CrimeDec 17, 2025
Man Pleads Not Guilty to Swallowing Fabergé PendantThe special-edition egg pendant ingested in a New Zealand jewelry store was recovered after a six-day wait.
EditorsDec 12, 2014
Retail words of the year, part III
I’ll start off this blog with a short confessional but not the scary, priest-behind-the-screen, say-10-Hail-Marys-type from my youth.
Fortunately for me, the fog lifted when I was interviewing a retailer last week for our Black Friday weekend sales roundup.
During the course of our conversation, she told me that one of the biggest issues she is confronting, and will continue to confront, as a longtime jeweler is the ongoing battle between the old and the new ways of doing things. How much should she conform in order to keep up with the crowd versus standing her ground as a traditional seller of fine jewelry? Should she discount deeply, stock non-precious pieces, drop her standards on quality?
These dilemmas are not unlike what I face as a journalist today, and that’s why this particular retailer interview stuck with me.
Just like yours, my industry has changed substantially because of the Internet, and not all the changes are good.
For example, when I first started my career as a newspaper reporter, I remember citing reports from other news outlets (outside of the wire services) was considered taboo and a last resort. You were only supposed to use, “according to,” if you absolutely had exhausted every avenue in trying to obtain the information first-hand.
Today, the recycling of already-reported content is the norm. We here at National Jeweler do it too. Staffs have been cut to the quick while, at the same time, organizations are expected to pump out “news” at a frenzied pace.
These dilemmas are why I have chosen change as my third and final retail word of the year.
There is no judgment here but also, unfortunately, no answers.
I can’t tell tens of thousands of independent jewelers what’s right for their business or their market--what they should change and what should stay the same. That’s a decision everybody needs to make on their own.
I can, however, relate to the struggle. There is something you’ve done for a long time that you love. But it’s no longer what you once
knew it to be, and you’re trying to determine: Do I just need to “get with it” or is it time to pack it in? Would I ever be happy doing something else?
If you are grappling with these types of questions, know that you are not alone.
And, if it helps at all, here’s what the retailer I mentioned above has decided.
She said once upon a time, she thought that everybody who wanted to buy jewelry was her market, and so she set about trying to make contact with just the segment of the local population: everybody.
Over time, she came to the realization that anybody buying jewelry is not her market--she doesn’t want to cater to bargain-hunters who care more about price than quality. “They are not going to be happy here (in my store),” she said. “I don’t say '50 percent off' when you walk in the door.”
She wants people that appreciate fine jewelry and its value, and that’s how she’s marketing now. Come into my store for the big pieces. Take your small purchases and repairs elsewhere.
Though she still grapples with how much she should change, she still likes the business enough to stay in it, at least for now. “That’s what I love about the jewelry business,” she said. “You can analyze, change it, do it differently.”
If you are grappling with these types of questions, know that you are not alone.
And, if it helps at all, here’s what the retailer I mentioned above has decided.
She said once upon a time, she thought that everybody who wanted to buy jewelry was her market, and so she set about trying to make contact with just the segment of the local population: everybody.
Over time, she came to the realization that anybody buying jewelry is not her market--she doesn’t want to cater to bargain-hunters who care more about price than quality. “They are not going to be happy here (in my store),” she said. “I don’t say '50 percent off' when you walk in the door.”
She wants people that appreciate fine jewelry and its value, and that’s how she’s marketing now. Come into my store for the big pieces. Take your small purchases and repairs elsewhere.
Though she still grapples with how much she should change, she still likes the business enough to stay in it, at least for now. “That’s what I love about the jewelry business,” she said. “You can analyze, change it, do it differently.”
More on Editors
The Latest
CollectionsDec 17, 2025
Lucy Hale Stars in Jacquie Aiche’s Holiday CampaignThe “Love and Desire” campaign is inspired by the magic that follows when one’s heart leads the way, said the brand.
GradingDec 17, 2025
SSEF Announces 2025 Scholarship WinnersTwo awardees will receive free tuition for an educational course at the Swiss lab, with flights and lodging included.
Brought to you by
Impacting Tomorrow TodayHow Jewelers of America’s 20 Under 40 are leading to ensure a brighter future for the jewelry industry.
MajorsDec 16, 2025
Pandora’s New CEO Will Step Up EarlyBerta de Pablos-Barbier will replace Alexander Lacik at the start of January, two months earlier than expected.
Weekly QuizDec 11, 2025
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
AuctionsDec 16, 2025
Suzanne Belperron, JAR Shine in Sotheby’s First Auctions at New HQSotheby’s held its first two jewelry sales at the Breuer building last week, and they totaled nearly $44 million.
Events & AwardsDec 16, 2025
TJS Now Accepting Scholarship Applications for 2026Winners will receive free registration and lodging for its fourth annual event in Detroit.
Brought to you by
Roseco Releases New Full-Line CatalogRoseco’s 704-page catalog showcases new lab-grown diamonds, findings, tools & more—available in print or interactive digital editions.
ColumnistsDec 16, 2025
Beyond Unboxing: Creative Reveals to Drive Reach and EngagementHere are six ideas for making more engaging content for Instagram Reels and TikTok, courtesy of Duvall O’Steen and Jen Cullen Williams.
Events & AwardsDec 16, 2025
Diamonds Do Good Names 2026 Award RecipientsThe honorees include a notable jewelry brand, an industry veteran, and an independent retailer.
CrimeDec 15, 2025
Men Receive Life Sentences in Home Invasion Murder of Jeweler Carlos Jose Hernandez and Joshua Zuazo were sentenced to life without the possibility of parole in the 2024 murder of Hussein “Sam” Murray.
Policies & IssuesDec 15, 2025
Sara Yood Named Co-Chair of RJC Standards CommitteeYood will serve alongside Eduard Stefanescu, the sustainability manager for C.Hafner, a precious metals refiner in Germany.
IndependentsDec 15, 2025
M.S. Rau to Open Store in AspenThe New Orleans jeweler is also hosting pop-up jewelry boutiques in New York City and Dallas.
AuctionsDec 12, 2025
13.54-Carat Paraíba Tourmaline Sets Records at Christie’sSet in a Tiffany & Co. necklace, it sold for $4.2 million, the highest price and price per carat paid for a Paraíba tourmaline at auction.
MajorsDec 12, 2025
David Webb Reveals Ice-Cold Holiday Window DisplayThe jeweler’s “Deep Freeze” display showcases its iconic jewelry designs frozen in a vintage icebox.
CollectionsDec 12, 2025
Piece of the Week: Oscar Heyman’s Sphene RingTake luxury gifting to new heights this holiday season with the jeweler’s showstopping 12-carat sphene ring.
Events & AwardsDec 12, 2025
IGI Jewelry Design Contest Now Accepting SubmissionsThis year's theme is “Unveiling the Depths of the Ocean.”
TrendsDec 11, 2025
Pinterest 2026 Trend Report: Brooches, Bold Gold, Cool BlueIn its annual report, Pinterest noted an increase in searches for brooches, heirloom jewelry, and ‘80s luxury.
GradingDec 11, 2025
GIA to Offer Origin Determination for 3 More GemstonesStarting Jan. 1, customers can request the service for opal, peridot, and demantoid garnet.
IndependentsDec 11, 2025
Look Inside Day’s Jewelers’ Ninth StoreThe 111-year-old retailer celebrated the opening of its new location in Salem, New Hampshire, which is its third store in the state.
MajorsDec 11, 2025
Americas Gold Releases New Gold Chain CatalogThe new catalog features its most popular chains as well as new styles.
AuctionsDec 10, 2025
Francis Ford Coppola’s Watch Sells for $10.8MThe filmmaker’s personal F.P. Journe “FFC” prototype was the star of Phillips’ recent record-setting watch auction in New York.
WatchesDec 10, 2025
There’s A New Rolex Boutique in MiamiThe new location in the Design District pays homage to Miami’s Art Deco heritage and its connection to the ocean.
SurveysDec 10, 2025
Consumer Confidence Drops in November Inflations, tariffs, and politics—including the government shutdown—were among consumers’ top concerns last month.
SourcingDec 10, 2025
NAJA Announces Details for 2026 ‘Ace It’ Winter Conference“Longtime favorite” presenters, as well as first-time speakers, will lead talks and workshops at the annual event in Tucson next year.
Events & AwardsDec 10, 2025
MJSA Names 2025 Responsible Design Challenge WinnerSilas Smith of Meridian Metalworks won the challenge with his pendant that blends Australian and American landscapes.
AuctionsDec 09, 2025
‘Desert Rose’ Diamond Sells for $8.8M in Abu DhabiThe sale of the 31.68-carat, sunset-hued stone was part of Sotheby’s first series of events and auctions in Abu Dhabi.
