This year’s honorees include a Midwest retailer and two multi-store independents, one in New York and the other in New England.
Major chain begins selling 3-D printers
The Home Depot has started carrying MakerBot desktop 3-D printers at 12 of its stores across California, Illinois, and New York as part of a new pilot program.

New York--The Home Depot has started carrying MakerBot desktop 3-D printers at 12 of its stores across California, Illinois, and New York as part of a new pilot program.
The partnership between the two marks the first time that The Home Depot has offered 3-D printers for sale in its stores, and brings the possibility of 3-D printing to even more consumers.
The Home Depot said it will showcase the MakerBot 3-D Printing and Scanning products inside their stores in specially designed kiosks, and trained MakerBot retail staff also will provide demonstrations and offer 3-D printed “keepsakes” to educate shoppers and help them with purchase decisions.
The stores carrying the MakerBot Replicator 3-D printing products are located in Emeryville, East Palo Alto, San Carlos, Los Angeles, West Hills, and Huntington Beach, Calif.; Naperville, Ill. as well as three locations in Chicago and two stores in New York City.
These stores will be selling the MakerBot Replicator Mini Compact 3-D printer ($1,375) and the MakerBot Replicator Desktop 3-D Printer ($2,899), as well as MakerBot PLA Filament in various colors, which start at $15 for a small spool $43 for a large spool.
The Home Depot also is selling the printers on its website.
In recent months, a number of companies have been bringing more 3D printers and their associated products in front of jewelers for the possibility of printing prototypes and designs.
In March, U.K.-based Cooksongold announced that it would launch its M 080 direct metal laser sintering machine along with its associated precious metal powders in North America, meant for all aspects of the trade, including jewelry manufacturers, retailers and designers.
RELATED CONTENT: Industry vets partner to sell 3D printers
This was followed shortly by the news from two longtime industry players--J. Tyler Teague, an independent consultant in the jewelry industry and owner of JETT Research, and Jeff Hoover of Jeff Hoover Designs--that they were launching a new company called Proto Products to sells products for 3D printing and casting and provide support for the trade.
But among the most recent 3D news aimed at the industry was that MadeSolid Inc. is introducing a consumer-grade resin for printing, making the option of 3D printers open to more jewelers with its accessible price point.
The Latest

As an homage to iconic crochet blankets, the necklace features the nostalgic motif through a kaleidoscope of cabochon-cut stones.

Discover the dozen up-and-coming brands exhibiting in the Design Atelier for the first time.

When investing in your jewelry business, it's important not to overlook the most crucial element of success: the sales associates.

The “Royal Ruby” Collection is a quintet of untreated rubies curated by collector Jack Abraham.


The entrepreneur and “Shark Tank” star will share his top tips for success.

Meredith Tiderington, an electrical engineering student, was selected for the award.

More shoppers are walking out without buying. Here’s how smart jewelers can bring them back—and the tool they need to do it right.

It will quit assigning the stones specific color and clarity grades in favor of applying “new descriptive terminology.”

From design trends to sustainability, here’s a roundup of can’t-miss education sessions at JCK Las Vegas.

The Jewelers’ Security Alliance offers advice for those attending the annual trade shows.

The designer is embracing bold pieces with weight to them in “AU79,” a collection she celebrated with a creative launch party.

On an earnings call, CEO J.K. Symancyk discussed what’s working for the company and how it’s preparing for the potential impact of tariffs.

The index partially rebounded after months of decline, due in part to the U.S.-China deal to temporarily reduce import tariffs.

The actress stars in the latest campaign set in Venice, Italy, and is set to participate in other creative initiatives for the jeweler.

The company has joined other labs, including GIA and Lotus Gemology, in adopting the Chinese term for "jadeite jade."

The large stone will be offered at its June sale along with a selection of secondary-type rubies from a new area of the Montepuez mine.

Located in Bangkok, the laboratory is Gemological Science International’s 14th location worldwide.

Those born in June have a myriad of options for their birthstone jewelry.

The diamond industry veteran has been named its senior sales executive.

The company plans to raise the prices of select watches to offset the impact of tariffs.

Between tariffs and the sky-high cost of gold, designers enter this year’s Las Vegas shows with a lot of questions and few answers.

Designed by founder Renato and his daughter Serena Cipullo, it showcases a flame motif representing unity and the power of gathering.

However, the tariffs remain in effect in the short term, as an appeals court has stayed the U.S. Court of International Trade’s decision.

The pop icon is one step closer to launching her “B Tiny” jewelry collection, a collection she first began posting about last fall.

Sponsored by Stuller

It was featured in the miner’s latest sale, which brought in $24.8 million.