The Western star’s 14-karat gold signet ring sold for six times its low estimate following a bidding war at U.K. auction house Elmwood’s.
Women’s Jewelry Association Appoints New Executive Director
The organization also announced its headquarters have moved to New York City.

New York—The Women’s Jewelry Association has appointed Jennifer Markas as its new executive director, the organization announced earlier this month.
Markas hails from Tiffany & Co., previously serving as its sustainability reporting manager, her LinkedIn profile shows.
While with the company, she helped organize its first employee resource group for women.
Prior to that, Markas served as vice president of Citi Foundation, the charitable branch of Citibank, and has also worked in finance-related positions at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art and architecture firm Thomas Phifer & Partners.
Markas is the founder of “Damsels in Design,” an organization that supports women in the design industry via professional and educational opportunities.
She is also a board member of Manhattan Community Board 7, which serves the Upper West Side neighborhood.
Markas has a Bachelor of Science degree in business management and finance from Boston University and a Master of Arts in decorative arts and design history from Parsons School of Design at The New School in New York City.
Outgoing executive director Bernadette Mack stepped down effective today (Sept. 10) but will assist with the transition until the end of the month.
“Serving the members of the WJA for these many years has been a unique and valuable experience for me, though I am thrilled to be embarking on a new professional journey. I’m confident that the organization will continue to grow and flourish in this next stage of its evolution,” Mack said in an email to National Jeweler Monday.
The organization also announced it will move its headquarters to New York City, relocating to Park Avenue.
The Latest

The discussion, "Rebuilding the Jewelry Workforce," will take place on Saturday, May 16, in Troy, Michigan.

The jewelry industry is reassessing its positioning as Gen Z reshapes the retail landscape and lab grown continues to gain market share.

With the trade and customer trust in mind, GIA® developed NextGem™ – on-demand training designed specifically for retail.

A matching pair of 18.38-carat, D-color diamonds from Botswana’s Jwaneng mine sold for $3.3 million, the top lot of the jewelry auction.


Sponsored by A Diamond Is Forever

The next generation of lapidarists are entrepreneurial, engaged online, and see the craft as a means for artistic expression.

Gain access to the most exclusive and coveted antique pieces from trusted dealers during Las Vegas Jewelry Week.

It was the second auction appearance for the fancy vivid blue-green diamond, which sold for $7.8 million at Christie’s Geneva 12 years ago.

Members of the U.S. Marshals Task Force took a 22-year-old man into custody. He was charged with tampering with evidence.

While the overall number of crimes was down, there were more incidences in which robbers pulled out guns, mace, or rammed cars into stores.

Jack Sutton Fine Jewelry is closing its store inside the downtown shopping center after 40 years in business.

Reena Ahluwalia’s painting of the rare red diamond is the first contemporary painting to join the National Gem Collection.

The price of gold has risen, affecting the number of pieces designers make, the materials they use, and how they position themselves.

Peter Smith gives tips on leading meetings, developing marketing, and making trade show appointments in the age of short attention spans.

The 11-piece “Medallions” capsule collection features five motifs: a crying eye, a heart on fire, a spiral, a flower, and a swallow.

From Gen Z’s view of luxury to “doom spending,” these are the six consumer trends to note this year.

The partners have announced the second cycle of the program, which has expanded to include a $25,000 student scholarship.

The owners of Staats Jewelers are heading into retirement.

Jeffrey Gennette, who retired in 2024 after 41 years with Macy’s, is the newest member of the jewelry retailer’s board of directors.

May babies are lucky to have emeralds, a gemstone admired for centuries, as their birthstone, writes Amanda Gizzi.

The new module allows retailers to plan, promote, and measure the success of events from a single dashboard.

NDC said in an open letter that Pandora’s statements about the carbon footprint of lab grown versus natural diamonds are inaccurate.

The diamantaire and industry leader succeeds Feriel Zerouki and said he will focus on being a “champion” for natural diamonds.

She wore our Piece of the Week, Glenn Spiro’s “Old Moghul Golconda” earrings, featuring fancy brown-yellow diamonds totaling 51.90 carats.

Two pieces were named “Best in Show,” one from the retail category and one from the supplier category.

The jewelry retailer noted resilience among its higher-end customers while demand softened for its lower-priced offerings.























