnion Life & Casualty will join JM Insurance Agency Partners, expanding the provider’s pawnbroker coverage.
MajorsJul 24, 2024
Ben Bridge Announces 2024 Lonia Tate Scholarship WinnerLos Angeles-based Bradlei Smith was selected for this year’s award.
ColumnistsJul 23, 2024
Peter Smith: The Case for Optimism in Sales In his latest column, Smith shares multiple reasons why people who look at the glass as being hall full often make better salespeople.
SourcingJul 23, 2024
De Beers’ Production Drops 15% in Q2The company also reported the $150 million sale of an iron ore royalty right, part of its ongoing effort to divest “non-core” assets.
IndependentsJul 23, 2024
Long’s Jewelers Is Giving Away a Luxury Cape Cod VacationThe giveaway is part of the New England jeweler’s summer bridal event.
CollectionsJul 23, 2024
Guzema Debuts ‘Flower Power’ CampaignThe ad features three celebrity florists creating floral sculptures while wearing jewelry by Guzema.
Policies & IssuesJul 23, 2024
Diamonds Do Good Announces Its 2024 Entrepreneurship Grant WinnersThe grant provided a total of $100,000 to support 13 entrepreneurs from diamond communities in Africa and India.
CrimeJul 22, 2024
Florida Jeweler Shot, Killed Following Argument With CustomerGhazi Michel Osta, or “Gus,” was killed Friday by an 83-year-old man said to be a frequent customer at his store, Volusia Gold & Diamond.
Policies & IssuesJul 22, 2024
JVC’s Elyssa Jenkins-Pérez Joins RJCThe organization also announced Effie Marinos as its new specialist advisor for technical standards, as well as four other appointments.
SourcingJul 22, 2024
AWDC Names Karen Rentmeesters as CEORentmeesters has served as interim CEO since April following former CEO Ari Epstein’s resignation.
IndependentsJul 19, 2024
Longtime D.C. Jeweler Brian Mann Dies at 70Mann, whose family’s jewelry store was located inside the Pentagon, is remembered for being a thoughtful champion of the industry.
IndependentsJul 19, 2024
The 1916 Company Opens New Tudor BoutiqueThe 500-square-foot boutique is located in Denver’s Cherry Creek Shopping Center.
CollectionsJul 19, 2024
Piece of the Week: Messika’s ‘So Move Max’ NecklaceDance all night long with the “So Move Max” set’s necklace.
WatchesJul 18, 2024
TAG Heuer, Hublot Will Have New CEOs Luxury giant LVMH is reshuffling the leadership in its watches division.
