SurveysApr 24, 2026
Mother’s Day 2026 Jewelry Spending to Top $7B, NRF SaysNRF’s annual survey found that 45 percent of consumers plan to purchase jewelry for a loved one this Mother’s Day.
Events & AwardsAug 26, 2014
MJSA bench conference, trade fair set for next month
The MJSA’s second Jeweler’s Bench Conference & Trade Fair has been scheduled for Sept. 13 to 14, returning to the Sheraton Providence Airport Hotel in Providence, R.I.
Attleboro, Mass.--The MJSA’s second Jeweler’s Bench Conference & Trade Fair has been scheduled for Sept. 13 to 14, returning to the Sheraton Providence Airport Hotel in Providence, R.I.
Dubbed “J-Bench,” the fair is meant for designers, custom designers and jewelry makers who work at the bench, as well as bench jewelers who run service, repair, custom and repurposing businesses.
The trade fair includes two days of education, suppliers offering various bench tools and supplies, CAD/CAM software and machines, laser welders and engravers, finishing supplies and systems, components, gemstones and chain, businesses services and software, and subcontracting services.
MJSA is also sponsoring a “Win a Free Bench” drawing for any attendee who registers and attends J-Bench on either day of the event.
This year, the education conference has been divided into two distinct days--one for jewelers who want to improve their business and marketing skills, and a second day for designers and bench jewelers to sharpen their bench skills.
The Better Business Strategies sessions were designed by the MJSA Education Foundation, and will run on Saturday, Sept. 13. Classes include how to stock a better bench, how to market your jewelry using social media, how to price repairs and custom designs to make a profit, and how to handle the operations and inventory side of a business.
Speakers will include Ann Cahoon, owner of Flying Marquis Studio in Boston and an instructor at the city’s North Bennet Street School; Joel McFadden, a custom designer and owner of Joel McFadden Designs in New Jersey; Marlene Richey, who ran a jewelry design firm and retail jewelry gallery and wrote Profiting By Design: A Jewelry Maker’s Guide to Business Success; and Peggy Jo Donahue, director of MJSA Education Foundation.
The Better Bench Work classes, developed by Metalwerx, a school and community studio for jewelry makers and metal artists in Massachusetts, will be held on Sunday, Sept. 14. The sessions will cover topics such as new discoveries of the possibilities and uses for pulse arc welding, explanations of the lost-wax casting process, saving time by designing wax models to incorporate findings, tips for modifying tools, and repairing and restoring cabochons.
Presenters include Sessin Durgham, a designer and member of the technical support team at Rio Grande in New Mexico; Daniel Grandi, owner of RaceCar Jewelry Co., a full-service investment casting and finishing shop in Rhode Island; and David Baird, a jewelry
Editors' Picks
Sponsored by
maker and lapidary expert who has sold his work across the country and teaches classes and workshops around New England.
Registration and more information about available classes and exhibitors can be found here.
For more information about exhibiting at MJSA’s Jeweler’s Bench Conference and Trade Fair, call 1-800-444-6572 or e-mail Director of Sales and Business Development Corrie Silvia Berry at Corrie.Silvia@mjsa.org.
More on Events & Awards
The Latest
TechnologyApr 24, 2026
TwentyFour’s Digital-Age Locket Is a Virtual VaultThe “Vault” charm, our Piece of the Week, expands on the memories that can be stored in a locket by connecting to your phone.
IndependentsApr 23, 2026
Meet the Real Moms of Day’s JewelersThe jeweler’s Mother’s Day campaign highlights the women who work there—mothers, grandmothers, women who want to be mothers, and dog moms.
Brought to you by
Discover Timeless Treasures: A Showcase of Antique Jewelry & Timepieces in Las VegasGain access to the most exclusive and coveted antique pieces from trusted dealers during Las Vegas Jewelry Week.
Supplier BulletinApr 23, 2026
JM® Shipping Solution: Smarter Shipping for High-Value GoodsSponsored by Jewelers Mutual
Weekly QuizApr 23, 2026
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
Lab-GrownApr 23, 2026
Charles & Colvard May Sell Assets for $1.5MThe proposed agreement follows the moissanite maker’s Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection filing last month.
AuctionsApr 23, 2026
John Jacob Astor IV’s Titanic Pocket Watch Fetches $1MThe Patek Philippe for Tiffany & Co. timepiece Astor brought aboard the ill-fated ship sold for double its estimate at a Freeman’s auction.
Brought to you by
Las Vegas Antique Jewelry & Watch Show: Showcasing the Most Collectible Merchandise from Across the GlobeGain access to the most exclusive and coveted antique pieces from trusted dealers during Las Vegas Jewelry Week.
CollectionsApr 23, 2026
Adam Neeley’s High Jewelry Collection Steps Into Salvador Dalí’s GardenThe “Dalí’s Garden” collection was inspired by a surreal dream Neeley had after cooking a recipe from Salvador Dalí’s 1973 cookbook.
IndependentsApr 23, 2026
Windsor Jewelers Names New Buying DirectorNatalie Feanny has been appointed to the role.
CrimeApr 22, 2026
New Mexico Couple Pleads Guilty to Selling Fake Native American JewelryThe pair falsely claimed their jewelry was made by Navajo artists, but it was imported from Vietnam.
AuctionsApr 22, 2026
Roberta Flack’s Jewelry Is Going Up for AuctionJulien’s Auctions is selling the musician’s fine and fashion jewelry alongside her clothing, gold records, and other memorabilia.
CollectionsApr 22, 2026
British Museum Curator Pens Book on ‘The Tudor Heart’Rachel King’s book dives into the history of the pendant believed to have belonged to Henry VIII and his first wife, Katherine of Aragon.
WatchesApr 21, 2026
Coco Chanel Enters the Game with New Watch CollectionGabrielle “Coco” Chanel is a character in the “Coco Game” collection of watches and the queen in its first haute horlogerie chessboard.
IndependentsApr 21, 2026
Meet Jewelers of America’s 2026 ‘20 Under 40’ ClassThe annual list honors rising professionals on the retail and supply sides of the jewelry industry.
CrimeApr 21, 2026
Customs Nabs 1,500 Pieces of Counterfeit Jewelry Bound for NYCSeized in Kentucky, the packages include fake Cartier, Tiffany & Co., Chanel, and Fendi jewelry.
CrimeApr 20, 2026
Queens Man Convicted in Bludgeoning Death of Pawn Shop OwnerRodolfo Lopez-Portillo faces 25 years to life in prison after being found guilty in the March 2022 beating death of Arasb Shoughi.
TrendsApr 20, 2026
Beth Bernstein, Sonia Esther Soltani Pen New Jewelry Book“Jewelry Creators: Dynamic Duos and Generational Gems” highlights the relationships among 22 influential designers, brands, and gem dealers.
Events & AwardsApr 20, 2026
Atlanta Jewelry Show’s Spring Event Is Hitting the RoadThe AJS Spring 2027 show will be held in Savannah, Georgia, with future shows taking place in other Southeast cities.
MajorsApr 20, 2026
Kendra Scott Names New CFO, Chief Business OfficerThe jewelry retailer plans to open 20 new stores this year and expand into new product categories.
TrendsApr 17, 2026
New (Groundbreaking) Floral Jewelry for Spring 2026Flower motifs are the jewelry trend blooming amongst the new collections that debuted this spring.
MajorsApr 17, 2026
QVC Group Files for Chapter 11 BankruptcyThe retailer reported an 8 percent decline in annual sales as it struggles under the weight of billions of dollars of debt.
CollectionsApr 17, 2026
Edina Kiss’ Earrings Are the Devil on Your ShoulderThe “Devil” drop earrings, our Piece of the Week, are part of designer Edina Kiss’ new namesake jewelry line that she will show at Couture.
CrimeApr 17, 2026
FBI Issues Warning to Refineries, Retailers Due to High Price of GoldThe alert states that burglary crews are targeting jewelry businesses and details how jewelers and refineries can protect themselves.
WatchesApr 16, 2026
Cartier Brings Back the RoadsterThe “watchmaker of shapes” debuted the reworked version of the vintage sports car-inspired timepiece at Watches & Wonders.
IndependentsApr 16, 2026
Edge Retail Academy Updates Leadership TeamAs demand for jewelry retail coaching grows, the company has established a dedicated business coaching leadership team.
MajorsApr 16, 2026
Stuller’s Latest Mountings Catalog Is Out NowThe “Mountings 2026-2027” catalog showcases Stuller’s largest and most diverse assortment to date with more than 400 new mounting styles.
