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

The chocolatier is bringing back its chocolate-inspired locket, offering sets of two to celebrate “perfect pairs.”

The top lot of the year was a 1930s Cartier tiara owned by Nancy, Viscountess Astor, which sold for $1.2 million in London last summer.

Any gemstones on Stuller.com that were sourced by an AGTA vendor member will now bear the association’s logo.

Launched in 2023, the program will help the passing of knowledge between generations and alleviate the shortage of bench jewelers.

The Swiss watchmaker has brought its latest immersive boutique to Atlanta, a city it described as “an epicenter of music and storytelling.”


The new addition will feature finished jewelry created using “consciously sourced” gemstones.

In his new column, Smith advises playing to your successor's strengths and resisting the urge to become a backseat driver.

Criminals are using cell jammers to disable alarms, but new technology like JamAlert™ can stop them.

The index fell to its lowest level since May 2014 amid concerns about the present and the future.

The new store in Aspen, Colorado, takes inspiration from a stately library for its intimate yet elevated interior design.

The brands’ high jewelry collections performed especially well last year despite a challenging environment.

The collection marks the first time GemFair’s artisanal diamonds will be brought directly to consumers.

The initial charts are for blue, teal, and green material, each grouped into three charts categorized as good, fine, and extra fine.

The new tool can assign the appropriate associate based on the client or appointment type and automate personalized text message follow-ups.

Buyers are expected to gravitate toward gemstones that have a little something special, just like last year.

Endiama and Sodiam will contribute money to the marketing of natural diamonds as new members of the Natural Diamond Council.

The retailer operates more than 450 boutiques across 45 states, according to its website.

The new members’ skills span communications, business development, advocacy, and industry leadership.

The jeweler’s 2026 Valentine’s Day campaign, “Celebrating Love Stories Since 1837,” includes a short firm starring actress Adria Arjona.

The new features include interactive flashcards and scenario-based roleplay with AI tools.

Family-owned jewelry and watch retailer Deutsch & Deutsch has stores in El Paso, Laredo, McAllen, and Victoria.

The Italian luxury company purchased the nearly 200-year-old Swiss watch brand from Richemont.

Micro-set with hundreds of diamonds, these snowflake earrings recreate “winter’s most elegant silhouette,” and are our Piece of the Week.

Ella Blum was appointed to the newly created role.

Sponsored by RapNet

Investment firm Enhanced Retail Funding, a division of Gordon Brothers, was the successful bidder.

It explores the history of the iconic tagline and the company’s strategy to redefine the role of diamonds in society.

























