IndependentsAug 14, 2026
Smyth Jewelers to Open Fourth LocationThe family-owned jeweler will open a new showroom in Bel Air, Maryland, this fall.
Policies & IssuesDec 22, 2020
Here’s What’s in the New COVID-19 Relief Bill
The bill includes $325 billion in funds for small businesses.
Congress passed a $908 billion COVID-19 relief bill Monday after months of negotiations.
Washington—Congress passed a $908 billion COVID-19 relief bill after months of back and forth over what it should include, marking the second largest relief bill passed since the CARES Act.
The bill passed in the House 359 to 53, then passed in the Senate in a 92-6 vote just before midnight.
Attached to the 5,600-page bill is a separate bill to avoid a government shutdown for seven days.
President Donald Trump is expected to sign in the next few days.
Here are five highlights of what’s in the long-awaited relief package.
There will be stimulus checks.
A second round of stimulus checks are on the way, accounting for $166 billion of the funds.
Each adult in a household will receive $600 as well as $600 for each dependent, rather than the $1,200 per adult and $500 per dependent in the first round, according to a summary of the bill.
Households where some adults, like noncitizens, were ineligible in the first round will receive payments in this round.
Payments will be based on 2019 income and will not be available to individuals with adjusted gross incomes over $75,000 and married couples over $150,000.
For those who didn’t qualify in the first round because their income at the time was too high and for those who have new dependents, additional funds can be requested when filing 2020 tax returns in 2021.
Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin expects the first electronic payments to start going out by the beginning of next week.
Another round of Paycheck Protection Program loans is also on the way.
The bill includes $325 billion in funds for small businesses, including $284 billion for Paycheck Protection Program loans.
There is also $20 billion for Economic Injury Disaster Loans for businesses in low-income communities.
There is another $3.5 billion for continued Small Business Administration debt relief payments and another $2 billion for other SBA lending enhancements.
Small and underserved businesses in low-income communities may also be eligible for $10,000 Small Business Administration grants.
Businesses that have received PPP loans will also be able to take tax deductions for the expenses covered by the forgiven loan.
The bill also extends and expands the refundable Employee Tax Retention Tax Credit through July 1, 2021.
Unemployment benefits will be extended.
The unemployed may be eligible for an extra 11 weeks of jobless benefits, through March 14, including a $300-per-week federal unemployment subsidy.
Editors' Picks
Sponsored by
It is available to all workers receiving unemployment benefits, though lower than the previous $600 subsidy, which expired in July.
Some self-employed and gig workers may be eligible to receive an additional $100 per week.
The bill extends the amount of time that workers can claim benefits through state and federal programs.
Most states typically provide 26 weeks of jobless benefits, as per a CNBC report.
More than 20 million Americans are currently collecting unemployment benefits, according to the Labor Department.
The federal eviction ban will also be extended.
The bill extends the federal eviction prohibition until the end of January 2021.
There will also be $25 billion in funds available for rental assistance.
The Treasury Department will allocate the money to states based on population.
Tenants may meet the eligibility requirements if they make less than 80 percent of the median income in their area, have someone in their household who has lost a job, or can show they may lose their home without assistance.
Landlords can apply on behalf of eligible tenants.
There are also funds for health care, schools, testing and tracing, and vaccine distribution.
The bill provides $9 billion for health care providers as well as $4.5 billion for mental health.
The National Institutes of Health will receive $1 billion to continue COVID-19 research.
Testing and tracing programs will receive $22 billion, including $2.5 billion for rural areas and communities of color.
As for vaccines, the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority will receive around $20 billion to provide the vaccine while the Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention will receive $9 billion for vaccine distribution.
Another $3 billion will go toward the national stockpile and $300 million will be allocated to high-risk areas and communities of color.
Schools will receive a total $82 billion for public and private grade schools, high schools, and colleges. The majority of the money, $54.3 billion, will go to public schools.
“Clearly, there is more to be done –this is not a stimulus, this is an emergency survival bill, and we will fight for more relief under President Biden, because this crisis is not over,” said Senator Charles Schumer (D-NY) in a statement.
More on Policies & Issues
The Latest
CrimeAug 14, 2026
Wife of Man Convicted in Jeweler’s Murder Sentenced for Conspiracy Amanda Ileana Hernandez is married to Carlos Hernandez, one of two men in prison for the 2024 murder of Michigan jeweler Hussein Murray.
TrendsAug 14, 2026
Paul Morelli’s Latest ‘Wavey Vine’ Earrings Embrace ColorThe reimagined jewel, our Piece of the Week, trades the diamonds in the original 1998 design for blue, pink, yellow, and green sapphires.
Brought to you by
Why More Jewelry Retailers Are Hosting Turnkey Estate Buying EventsRetailers are seeking new ways to attract customers, increase traffic, and create revenue – Estate buying events are a popular solution.
Supplier BulletinAug 13, 2026
Your Piece Could Be the One Editors Talk AboutSponsored by American Gem Trade Association
Weekly QuizAug 13, 2026
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
FinancialsAug 13, 2026
Pandora’s ‘Talisman’ Collection Shines, Lab-Grown Diamond Sales FallIn the United States, second-quarter sales were flat amid soft consumer sentiment and lower in-store traffic.
AuctionsAug 13, 2026
This Gold Cadbury ‘Conundrum’ Egg Set a World Auction RecordThe 22-karat gold egg, sold at Batemans Auctioneers in the U.K., was part of a 1980s treasure hunt ad campaign for Cadbury Creme Eggs.
Brought to you by
Wedding Band Trends 2026: Personalization Takes Center StageColored gemstones, artisan finishes, mixed metals, and meaningful details are shaping demand in bridal jewelry.
SourcingAug 13, 2026
2,488-Carat Diamond, Largest Found in Botswana, Has a New Owner Lucara Diamond Corp., which recovered the “Motswedi” diamond from the Karowe mine, sold the stone for an undisclosed amount.
CollectionsAug 13, 2026
John Hardy Infuses ‘Icon,’ ‘Heishi’ Collections with ColorThe expanded collections now feature hand-cut gemstones like topaz, tanzanite, chrysoprase, chalcedony, smoky quartz, and fire opal.
Lab-GrownAug 13, 2026
Jean Dousset Opens Third StoreThe lab-grown diamond jewelry brand’s newest boutique is in Westfield Valley Fair in Santa Clara, California.
SourcingAug 12, 2026
Eshed-Gemstar on the Painstaking Process of Cutting ‘The Legacy Emerald’The gemstone supplier and manufacturer acquired the remarkable 104-gram Zambian emerald at Gemfields’ auction in May.
CrimeAug 12, 2026
Elderly NYC Woman Targeted in Jewelry Swap SchemeTwo suspects offered to trade the woman a “winning” lottery ticket for her jewelry.
SourcingAug 12, 2026
Another Diamond Mine Poised to CloseFinsch has been in business rescue since May, and owner Petra Diamonds said it sees no viable path forward for the mine.
CrimeAug 12, 2026
Jewelry Store Employee Gets 20 Years to Life in Choking Death of BossMichel Patrick DeSalles was sentenced after pleading guilty to the 2017 murder of Omid Gholian, who owned a jewelry store in Manhattan.
MajorsAug 12, 2026
Frederick Goldman Names New SVP of SalesLongtime industry executive Beth Miller has taken on the role.
AuctionsAug 11, 2026
Verdura Unicorn Brooch With Royal Connection Up for Auction 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.
MajorsAug 11, 2026
Signet Jewelers Selects Mattel Exec to Lead Zales, BanterJamie Cygielman will take on the role on Aug. 24.
IndependentsAug 11, 2026
Polly’s Fine Jewelry Co-Owner Richard Moore Dies at 69Moore, Polly’s husband, is remembered as a family man with an easygoing spirit and a love for sports and the outdoors.
ColumnistsAug 11, 2026
Creative Connecting: How to Sell Colored Gemstones to Gen ZDuvall O’Steen and Jen Cullen Williams share the best ways to display, present, and explain colored gemstones to younger customers.
Events & AwardsAug 11, 2026
NAJA Announces Lineup For 2026 Fall Virtual ConferenceThe mid-year conference for jewelry and watch appraisers will take place Sept. 5-6 on Zoom.
TechnologyAug 10, 2026
Colorado Jeweler Launches Customization Tool He Built HimselfHonest Hands Ring Co. Founder Benjamin Bosworth shared his thoughts on jewelry technology and why AI can never replace the human element.
MajorsAug 10, 2026
QVC Exits Chapter 11 Bankruptcy, Names New Interim CEOQVC Group President and CEO David Rawlinson is temporarily being replaced by a familiar face, former QVC CEO Mike George.
CollectionsAug 10, 2026
State Property Puts a Ripple in the ‘The Voyager’ CollectionThe brand also added two one-of-a-kind brown diamond pieces to the “Sanssouci” series of its “Gardens” collection.
MajorsAug 10, 2026
And IJO’s 2026 Vendor of the Year Is … Ostbye took home top vendor honors at the Independent Jewelers Organization’s show, held last month in Kentucky.
Supplier BulletinAug 07, 2026
Why More Jewelry Retailers Are Hosting Turnkey Estate Buying EventsSponsored by Stratus Estate Buyers
MajorsAug 07, 2026
Retail Veteran Pam Cloud Appointed President of Blue NileCloud, who will officially join Blue Nile on Monday, spent 26 years at Tiffany & Co. and founded jewelry brand Roseate.
