Its “Quantre Sand” capsule was made using a 3D sand printing technique borrowed from the automotive and aeronautics industries.
Pam Mortensen Elected JFC Board Chair
She will officially begin her new role Oct. 1, alongside Jewelers for Children’s other new board members.

New York--Jewelers for Children has announced changes to its board of directors, with new members beginning Oct. 1.
Pamela Mortensen, J.C. Penney’s senior vice president and general merchandise manager for fine and fashion jewelry and watches, will serve as chairman of the board. She succeeds Dennis Ulrich of the Richline Group, who was in the role for a two-year term and will continue to participate on the board as immediate past chair.
“I am thrilled to be elected as the chair of Jewelers for Children,” said Mortensen. “As a mother, I can’t think of anything more important than the work our industry does in helping children in need, and I’m honored to serve.”
Other officers elected at the annual board of directors meeting in Las Vegas in June include: Debra Puzio of Starluxe LLC, vice-president for fundraising; John White of Fossil Group, vice president for special programs; Jeffrey Cohen of Citizen Watch America, vice president for charity programs; Howard Hauben of H2 Events/Centurion Jewelry Show, vice president for marketing and public relations; Alan Zimmer of Reeds Jewelers, treasurer; and Sebastian Hobbs of Signet Jewelers Ltd., secretary.
Additionally, 12 new directors were elected to three-year terms and six directors were re-elected to second three-year terms.
The 12 new directors are: Debbie Azar of Gemological Science International; Chad Berg of Lee Michaels Fine Jewelry; Katherine Bodoh of American Gem Society; Jack Gabriel of Gabriel & Co.; Mark Goldberg of Rolex Watch USA; Kari Gray-Hoff of Blue Nile; Steven Kaiser of Kaiser Time; Sally Morrison, previously of Gemfields; Birain Parikh of Rosy Blue; Matthew Rosenheim of Tiny Jewel Box; Steven Vardi of Vardi Company; and Steven Velasquez of Madison Jewelers.
The six re-elected directors are: Benny Hematian of B.H. Multi Corp/Effy Group; Ezriel Rapaport of Rapaport; Ashok Kumar Sancheti of Pioneer Gems; Elliot Tannenbaum of Leo Schachter Diamonds; Rhonda Violet of Assurant; and Eric Zuckerman of Pac Team Group.
The nine directors who concluded their terms on the board are: former AGS and AGS Labs CEO Ruth Batson; Jim DeMattei of Viewpoint Sales and Marketing; Ellen Fruchtman of Fruchtman Marketing; Harvey Kanter of Blue Nile; Joel Schechter of Honora; Hank Siegel of Hamilton Jewelers; Laura Stanley of Laura Stanley Personal Jeweler; Stewart Wicht of Rolex Watch USA; and Ulrich Wohn.
“We are fortunate to have so many talented individuals serving on the board and we greatly thank them for their service to the charity,” said Mortensen.
The Latest

Four individuals have been charged in the “takeover-style” robbery of Heller Jewelers last month, and additional charges are expected.

“Radiance and Reverie” will showcase more than 150 jewels from Lane’s personal collection by Tiffany & Co., Cartier, and more.

The month’s birthstones, tourmaline and opal, complement the palette of autumn.


Smith shares the importance of looking at your company with openness and honesty to identify opportunities you may be missing.

Associate Editor Natalie Francisco visited Italy to spot jewelry trends at the September Vicenzaoro show and share her top finds.

With their unmatched services and low fees, reDollar.com is challenging some big names in the online consignment world.

Respondents were concerned about job availability and rising prices.

Its latest interim financials revealed a challenging first half due in part to production troubles at its mines.

Alexander Lacik has led Pandora since 2019. Berta de Pablos-Barbier will succeed him, the first woman to head the company.

Two men allegedly used counterfeit bills to purchase luxury watches and jewelry from a North Carolina jeweler.

The “Lovestruck” collection, designed with the Academy and Grammy award-winning siblings, is the brand’s first lab-grown diamond offering.

Move over neck mess, the ear story is the way to make a layering statement today.

The New York-based brand is set to launch a limited-time offering for the holiday season at Holt Renfrew in Toronto.

The “Volume 7” bridal catalog features best-selling engagement rings, trending styles, and a new section highlighting anniversary bands.

Holiday sales growth is expected to slow as consumers grapple with inflation and tariff-related uncertainty.

Jamie Turner Designs is among the winners of the local “Austin Shines” contest, hosted by Eliza Page, a jewelry store in Austin, Texas.

The red and azure colorway is one of many fun enamel pairings offered, bringing whimsy to the classic style of a monogramed signet ring.

A trade deal with Switzerland seems probable, but reaching an agreement with India remains a challenge, David Bonaparte said.

Botswana’s president said his country wants a controlling share, while Angola envisions multiple countries holding minority stakes.

The manufacturer is adding 1,400 chemical vapor deposition (CVD) reactors to its growing facility in India.

The jeweler to the stars has worked with Drake, A$AP Rocky, Tyler the Creator, and other celebrities.

The Scarsdale, New York-based jeweler donated a professional-grade watch cleaning machine.

The 50 percent tariffs on diamonds shipped from India to the U.S. have pushed midstream manufacturers to the edge.

De Beers’ refreshed, multipronged approach, which includes generic promotions and retail partnerships, is delivering positive dividends.
They are trying to balance the need to sustain well-established relationships with the pressure higher tariffs have put on margins.