This year’s honorees include a Midwest retailer and two multi-store independents, one in New York and the other in New England.
JCK Announces 2016 Industry Fund Winners
This year, a total of six organizations--JA, DEF, DCA, JSA, JVC and JVC Canada--will share JCK’s annual grant, which totals more than $293,000.
Norwalk, Conn.--JCK announced this week that six organizations will share in its 18th annual Industry Fund grants.
The grants, which amount to more than $293,000 this year, will go to: Jewelers of America (JA), the Diamond Empowerment Fund (DEF), Diamond Council of America (DCA), Jewelers’ Security Alliance (JSA), Jewelers Vigilance Canada Inc. (JVC Canada) and Jewelers Vigilance Committee (JVC).
An Industry Fund Advisory Committee, consisting of representatives from JCK, retailers and manufacturers, selects fund recipients. Submissions of applications for the 2017 grants will begin in October.
Distributed each year, JCK’s fund grants awards to projects that improve the image of the jewelry industry in the eyes of the consumer, aid jewelry industry organizations in addressing problems in the industry and/or assist internal organizations and associations in developing training materials.
JA said it will use its grant to conduct consumer research that will help the industry gain a better understanding of the current retail landscape and, ultimately, be used to create a national consumer-focused marketing campaign for fine jewelry.
JVC Canada and JSA will use the money they receive to host a North American Jewelry Crime Conference in Toronto, scheduled to take place Sept. 26 to 28, while the DCA will provide scholarships to high school students participating in its Jewelry Industry Readiness Initiative.
The program takes DCA’s Diamond, Sales and Colored Gemstone courses into high schools throughout the United States, allowing students to graduate high school with a jewelry industry certification.
The JVC will continue to advocate for all sectors of the trade through its Industry Protection Program while DEF will continue to bring its “Diamonds Do Good” message to millennial consumers.
“We are pleased to stand behind the initiatives of this year’s JCK Industry Fund recipients,” said Yancy Weinrich, senior vice president, JCK. “This group is at the forefront of addressing current challenges for the jewelry industry including: security, protection, consumer confidence and education. This approach not only addresses these critical needs but also prepares the industry for the future by educating the next generation of consumers and industry professionals.”
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.