InStore ‘Cram Day’ To Focus on Lab-Grown Diamond Education
The limited-seating learning event precedes its second annual trade show, which starts Aug. 11.

"Cram Day" will take place Aug. 10, the day before the start of the show, at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, Illinois.
A seminar on lab-grown diamonds presented by GIA Alumni Collective’s Continued Education program will headline the event.
Lisa Kennedy, a GIA senior subject specialist in gemology, will present an explanation and evaluation of the latest in lab-grown diamond education and identification.
The seminar will cover common lab-grown diamond production methods, such as high-pressure, high-temperature (HPHT) and chemical vapor deposition (CVD).
It will also review U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) regulations that define key terms and how to use them.
In addition, the presentation will go over services, methods, and instruments that can help distinguish between lab-grown and natural diamonds, including GIA Laboratory Reports and the GIA iD100 gem testing device.
The seminar will also include a hands-on element, allowing attendees to examine diamonds under microscopes.
Two sessions will be offered.
Seating is limited to 50 attendees per session.
Cram Day will offer two additional education tracks curated by Instore, featuring speakers representing successful jewelry retailers and the industry’s top consultants, it said.
Sessions will cover the “critical topics” for small business owners, Instore said, including strategic planning, digital marketing, security, hiring and retaining strong employees, selling skills, and more.
The “Expert Guidance” track will cover topics to help independent jewelry store owners improve their stores, and the “Retail Excellence” track will feature panels of retail owners and managers sharing best practices for store success and profitability.
The Cram Day Conference program requires a separate ticket purchase and includes lunch.
Presented by Instore magazine and in partnership with MJSA and the Chicago Responsible Jewelry Conference 2024, the Instore Show is in its second year and will take place Aug. 11-12 at the site of its inaugural event, the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, Illinois.
To register for a free show badge and Cram Day ticket, click here.
For more about 2024 exhibiting and sponsorship opportunities, direct questions to exhibit@theinstoreshow.com.
The Latest

Before Pope Leo XIV was elected, a centuries-old procedure regarding the late pontiff’s ring was followed.

The one-of-a-kind platinum Rolex Cosmograph Daytona was estimated to fetch up to $1.7 million.

While the product has entrenched itself in the market, retailers and consultants are assessing the next phase of the category’s development.

Gain access to the most exclusive and coveted antique pieces from trusted dealers during Las Vegas Jewelry Week.

The police are trying to identify the man suspected of robbing two Tiffany & Co. locations in the area.


The well-known Maine jeweler takes over for Brian Fleming and will serve a one-year term.

The donation was the result of the brand’s annual Earth Day Ingot event.

Supplier Spotlight Sponsored by GIA

Located in NorthPark Center, the revamped store is nearly 2,000 square feet larger and includes the first Tudor boutique in Dallas.

The nonprofit has made updates to the content in its beginner and advanced jewelry sales courses.

BIJC President Malyia McNaughton will shift roles to lead the new foundation, and Elyssa Jenkins-Pérez will succeed her as president.

As a nod to the theme of JCK Las Vegas 2025, “Decades,” National Jeweler took a look back at the top 10 jewelry trends of the past 10 years.

The company plans to halt all consumer-facing activity this summer, while Lightbox factory operations will cease by the end of the year.

Following weekend negotiations, the tax on Chinese goods imported into the United States will drop by 115 percent for the next 90 days.

Moti Ferder stepped down Wednesday and will not receive any severance pay, parent company Compass Diversified said.

Lichtenberg partnered with luxury platform Mytheresa on two designs honoring the connection between mothers and daughters.

The miner announced plans to recommence open-pit mining at Kagem.

Michel Desalles allegedly murdered Omid Gholian inside World of Gold N Diamond using zip ties and then fled the country.

Associate Editor Lauren McLemore shares her favorite looks from a night of style inspired by Black dandyism.

Sponsored by Instappraise

CEO Beth Gerstein discussed the company’s bridal bestsellers, the potential impact of tariffs, and the rising price of gold.

The brand’s first independent location outside of Australia has opened in Beverly Hills, California.

Cathy Marsh will lead the jewelry company’s efforts in the upper Midwest and western United States.

The company has multiple strategies for dealing with tariffs, though its CEO said moving manufacturing to the U.S. is not one of them.

Connecting with your customers throughout the year is key to a successful holiday marketing push.

Its commercial-quality emerald sale held last month totaled more than $16 million, up from about $11 million in September 2024.

National Jeweler Editor-in-Chief Michelle Graff joined Michael Burpoe to talk tariffs, consumer confidence, and the sky-high price of gold.