The “River of Heaven” necklace, our Piece of the Week debuting at Couture, combines 26 salt and pepper diamonds spaced by Tahitian pearls.
US Retailer Carrying Bridal Line Using Fairtrade Gold
Reflective Images in Santa Fe, New Mexico has become the exclusive retailer for U.K. jeweler Greg Valerio’s line in the United States.

Santa Fe, N.M.--A New Mexico jeweler has become the first U.S. retailer to sell a complete collection of bridal jewelry producing using Fairtrade gold.
Reflective Jewelry in Santa Fe has started carrying Valerio Jewelry’s “Classic” bridal collection, created by United Kingdom-based activist and bench jeweler Greg Valerio.
The line will be sold exclusively at Reflective Jewelry’s boutique in Santa Fe as well as on the retailer’s website.
While Reflective Jewelry, which is the only certified Fairtrade gold jeweler in the United States, already produced some wedding rings and the majority of their bi-metal earrings, pendants and bracelets in Fairtrade gold, the company said the addition of the Valerio brand will “bring meaningful progress to the ethical jewelry space in the U.S.,” which trails the U.K. and European Union in both industry awareness and consumer understanding of Fairtrade gold.
“When Fairtrade gold is as well-known as Fairtrade coffee and chocolate, consumers will be able to have jewelry that represents fair and ethical trading practices and, at the same time, hundreds of thousands of people in small-scale mines around the world will be empowered to live better lives,” Reflective Jewelry President Marc Choyt said.
Fairtrade gold is part of the London-based Fairtrade Foundation, which works to ensure better prices, decent working conditions and fair trade for small-scale workers in a variety of industries, from various types of agriculture to gold mining.
There are more than 4,500 Fairtrade products--Fairtrade coffee is probably the most well-known and well marketed--and any item bearing the Fairtrade mark has been produced by organizations or farms that meet Fairtrade social, economic and environmental standards.
Reflective Jewelry is a brand of Reflective Images Inc., which was founded in 1995 by Choyt and his wife, Helen Chantler.
The company’s business is built around ethical sourcing. It won a Sustainable Santa Fe award in 2014 and the 2010 Jewelers That Care national award for ethical leadership in the jewelry sector.
Choyt, along with Valerio, first met at the Madison Dialogue Ethical Jewelry Summit in 2007 and have worked together on campaigns and projects through the organization they founded, the Fair Jewelry Action network.
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.


























