The Western star’s 14-karat gold signet ring sold for six times its low estimate following a bidding war at U.K. auction house Elmwood’s.
Jewelry Independent Summit Returning in February
The third conference will be held in New York on Feb. 3, taking on a new format of one-on-one discussions between moderator and expert.

New York—The Jewelry Independent Summit will be back in New York in two months.
The jewelry event is scheduled for Sunday, Feb. 3. (The exact location is disclosed to registrants only.)
While the educational summit is open to everyone in the industry, its main goal is to provide insight and support for designers to develop marketable and profitable businesses.
February’s event will serve as a “curated crash-course in all things jewelry” for those considering working in or who are already working in the industry, organizers said.
Every summit features experts from a range of backgrounds who take a deep dive into relevant topics like social media, sales, accounting and branding.
But rather than the group panels that have been featured in years past, this year’s summit will take on a new format with one-on-one discussions, whereby each speaker will be interviewed by a moderator and have an opportunity to share their individual expertise. They also will have the opportunity to answer questions from audience members and those streaming the summit remotely.
Organizers said the goal of the format change is for each speaker to be able to leave a larger impression on the audience by highlighting their specific skillset and expertise within the industry.
This installment will feature jewelry designer Polly Wales, Gem Jewelry Boutique owner Laura Kitsos, jewelry photographer Alain Simic, jewelry designer Sofia Ajram, Accounting for Jewelers founder Mariel Diaz, author and journalist Beth Bernstein, Barneys New York Associate Fine Jewelry Buyer John Massad, graduate gemologst and social media expert Benjamin Guttery and many more.
Attendees will have the opportunity to network with the speakers during the event.
There is a streaming option available for those who can’t attend the summit in person, launched with last year’s event.
This option allows registrants to tune in live or after the summit, and watch and rewind as many times as they would like for up to 30 days after the event. (In-person attendees receive a link to re-watch as well.)
This is the third time the Jewelry Independent Summit has been held.
Past speakers include designer Jade Trau, Barneys Senior Fine Jewelry Buyer Gurki Basra and T: The New York Times Style Magazine Senior Market Editor Angela Koh, among others.
Tickets for the Feb. 3 event can be purchased on its website. (Use code SUMMIT24 for a discount.)
Editor’s note: This story was updated post-publication to reflect correct
The Latest

The jewelry industry is reassessing its positioning as Gen Z reshapes the retail landscape and lab grown continues to gain market share.

A matching pair of 18.38-carat, D-color diamonds from Botswana’s Jwaneng mine sold for $3.3 million, the top lot of the jewelry auction.

With the trade and customer trust in mind, GIA® developed NextGem™ – on-demand training designed specifically for retail.

Sponsored by A Diamond Is Forever


The next generation of lapidarists are entrepreneurial, engaged online, and see the craft as a means for artistic expression.

It was the second auction appearance for the fancy vivid blue-green diamond, which sold for $7.8 million at Christie’s Geneva 12 years ago.

Gain access to the most exclusive and coveted antique pieces from trusted dealers during Las Vegas Jewelry Week.

Members of the U.S. Marshals Task Force took a 22-year-old man into custody. He was charged with tampering with evidence.

While the overall number of crimes was down, there were more incidences in which robbers pulled out guns, mace, or rammed cars into stores.

Jack Sutton Fine Jewelry is closing its store inside the downtown shopping center after 40 years in business.

Reena Ahluwalia’s painting of the rare red diamond is the first contemporary painting to join the National Gem Collection.

The price of gold has risen, affecting the number of pieces designers make, the materials they use, and how they position themselves.

Peter Smith gives tips on leading meetings, developing marketing, and making trade show appointments in the age of short attention spans.

The 11-piece “Medallions” capsule collection features five motifs: a crying eye, a heart on fire, a spiral, a flower, and a swallow.

From Gen Z’s view of luxury to “doom spending,” these are the six consumer trends to note this year.

The owners of Staats Jewelers are heading into retirement.

Jeffrey Gennette, who retired in 2024 after 41 years with Macy’s, is the newest member of the jewelry retailer’s board of directors.

May babies are lucky to have emeralds, a gemstone admired for centuries, as their birthstone, writes Amanda Gizzi.

The new module allows retailers to plan, promote, and measure the success of events from a single dashboard.

NDC said in an open letter that Pandora’s statements about the carbon footprint of lab grown versus natural diamonds are inaccurate.

The diamantaire and industry leader succeeds Feriel Zerouki and said he will focus on being a “champion” for natural diamonds.

She wore our Piece of the Week, Glenn Spiro’s “Old Moghul Golconda” earrings, featuring fancy brown-yellow diamonds totaling 51.90 carats.

Two pieces were named “Best in Show,” one from the retail category and one from the supplier category.

The jewelry retailer noted resilience among its higher-end customers while demand softened for its lower-priced offerings.

Led by the 6.59-carat sapphire, the sale garnered $9.7 million, a record total for a Heritage jewelry auction.

In his new role, sales specialist Billy Welshoff will focus on the eastern United States.
























