The family-owned jeweler will open a new showroom in Bel Air, Maryland, this fall.
CPAA Launches $250,000 Digital Marketing Campaign
It focuses on social media advertising to promote its online pearl education course.

New York--The Cultured Pearl Association of America has launched a digital marketing campaign to help drive interest in pearl education and consumer demand.
The $250,000 campaign, funded by the Tahitian Pearl Association of French Polynesia, will promote the organization’s online pearl education course, PearlsAsOne.org.
Jeremy Shepherd, CPAA treasurer and founder of PearlParadise.com and Pearl-Guide.com, created the CPAA’s Pearl Specialist Certification Course in 2016 in partnership with some of the world’s largest pearl producers, including the Tahitian Pearl Association of French Polynesia, Jewelmer, the Japan Pearl Exporters’ Association and Atlas Pearls.
The course brings together expertise from pearl farmers, retailers, processors, wholesalers and importers.
It is divided into 10 modules and covers topics like the history of the pearl industry, pearl valuation and current production methods.
“Most industry education focuses on diamonds and colored gemstones, and we discovered that many jewelry experts don’t have a deep understanding of pearls and how to appraise them,” Shepherd said about its creation.
The CPAA said to date, more than 20,000 people have taken the English-language course (it’s also available in six other languages).
Now, its marketing initiatives will focus heavily on social media to drive interest in the course as well as demand for pearls.
“Pearls have the most inspiring story in all of jewelry, and the monies made available by the TPAFP are being strategically spent to create knowledgeable collectors and fans all over the world,” said CPAA Executive Director Jennifer Heebner.
The Latest

Amanda Ileana Hernandez is married to Carlos Hernandez, one of two men in prison for the 2024 murder of Michigan jeweler Hussein Murray.

The reimagined jewel, our Piece of the Week, trades the diamonds in the original 1998 design for blue, pink, yellow, and green sapphires.

Retailers are seeking new ways to attract customers, increase traffic, and create revenue – Estate buying events are a popular solution.

Sponsored by American Gem Trade Association


In the United States, second-quarter sales were flat amid soft consumer sentiment and lower in-store traffic.

The 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.

Colored gemstones, artisan finishes, mixed metals, and meaningful details are shaping demand in bridal jewelry.

The expanded collections now feature hand-cut gemstones like topaz, tanzanite, chrysoprase, chalcedony, smoky quartz, and fire opal.

The lab-grown diamond jewelry brand’s newest boutique is in Westfield Valley Fair in Santa Clara, California.

Two suspects offered to trade the woman a “winning” lottery ticket for her jewelry.

Finsch has been in business rescue since May, and owner Petra Diamonds said it sees no viable path forward for the mine.

Michel Patrick DeSalles was sentenced after pleading guilty to the 2017 murder of Omid Gholian, who owned a jewelry store in Manhattan.

Longtime industry executive Beth Miller has taken on the role.

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.

Jamie Cygielman will take on the role on Aug. 24.

Moore, Polly’s husband, is remembered as a family man with an easygoing spirit and a love for sports and the outdoors.

Duvall O’Steen and Jen Cullen Williams share the best ways to display, present, and explain colored gemstones to younger customers.

The mid-year conference for jewelry and watch appraisers will take place Sept. 5-6 on Zoom.

Honest Hands Ring Co. Founder Benjamin Bosworth shared his thoughts on jewelry technology and why AI can never replace the human element.

QVC Group President and CEO David Rawlinson is temporarily being replaced by a familiar face, former QVC CEO Mike George.

The brand also added two one-of-a-kind brown diamond pieces to the “Sanssouci” series of its “Gardens” collection.

Ostbye took home top vendor honors at the Independent Jewelers Organization’s show, held last month in Kentucky.

Sponsored by Stratus Estate Buyers

Cloud, who will officially join Blue Nile on Monday, spent 26 years at Tiffany & Co. and founded jewelry brand Roseate.

Garcia will take over from the company’s current CFO, Anders Boyer, who is retiring at the end of November.

Etsy CEO Kruti Patel Goyal explained why the company is letting go more than 200 employees as its performance improves.






















