Terry Chandler to Retire After 24 Years as Head of DCA
Chandler started his jewelry career at Michelson Jewelers, joining the Diamond Council of America as president and CEO in 2001.

His successor will be announced in the coming months.
“Diamond Council of America has been a huge part of who I am for decades,” Chandler said in the press release announcing his retirement.
“We have a lot of exciting developments taking place later this year and I know they will help ensure that DCA will continue to be successful for decades more to come. I am so thankful to the DCA board of directors, our members, my team, and Jewelers of America for their part in making DCA what it is today.”
Chandler started his career in the jewelry industry in the late ‘60s as a trainee at Michelson Jewelers in Paducah, Kentucky, which was a family-owned chain of four stores at the time.
During his more than two decades with Michelson, he served as a store manager, supervisor, senior vice president, and partner as the chain grew to 12 stores.
He left Michelson in 1990.
In 2001, he became president and CEO of DCA, a nonprofit organization that provides distance education and the opportunity to earn professional certifications in diamonds, colored gemstones, and fine jewelry sales.
In that time, DCA said Chandler has been instrumental in expanding its reach and influence, enhancing its certification programs, and fostering industry-wide collaboration.
In 2017, DCA signed an affiliate agreement with Jewelers of America.
The agreement gave DCA, which is a small nonprofit, access to JA’s more substantial resources while providing JA with an accredited education arm. It also allowed DCA to cut costs by closing its Nashville, Tennessee, office.
“Terry Chandler’s dedication and leadership have been invaluable to the Diamond Council of America,” said Jennifer Hammond, chair of the organization’s board of directors.
“His commitment to retail jewelers by providing affordable jewelry education has left a lasting impact on retailers across the country and we are deeply grateful for his contributions.”
The Latest

Columnists Jen Cullen Williams and Duvall O’Steen share tips on how to elevate your professional image.

Peter Damian Arguello, a jeweler in the Denver suburb of Wheat Ridge, was found dead inside his store in November 2023.

The retailer, owned by Berkshire Hathaway, is becoming part of the Berkshire Hathaway Jewelry Group with Helzberg.

As a leading global jewelry supplier, Rio Grande is rapidly expanding and developing new solutions to meet the needs of jewelers worldwide.

The Continental Buying Group’s 2025 Tampa Experience Show is slated for Sept. 8-10.


Associate Editor Lauren McLemore recently attended a fabrics trade show where a trend forecaster shared her predictions for summer 2027.

The company raised its full-year sales guidance while noting it has not yet assessed the potential impact of the latest tariff news.

The Seymour & Evelyn Holtzman Bench Scholarship from Jewelers of America returns for a second year.

The organization has raised more than $1.3 million for charity since its inception.

The brand’s latest iteration of a bezel-set diamond bangle features clean lines and a timeless design for a new modern silhouette.

The first watch in the series commemorates his participation in the Civil Rights movement, marching from Selma to Montgomery in 1965.

The catalog contains a complete listing of all the loose gemstones in stock, as well as information about the properties of each stone.

The company added a retailer dashboard to its site and three new birds to its charm collection, the cardinal, blue jay, and hummingbird.

An additional 25 percent tariff has been added to the previously announced 25 percent.

Its Springfield, Massachusetts, store is set to close as owner Andrew Smith heads into retirement.

Designer Hiba Husayni looked to the whale’s melon shaped-head, blowhole, and fluke for her new chunky gold offerings.

She will present the 23rd edition of the trend forecasting book at Vicenzaoro on Sept. 7.

Omar Roy, 72, was arrested in connection with the murder of jeweler Dionisio Carlos Valladares.

The New Orleans-based brand’s “Beyond Katrina” jewels honor the communities affected by the storm.

Lilian Raji explains why joining an affiliate network is essential for brands seeking placements in U.S. consumer publications.

The organization has awarded a total of $42,000 through its scholarship programs this year.

The winner of the inaugural David Yurman Gem Awards Grant will be announced live at the 2026 Gem Awards gala.

As summer winds down, celebrate the sunny disposition of the month’s birthstones: peridot and spinel.

Moshe Haimoff, a social media personality and 47th Street retailer, was robbed of $559,000 worth of jewelry by men in construction outfits.

The addition of Yoakum, who will lead Kay and Peoples, was one of three executive appointments Signet announced Thursday.

The insurance company’s previous president and CEO, Scott Murphy, has split his role and will continue as CEO.

The nearly six-month pause of operations at its Kagem emerald mine earlier this year impacted the miner’s first-half results.