The “River of Heaven” necklace, our Piece of the Week debuting at Couture, combines 26 salt and pepper diamonds spaced by Tahitian pearls.
DEF launches consumer-facing website
The Diamond Empowerment Fund now is telling the story of the good that diamonds do around the world directly to consumers.
The New York-based nonprofit just launched DiamondsDoGood.com, a website built in partnership with The Condé Nast Media Group. The site gives a history of the stones and shares stories of the good diamond and jewelry companies are doing today.
Stories shared on the site include Rio Tinto’s program that brings water to villages in rural India, the successes of three DEF student scholars, De Beers’ enterprise-building programs in South Africa, the education of women on maternal and children’s health in rural China by retailer Chow Tai Fook, and the giving back the industry does in the United States through Jewelers for Children.
Additional programs from the industry will be featured on the site throughout 2015.
“There has been a void in communication of the vast amount of good the industry does,” DEF co-founder Benjamin Chavis said. “This website will help fill that void.”
Supporting the website are accounts on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
A grant from the JCK Industry Fund made development and the first phase of the website possible.
Founded by Chavis, business mogul Russell Simmons and diamond industry leaders in 2007, DEF works to empower diamond-producing communities worldwide. Its beneficiaries include CIDA City Campus in South Africa; the African Leadership Academy, a university preparatory school in Johannesburg; and the Botswana Top Achievers program, which gives that country’s top high school students the chance to study at the college of their choice anywhere in the world.
The Latest

This year’s inductees include second-, third-, and fourth-generation jewelers.

The author, speaker, and entrepreneur will give his presentation, “Spiritual Billionaire,” on Saturday morning.

As gold prices rise, today’s retailers are looking for alternatives at prices that will appeal to wider audiences.

Three-time Grammy award-winning artist Nelly is set to perform at the annual event at Tao Beach on Sunday night.


Signet will integrate the online-only, natural diamond-focused jeweler into Blue Nile, which it wants to position as a higher-end retailer.

These up-and-coming jewelry brands are bringing their distinct aesthetic and unique point-of-view to the Design Atelier for the first time.

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

The lab’s proprietary diamond cut grade has been expanded to include the popular fancy shape.

This year, it’s what could happen outside of show hours that worries JSA Executive Vice President Scott Guginsky.

High-end fashion houses know how to emotionally connect with customers online. Retail jewelers should take note, Emmanuel Raheb writes.

The designers are the third cohort of mentees from the show’s Belonging @ Couture mentorship program.

Buying discipline at trade shows starts with clarity about your inventory levels, Smith writes.

The trade show’s education series returns, with sessions on retail trends, AI, watches, marketing, corporate responsibility, and more.

The Curated Designer Project has expanded to highlight eight independent jewelry designers during CBG’s Las Vegas show.

Bring a cool tone to your summer jewelry with these white metal pieces.

The deal closed this week, which means Instore will produce the JA NY show slated to take place this fall.

The company’s jewelry sales were up in Q4 and the fiscal year, with Richemont raising prices in part because of the cost of gold.

The “Bauble” capsule collection of colorful one-of-a-kinds includes our Piece of the Week, the “Bauble” earrings, featuring rose zircon.

The updated catalog has a newly dedicated section for gift wrapping.

Everett covers colored stones’ surging popularity, the mellow return of the “Mellon Blue,” and his “The Devil Wears Prada” doppelgänger.

Fourth-generation CEO Lilly Mullen wants to emphasize experience, connection, and personalized service.

The new award, created in partnership with Henne Jewelers, honors the late designer’s legacy through supporting jewelry education.

The NYPD is warning elderly New Yorkers to keep their jewelry hidden when walking outside to avoid being a target.

Designer Viviana Langhoff has realized her dream of owning a space for her Chicago jewelry store that looks and feels like her brand.

The sessions will run from Friday, May 29, to Sunday, May 31, with one being a live taping of an episode of Couture’s podcast.

Former Stephanie Gottlieb Fine Jewelry executive Morgan P. Richardson is joining the lab-grown diamond jewelry brand.


























