Sponsored by the Gemological Institute of America
R.I. Refinery to Host West Point Melt Ceremony
Fifty-four West Point class rings have been donated for the 16th annual Ring Melt Ceremony, which is taking place at Pease & Curren.

Warwick, R.I.--One Rhode Island refinery is playing a part in welding a bond between alumni of the United States Military Academy at West Point and this year’s senior graduating class.
Pease & Curren is hosting the West Point Association of Graduates 16th annual Ring Melt Ceremony, which is taking place today. The ceremony melts the donated rings of West Point alumni into a solid gold bar to be incorporated into the gold used to create the rings for the senior class.
This year, 54 rings ranging from 1914 to 1984 have been donated, with the oldest belonging to Maj. Gen. Jens Doe, a West Point graduate of the class of 1914 and the commanding officer of the 14th Machine Gun Battalion in World War I.
All the rings for the class of 2017 will contain not only part of the gold from this year’s donations but also a portion of all rings that have been donated since the Ring Melt Program launched with the class of 2002.
Prior to this year’s ceremony, 356 rings have been donated and melted, including rings from classes as far back as 1896 and as recent as 1997.
Each year, a sample is taken from the ingot of melted rings and then added to the melt of the following year to make sure that gold from all the rings that have been melted down is included in production of rings for the next class. The “legacy” sample is created to link today’s cadets with their predecessors.
Pease & Curren has hosted the ring melting ceremony for the past 14 years. Its involvement with the tradition began with a suggestion from the company’s then-vice president of sales, Keith Edwards, who was a USMA graduate with the class of 1985.
The Latest

Simon Wolf shares why the time was right to open a new office here, what he looks for in a retail partner, and why he loves U.S. consumers.

A third-generation jeweler, Ginsberg worked at his family’s store, Ginsberg Jewelers, from 1948 until his retirement in 2019.

The risk of laboratory-grown diamonds being falsely presented as natural diamonds presents a very significant danger to consumer trust.

The company failed to file its quarterly reports in a timely manner.


The organization also announced its board of directors.

Charms may be tiny but with their small size comes endless layering possibilities, from bracelets to necklaces and earrings.

Paola Sasplugas, co-founder of the Barcelona-based jewelry brand, received the Fine Jewelry Award.

A platinum Zenith-powered Daytona commissioned in the late ‘90s will headline Sotheby’s Important Watches sale in Geneva next month.

The Signet Jewelers-owned retailer wants to encourage younger shoppers to wear fine jewelry every day, not just on special occasions.

The 21 pieces, all from a private collector, will be offered at its Magnificent Jewels auction next month.

Lilian Raji answers a question from a reader who is looking to grow her jewelry business but has a limited marketing budget.

GCAL by Sarine created the new role to sharpen the company’s focus on strategic partnerships and scalable expansion.

The Indiana jeweler has acquired Scottsdale Fine Jewelers in Scottsdale, Arizona.

“Cartier: Design, Craft, and Legacy” opened earlier this month at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.

Van Cott Jewelers in Vestal, New York, is hosting a going-out-of-business sale.

Industry veteran Samantha Larson has held leadership roles at Borsheims, McTeigue & McClelland, Stuller, and Long’s Jewelers.
The two organizations will hold the educational event together this fall in Mississippi.

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

The Ukrainian brand’s new pendant is modeled after a traditional paska, a pastry often baked for Easter in Eastern European cultures.

The jeweler has announced a grand reopening for its recently remodeled location in Peoria, Illinois.

The “Strong Like Mom” campaign features moms who work at Tiffany & Co. and their children.

Interior designer Athena Calderone looked to decor from the 1920s and 1930s when crafting her first fine jewelry collection.

During a call about its full-year results, CEO Efraim Grinberg discussed how the company is approaching the uncertainty surrounding tariffs.

The free program provides educational content for jewelry salespeople and enthusiasts to learn or refresh their diamond knowledge.

The feedback will be used to prepare other jewelers for the challenges ahead, the organization said.