The gemstone supplier and manufacturer acquired the remarkable 104-gram Zambian emerald at Gemfields’ auction in May.
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

Two suspects offered to trade the woman a “winning” lottery ticket for her jewelry.

Finsch has been in business rescue since May, and owner Petra Diamonds said it sees no viable path forward for the mine.

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

Michel Patrick DeSalles was sentenced after pleading guilty to the 2017 murder of Omid Gholian, who owned a jewelry store in Manhattan.


Longtime industry executive Beth Miller has taken on the role.

The brooch was owned by Virginia Fortune Ryan Ogilvy, who served as a lady of the bedchamber to Queen Elizabeth II for nearly 50 years.

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

Jamie Cygielman will take on the role on Aug. 24.

Moore, Polly’s husband, is remembered as a family man with an easygoing spirit and a love for sports and the outdoors.

Duvall O’Steen and Jen Cullen Williams share the best ways to display, present, and explain colored gemstones to younger customers.

Honest Hands Ring Co. Founder Benjamin Bosworth shared his thoughts on jewelry technology and why AI can never replace the human element.

QVC Group President and CEO David Rawlinson is temporarily being replaced by a familiar face, former QVC CEO Mike George.

The brand also added two one-of-a-kind brown diamond pieces to the “Sanssouci” series of its “Gardens” collection.

Ostbye took home top vendor honors at the Independent Jewelers Organization’s show, held last month in Kentucky.

Sponsored by Stratus Estate Buyers

Cloud, who will officially join Blue Nile on Monday, spent 26 years at Tiffany & Co. and founded jewelry brand Roseate.

Garcia will take over from the company’s current CFO, Anders Boyer, who is retiring at the end of November.

Etsy CEO Kruti Patel Goyal explained why the company is letting go more than 200 employees as its performance improves.

The “Star Gazer” pendant, our Piece of the Week, is Syna’s tribute to curiosity and the discovery of something new.

Museum officials are looking to the public to help cover the “exceptional” costs involved in recovering from the July 5 smash-and-grab.

The overhaul includes enhanced employee safety training and trendy earring styles, including lab-grown diamond studs.

The retailer said it had its biggest Mother’s Day ever, with strong demand for higher-priced jewelry.

“Handwork: Handcrafted Objects that Made America” features historic and contemporary works, including a Diné squash blossom necklace.

The Armenian Jewelers Association’s East Coast chapter has also elected its 2026–2027 board of directors.

Onyx Partners has submitted a second offer to buy the department stores after its first offer fell through last year.

Solomon Brothers Jewelers has partnered with local cocktail bar Roaring Social on a new martini garnished with a tennis necklace.




















