The industry veterans join the podcast to discuss diamond marketing, the FTC Jewelry Guides, and lobbying for lower tariffs.
Dispatch from Vicenza: Opening Day
For the last few weeks, I've been looking forward to the Vicenzaoro First show, the first major show on the trade show circuit, and the show generally considered to be a bellweather of trends for the upcoming year. After arriving...
For the last few weeks, I've been looking forward to the Vicenzaoro First show, the first major show on the trade show circuit, and the show generally considered to be a bellweather of trends for the upcoming year.
After arriving at the Vicenza Fair on Saturday, opening day, I spent the morning purusing the pavilions and getting a feel for any major trends. Last year, some of the big themes that popped up included pieces with black-and-white motifs rendered in onyx and white agate, three-dimensional openwork designs and lots and lots of pave.
This year, the black-and-white theme isn't nearly as prevalent, but the latter two themes continue to be everywhere. The interesting thing, actually, is that a lot of themes we've seen over the last year--or years--continue to hold sway. Check out these two below, for example.
Blackened Gold
Above left: Bracelet from Talento Italiano, TalentoGioielli.it; Above right: Earrings from Garavelli Aldo, GaravelliAldo.com
We've seen blackened gold motifs for some time now, but I thought these two pieces from Talento and Garavelli were especially notable and beautifully done. Both also display geometric motifs, another prominent theme at the show.
Above: Ring and necklace from Annamaria Cammilli Gioielli, AnnamariaCammilli.com
As for the nature motif, celestial themes and butterflies are prevalent here in Italy, but you won't be able to skip by more than a handful of booths before coming upon a flower design rendered in macro form-- with the petals of flower rings and pendants crafted of sinuously curving metal or studded with a flurry of colored gems, portraying nature in all its glory.
The Latest

Murphy will retire at the end of the year and Alexander, currently the company’s president, will take over at the start of 2027.

The jeweler is encouraging customers who own lookalike rings to come into the store and trade them for credit towards an authentic piece.

Submit your pieces for a chance to win in this year's competition.

The new campaign, “You Are The Occasion,” discourages shoppers from saving their fine jewelry for special occasions only.


Mehta led India’s GJEPC through the 2008 financial crisis and was respected worldwide for his wisdom, integrity, and knowledge.

One is the driver who allegedly crashed a car into a Sacramento jewelry store in April, striking a 71-year-old employee who later died.

Retailers are seeking new ways to attract customers, increase traffic, and create revenue – Estate buying events are a popular solution.

In a new column, Peter Smith posits that people actually enjoy putting together IKEA furniture, and the same is true for engagement rings.

9lakha Jewelers in Iselin, New Jersey, was the target of a smash-and-grab robbery on Aug. 8.

The jeweler has partnered with 818 Tequila to gift lab-grown diamond studs to a bride-to-be and their bridal party.

The exhibition will feature more than 100 drawings of stained-glass lampshades, windows, and more, many created by women and émigrés.

Marquise-cut diamonds in drop charms are the center of the new collection, reflecting the movement of a dancer in modular styles.

The inaugural Fort Lauderdale Jewelry, Antique, & Object Show will be held from Jan. 28 through Feb. 1, 2027.

The family-owned jeweler will open a new showroom in Bel Air, Maryland, this fall.

Amanda Ileana Hernandez is married to Carlos Hernandez, one of two men in prison for the 2024 murder of Michigan jeweler Hussein Murray.

The reimagined jewel, our Piece of the Week, trades the diamonds in the original 1998 design for blue, pink, yellow, and green sapphires.

Sponsored by American Gem Trade Association

In the United States, second-quarter sales were flat amid soft consumer sentiment and lower in-store traffic.

The 22-karat gold egg, sold at Batemans Auctioneers in the U.K., was part of a 1980s treasure hunt ad campaign for Cadbury Creme Eggs.

Lucara Diamond Corp., which recovered the “Motswedi” diamond from the Karowe mine, sold the stone for an undisclosed amount.

The expanded collections now feature hand-cut gemstones like topaz, tanzanite, chrysoprase, chalcedony, smoky quartz, and fire opal.

The lab-grown diamond jewelry brand’s newest boutique is in Westfield Valley Fair in Santa Clara, California.

The gemstone supplier and manufacturer acquired the remarkable 104-gram Zambian emerald at Gemfields’ auction in May.

Two suspects offered to trade the woman a “winning” lottery ticket for her jewelry.

Finsch has been in business rescue since May, and owner Petra Diamonds said it sees no viable path forward for the mine.

Michel Patrick DeSalles was sentenced after pleading guilty to the 2017 murder of Omid Gholian, who owned a jewelry store in Manhattan.























