A 43-carat sapphire brooch from the Vanderbilt collection was the top lot of the Geneva sale.
New Jewelry Conference Welcomes Couch Potatoes
“The Couch Conference” is a two-day virtual event for retailers looking for guidance on how to weather the COVID-19 crisis.

New York—With jewelry trade shows and conferences on hold for the foreseeable future, the experts are turning to tech to connect with the industry.
The teams behind client management app Clientbook, marketing and media consultancy agency The Smithee Group, and jewelry website design firm Punchmark are holding “The Couch Conference,” a digital summit designed to share their combined sales, marketing and communications skills with retailers.
The conference will be held Thursday, April 16 and Friday, April 17 from 12 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. EST.
The theme of the event is “reset,” featuring sessions led by retail jewelers and consultants about how to navigate the COVID-19 crisis.
Noted speakers include Caryl Capeci, CEO of Chow Tai Fook North America and president of Hearts on Fire; John Carter, president of the American Gem Society; Tiffany Stevens, CEO, president and general counsel of the Jewelers Vigilance Committee; and Jennifer Markas, executive director of the Women’s Jewelry Association.
Sherry Smith, a National Jeweler columnist and the director of business at Edge Retail Academy, will hold “How to Prepare for Returning Back to Business” on Thursday, and Mariel Diaz, founder and managing director of Accounting for Jewelers LLC, will present a session on active budgeting Friday.
The latter session features a chance to win one free month of budgeting setup and training, including a customized setup of your business budget and one 15-minute one-on-one virtual training meeting per week for four weeks.
“Attendees should view The Couch Conference as a chance to transform your mindset, rethink your business strategy and prepare for what you can do to navigate toward greater success—all from the comfort of your couch,” said Ben Smithee, CEO of The Smithee Group, in a press release announcing the event.
The sessions, which are expected to be 15 to 20 minutes long, will be held via a webinar with a Q&A segment afterward.
The full speaker list and session lineup are available online.
In the spirit of fun, attendees will be nicknamed Couch Potatoes while the speakers will be called Spuds.
“We want it to be fun, casual and different from other available events, while still adding a tremendous amount of value,” said Ryan Blumenthal, vice president of business development of Clientbook and owner of Corinne Jewelers in Toms River, New Jersey.
“Spuds and Buds” happy hour events and giveaways will also be available.
Registration for the conference is $10, with all proceeds going to Feeding America,
For more information or to register for the conference, visit The Couch Conference website.
The Latest

Rau is a fourth-generation art and antique dealer from M.S. Rau gallery whose first jewelry collection merges artifacts with modern design.

Former De Beers sustainability leader Purvi Shah will take over the role in February 2026.

How Jewelers of America’s 20 Under 40 are leading to ensure a brighter future for the jewelry industry.
La Joux-Perret is based in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland, and makes solar quartz as well as mechanical watch movements.


She previously taught at Gem-A and is the founder of The Gem Academy.

The British actress and her daughter modeled pieces from the brand’s new “Palette” capsule for its “Once Upon a Time” holiday campaign.

Roseco’s 704-page catalog showcases new lab-grown diamonds, findings, tools & more—available in print or interactive digital editions.

Plus, the tech giant shares the steps retailers should take if they believe they’re a victim of a review extortion scam.

Danny and Gaby Shaftel are now Shaftel Diamonds’ CEO and chief operating officer, respectively.

The jewelry manufacturer’s seasonal offering features its new “Melodie” bangles, as well as mini stud earrings and layering pieces.

The Chapter 11 filing follows the resignation of CEO Moti Ferder, who stepped down after an investigation into the company’s finances.

Mark Wall, president and CEO of Canadian mining company Mountain Province Diamonds, will vacate his position next month.

Faustino Alamo Dominguez and his son, 25-year-old Luis Angel Alamo, were gunned down following an armed robbery at their jewelry store.

Tiffany & Co. veteran Jeffrey Bennett has stepped into the role.

The showroom is located in a historic 1920s building in the Playhouse District.

The Swiss government announced the deal, which cuts the tax on Swiss imports by more than half, on social media Friday morning.

A buyer paid $4.4 million for the piece, which Napoleon wore on his hat for special occasions and left behind when he fled Waterloo.

Plus, how tariffs and the rising price of gold are affecting its watch and jewelry brands.

Furmanovich designed the box to hold Mellerio’s “Color Queen,” a high jewelry collection consisting of 10 rings.

Jennifer Hopf, who has been with JCK since 2022, will lead the execution of the long-running jewelry trade show.

Adler’s Jewelry is set to close its two stores as 82-year-old owner Coleman E. Adler II retires.

Founder Jim Tuttle shared how a dedication to craftsmanship and meaningful custom jewelry fueled the retailer’s double-digit growth.

The third-generation jeweler is remembered as a passionate creative with a love of art, traveling and sailboat racing.

JSA and Cook County Crime Stoppers are both offering rewards for information leading to the arrest of the suspect or suspects involved.

A buyer paid $25.6 million for the diamond at Christie’s on Tuesday. In 2014, Sotheby’s sold the same stone for $32.6 million.

Mercedes Gleitze famously wore the watch in her 1927 swim across the English Channel, a pivotal credibility moment for the watchmaker.




















