Smith offers retailers guidance on creating an environment where natural and lab-grown diamonds can both thrive.
9 Sessions to Educate at JA New York Summer
Debunking millennial myths and swapping ideas about margins and the direction of retail are just a few of the seminars on tap for the upcoming show.

New York--Debunking millennial myths and swapping ideas about margins and the direction of retail are just a few of the sessions on tap for the upcoming JA New York Summer show.
Produced by Jewelers of America and sponsored by Synchrony Financial, the show’s education program will take place on Sunday, July 24, and Monday, July 25. They are free to attend.
Kicking it off will be Ben Smithee, who will give a millennial-focused presentation titled “Enough Already! Why You’re Sick of the Millennial Madness & Why Most of What You Know Is Probably Wrong.”
In his talk, Smithee will explain what really matters for businesses that want to be successful today, how to attract the consumers of today and tomorrow, and why a lot of what people say about millennials is actually wrong.
“Enough Already!” is scheduled to take place from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. on Sunday.
In addition to Smithee’s talk and sessions on natural color diamonds, marketing analysis, legislative advocacy, social media, online connections and the bridal market, JA has organized two knowledge-sharing sessions in which audience participation will be the core of the discussion.
“Boosting Your Margins” is scheduled to take place Sunday from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m., while “What Will Become of Retail Jewelry Stores,” a discussion led by National Jeweler Editor-in-Chief Michelle Graff and columnist Peter Smith, is scheduled for 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. on Monday.
In that session, Smith will take questions from the audience about his über-popular series of articles published on NationalJeweler.com.
To see the full schedule for the education sessions or to register for JA New York Summer, visit the show’s website.
The JA New York Summer show runs Sunday, July 24, through Tuesday, July 26, at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center.
In addition to producing the education program, JA will offer its Sales and Management Professional Certification exams onsite at the show.
The exams will take place between 10 a.m. and noon on July 24 and 25 in room 4A3 in the Javits Center. The tests take two hours and are $55 for JA members and $75 for non-members. Those who register in advance will receive a $10 discount.
JA also announced that as a benefit of membership, its retail members are pre-registered to attend the show as buyers, and that it is offering a buyer discount program that allows members to save via discounts from participating exhibitors.
The Latest

The 12-piece capsule collection transforms from brooches to pendants.

A Botswana government official told lawmakers Anglo has selected The Global Diamond Consortium, an entity chaired by Penny, to buy De Beers.

Colored gemstones, artisan finishes, mixed metals, and meaningful details are shaping demand in bridal jewelry.

The new tariff, imposed after a Trump administration study, is 25 percent and will stack on top of existing tariffs.


The collection from 2014 has been reinterpreted into high jewelry with its signature triangular-shaped elements.

She will also take on the role of vice president of jewelry for SmartWork Media, a newly created position.

DCA is preparing the next generation of professionals by supporting workforce development, leadership growth, and career advancement.

Woodley is seen in the campaign wearing our Piece of the Week, the “Frida” collar featuring 13 pieces of hand-carved Venetian glass.

A WeBuyVintage jewelry expert uncovered how much the flea market find was actually worth.

The founder of natural colored diamond wholesaler Pancis Gems shares stories from his five decades in the industry.

Submissions for the milestone 25th annual Gem Awards will be accepted across three categories from now through July 31.

Valeriya Guzema and Mariana Lenha look back on the last decade and discuss the Ukrainian brand’s first U.S. store.

The diamond mine, which opened nearly 30 years ago in Canada’s Northwest Territories, is expected to shut down by mid-August.

Jewelry sales for the company, which owns Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels, Vhernier, and Buccellati, rose 21 percent in the first quarter.

The graduate, Grace Barden, credited the program with helping her secure a job as a bench jeweler.

The event, scheduled for next month in New Orleans, will include dinner, a custom jewelry design contest, and education sessions.

The yet-to-be named stone is the 10th diamond weighing more than 1,000 carats to come out of Lucara’s Karowe mine.

The founder of Fords Jewelers, Berman is remembered for his love of connecting with his community.

The watch and jewelry retailer had a strong fiscal year despite what its CEO described as a “complex operating backdrop.”

The open-to-the-public luxury jewelry and timepiece show, in its second year, is slated for July 23-26.

Bold color, expressive gem-setting, and sculptural form define the three chapters that make up “Stile Libero.”

The New York-based jewelry brand has expanded overseas, opening a store in London’s Mayfair district.

Rising revenue does not automatically mean a healthy business, particularly in the current economic landscape, Smith writes.

These long, fluid drop earrings are sure to catch the eye.

Alberto Perez-Elias is one of four men charged with robbing a Cape Coral, Florida, jewelry store and is the only one still at large.

Initiatives in Art and Culture is hosting its 16th annual Gold and Diamond Conference, with the theme of “Resilience.”






















