The retailers at the top of the list offer affordable products and fun, discovery-fueled experiences.
Designer Zoltan David to Keynote Portland Jewelry Symposium
The two-day event is back Sept. 29 and 30.

Portland, Oregon—This year’s Portland Jewelry Symposium is all about metal and machinery.
The official theme of the two-day event, happening Sept. 29 and 30 at the Sentinel Hotel in Portland, Oregon, is “Metals—Methods, Machines and Mastery.”
Teresa Frye, founder of the Portland Jewelry Symposium, said in a press release: “Understanding and exploiting the intrinsic characteristics of a metal, whether through design, casting methods or tailored bench techniques, is very powerful for makers.
“The design pallet becomes broader when one can harness not only the aesthetic property of an alloy but also the technical underpinnings that lead to the production of a high-quality piece.”
Sunday, Sept. 29 will feature afternoon breakout sessions—new to the event this year—on topics including Jewelry Forensics, Basic Metallurgy for Jewelers, Legal Considerations for Custom Design and Inlay Techniques.
Award-winning jewelry designer Zoltan David will provide the Sunday evening keynote, speaking on his inspirations and how he practically applies them to his art.
“Zoltan is a true master of designing and creating in diverse metals and we are thrilled to have him delivering the keynote this year,” Frye said.
The program for Monday, Sept. 30 will cover manufacturing techniques in contemporary metals, a panel on jewelry casting, and a business and finance presentation, among other educational sessions.
The complete speaker lineup is online.
Contact Sarah Loveland for more information at sloveland@techformcasting.com or 503-320-1873.
The Latest

Daniel Bing was formerly the marketing director for the Americas at Vacheron Constantin.

In our Piece of the Week, the designers reimagine the tennis bracelet with green enamel wrapped around a strand of “Desert Diamonds.”

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

The industry veterans join the podcast to discuss diamond marketing, the FTC Jewelry Guides, and lobbying for lower tariffs.


Founder Vik Westermann said the app is a “starting point” to inspire people to work with appraisers and gem labs, not replace them.

The Verdura brooch, which belonged to the late Virginia Fortune Ryan Ogilvy, was sold to a private collector in Asia.

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

Steven Lerche is now beginning his term as the youngest member to become president of The Plumb Club’s elected executive committee.

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.

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.

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.

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.






















