The Latine-owned New York jeweler is marking two milestones this year: its 50th anniversary and the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks.
Nearly 100 Designers Have Banded Together to Help Feed Children
They’re donating proceeds of sales to the nonprofit No Kid Hungry in light of the coronavirus.

New York—At a time when many stores are closed and jewelry brands face economic uncertainties due to the coronavirus, a group of designers is focusing on ways to help those most in need.
Currently, 84 jewelry brands—and growing—are donating a portion of their sales to No Kid Hungry, a nonprofit dedicated to providing children and families with three meals a day.
Per the organization’s website, in a time of crisis, its work entails providing emergency grants to food banks and community groups, communicating how families can access meals while schools are closed and lobbying for Congress to pass emergency funds that benefit low-income families.
Each participating brand is advertising on its social media channels, using the hashtag #Linked.
The idea for the #Linked campaign grew out of a conversation between two fine jewelry publicists, Danielle Gadi, owner of her eponymous public relations firm, and Brielle Forman, associate director at IHPR.
“We were talking and realized we needed to do something,” Gadi told National Jeweler. “We decided that helping children who were going to be affected by all of these school closures was the best place to focus our efforts.”
With IHPR owner Jen Lowitz on board, last Saturday the three introduced the idea to their respective clients.
They left the percentage of proceeds of sales to donate, as well as the donation time frame, up to each brand.
“We didn’t want to set any boundaries,” Lowitz explained. “That tends to keep people from getting on board. The informality of it is what helped people to move so quickly. Without set donation guidelines it just made it easier for people to get involved in any way they could.”
Some designers are donating 15 percent of proceeds, others 30 percent, and for varying time periods, anywhere from a week to the end of the month to when schools reopen in a particular designer’s area.
Gadi, Forman and Lowitz spread the word about the #Linked campaign to other showrooms, publicists and designers with whom they had relationships and the word began to spread, as
Adina Reyter, Anita Ko, Ariel Gordon Jewelry, Arman Sarkisyan, Brent Neale, Colette, Dana Bronfman, Irene Neuwirth, Jacquie Aiche, KatKim, Marlo Laz, Melissa Kaye, Michelle Fantaci, Retrouvai, Nouvel Heritage, Santo by Zani and Zoe Chicco are just some of the brands involved.
“We have the ability to reach out to this incredibly supportive community all at once and it’s a quick way to mobilize people,” said Lowitz of the Instagram snowball effect.
Forman said, “It was a call to action to get people together. I think as more designers started posting other designers would see and reach out to us.”
In a few short days the number of brands participating grew from a handful to nearly 100, truly representing how “linked” the jewelry community is.
With most people hunkered down at home, #Linked was a project that resonated with designers, just as it hit home for the creators.
“As a parent watching all of this unfold and realizing the uncertainty [caused by coronavirus] for so many parents and kids was what really compelled us to use what we’ve got,” which was relationships and the ability to spread a message, Lowitz said.
Gadi said she worried about the impact of coronavirus on her own clients with children, as well parents all over the world who are without resources like food or childcare.
Focusing on how the jewelry world so easily connects for a good cause has provided some solace in uncertain times for the designers and companies involved.
Lowitz said, “The upside of this is the jewelry community is so responsive and supportive and it doesn’t feel competitive. Everyone was motivated by one another; there was really no bullshit between PR agencies or brands or showrooms. Everyone wants to get involved.”
Gadi, Forman and Lowitz now face a larger project than they anticipated, as designers continue to jump on board, but are looking forward to sustaining the effort of shopping for good.
“It’s not a one-time thing,” Forman explained. “We’re encouraging designers to keep posting to spread the message.”
“And if it can help our designers [gain sales] too, then it’s a win/win,” added Lowitz.
The sense of community #Linked is fostering is giving everyone involved hope for the future.
“Everybody is going to feel isolated,” said Lowitz. “Everyone is going to feel a little bit helpless. This is a connected community and this is a way for people to be able to help.”
“It’s the first time we’re all experiencing the same thing worldwide,” said Gadi. “We’re all in this together.”
The Latest

The stores that have a great December are the ones that made good decisions in August, September, and October, Sherry Smith writes.

The jewelry retail broadcast network has sponsored a new space for Make-A-Wish East Tennessee on its campus in Knoxville.

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

The recipients were recognized at the 24 Karat Club of the Southeastern United States’ annual banquet.


Keith Rolfe, CFO and COO of Lagos, is now at the jewelry brand’s helm while Steven takes on the role of executive chairman.

Alberto Perez-Elias is one of four men charged in the armed robbery of a Cape Coral, Florida, jewelry store and remains at large.

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

The “Kat Florence Luminas” will be offered together as one lot and could fetch up to $637,000.

Four directors were elected to the AGTA board and will serve three-year terms beginning in February.

Ken Citron joins the celebrity memorabilia-focused auction house ahead of its first week-long series of events in Abu Dhabi.

The jewelry retailer said it sees opportunity at higher price points, particularly in natural diamonds for bridal and fashion.

The Los Angeles-based, family-owned jeweler was founded by Lenny and Sunny Friedman in 1946.

The auction, held in Bangkok, was 96 percent sold by lot, with nearly 411,000 carats of Mozambiquan rubies sold.

Fine Jewelry 2027-2028 has more than 900 new styles, including silver, gold-filled, gold-plated sterling silver, and vermeil jewelry.

Learn more about the new terms for lab-grown diamonds and composite gemstones, and the major changes in store for precious metals jewelry.

Bromberg is remembered as a Southern gentleman who always wore a suit and tie and treated others with kindness.

With high durability and a wide range of colors to choose from, sapphires may be the ultimate birthstone, Gizzi claims.

Laughter is often considered a distraction in the workplace, but it has benefits for both staff and management, Peter Smith writes.

Gretchen Koback Pursel is the new chief people officer at the company formerly known as Saks Global.

The California jeweler is renovating its store in Fresno, with plans to show off the new space in December.

A lifelong practitioner of Pilates, Gabrielle looked to the springs’ tension and suspension when creating this ring, our Piece of the Week.

The deadline to apply is Nov. 13.

The auction house has promoted Remi Guillemin, formerly its head of watches for the Americas and EMEA, to the role.

Zaven Ghanimian discussed the value of human craftsmanship and where the implementation of artificial intelligence does work.

Jewelers of America also revealed the recipients of the Seymour & Evelyn Holtzman Bench Scholarship and its own scholarship programs.

The British actor, known for his roles in “Twilight” and “The Odyssey,” will star in a campaign for the Master Control Chronometre.
























