CollectionsMar 13, 2026
A Trio of Jewels from the 3 Gem Award Nominees for Jewelry DesignOur Pieces of the Week honor the 2026 nominees for the Gem Award for Jewelry Design, Silvia Furmanovich, Cece Fein-Hughes, and Catherine Sarr.
EditorsFeb 20, 2015
Neither bored nor brilliant
A couple weeks ago, I participated in the Bored and Brilliant project from public radio station WNYC, which challenged participants to log the time they spend per day on their smartphones and then see how much that time drops, and their creativity goes up, when they are issued a series of phone-less challenges.
The challenges were: keep your phone in your pocket while in transit (sage advice at any time in New York), delete an app you use a lot (Twitter for me, and I still haven’t added it back), don’t take any pictures all day, post an away message on a group chat, social media account or your email for an entire day, and go somewhere in public to hang out and watch people without staring at your phone. (I didn’t do this one. NYC’s best public spaces are outside, and the temperature that day was around 10 degrees.)
The results for me: I spent 70.1 minutes a day on average on my smartphone between Jan. 15, the day I began using the Moment app to track my usage, and Feb. 2, the day the challenges started.
The days of the challenge, Feb. 3 to Feb. 8, I was on my phone an average of 62.2 minutes, a savings of nearly 10 minutes a day.
Not a bad drop-off, and better than the average participant did in Bored and Brilliant, but I do have a couple confessions to make. Perfect in time for Lent, no?
1) I don’t know if being on my phone less necessarily inspired me to be more creative, to be honest.
I feel like I am just on this non-stop loop where I have too much work to do and I never really get around to finishing any of it. I have an endless to-do list of half-finished or never-started projects. I keep thinking things will get better once I finish this trip or this transition ends, but it just never does.
That being said, I did get a few small projects done around my house, some of which had been lingering for months, and got the wheels turning on a few others.
And, the challenge did make me conscious of how much time a day gets wasted staring at my smartphone, lending insight into why I never feel like I am “caught up.”
We waste a lot of time on our phones without even realizing it. It’s funny, when you think about it. For all the conveniences smartphones offer--deposit a check by just taking a picture of it, turn on the lights in your house and adjust the temperature before you even get home--I would wager that they eat up an equal amount
of time, or more, by sucking us into mindless scrolling.
2) I didn’t participate in the bonus weekend challenge, put your phone away for an hour and construct your dream house using only the contents of your wallet.
To be honest, I just didn’t see the point. I don’t keep much in my wallet to work with and, besides, I live in New York. Owning real estate is so impossible here that I don’t really have a “dream home.” I’d be satisfied with a bigger studio apartment.
While the Bored and Brilliant project is officially over, anyone that wants to challenge themselves and/or their staff to see what ideas they can come up with they put down their smartphone and just be for a bit can read all about the project on its homepage. You also can just construct your own series of challenges.
If anybody does institute smartphone rules around their store, I’d be curious to hear how it goes and if it makes any difference. Did anyone come up with any “brilliant” ideas after they were forced to quit scrolling through the store’s Instagram feed and, instead, go somewhere and just sit quietly for 20 minutes?
I don’t think that this is outside the realm of possibility. I once read a list detailing what successful people do at lunch and all of them involved getting out from behind the screen and taking a break for an hour, whether it’s to have lunch with colleagues, read, listen to music or just take a walk.
In short, they let their minds wander. I wonder if they leave their phones behind.
2) I didn’t participate in the bonus weekend challenge, put your phone away for an hour and construct your dream house using only the contents of your wallet.
To be honest, I just didn’t see the point. I don’t keep much in my wallet to work with and, besides, I live in New York. Owning real estate is so impossible here that I don’t really have a “dream home.” I’d be satisfied with a bigger studio apartment.
While the Bored and Brilliant project is officially over, anyone that wants to challenge themselves and/or their staff to see what ideas they can come up with they put down their smartphone and just be for a bit can read all about the project on its homepage. You also can just construct your own series of challenges.
If anybody does institute smartphone rules around their store, I’d be curious to hear how it goes and if it makes any difference. Did anyone come up with any “brilliant” ideas after they were forced to quit scrolling through the store’s Instagram feed and, instead, go somewhere and just sit quietly for 20 minutes?
I don’t think that this is outside the realm of possibility. I once read a list detailing what successful people do at lunch and all of them involved getting out from behind the screen and taking a break for an hour, whether it’s to have lunch with colleagues, read, listen to music or just take a walk.
In short, they let their minds wander. I wonder if they leave their phones behind.
More on Editors
The Latest
WatchesMar 13, 2026
Citizen, Vera Wang to Launch Watch CollectionThe 24-piece watch collection is set to debut in spring 2027.
SourcingMar 13, 2026
Andrea Pooler Joins Third-Generation Diamond Company as COO Pooler, who has more than 25 years’ experience in jewelry, is now chief operating officer of Modani Jewels, Soham Diamonds, and SNJ Creations.
Brought to you by
Is This You? Every Jeweler Has This Problem; We Have the Solution.Every jeweler faces the same challenge: helping customers protect what they love. Here’s the solution designed for today’s jewelry business.
MajorsMar 13, 2026
24 Karat Club of New York’s Banquet to Return to Waldorf AstoriaThe reopening of the Waldorf Astoria means a homecoming for the industry group’s annual event, which will take place Saturday.
Weekly QuizMar 12, 2026
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
CollectionsMar 12, 2026
Jessica McCormack Sends Gold, Gemstones Into ‘Orbit’McCormack looked to the 19th century’s “golden age” of astronomy when designing her new celestial-themed collection.
Events & AwardsMar 12, 2026
Johnny Nelson Wins David Yurman Gem Awards GrantNelson will be honored as the inaugural grant winner at the Gem Awards gala on Friday.
Brought to you by
DCA Enters a New Chapter in Jewelry EducationWith refreshed branding, a new website, updated courses, and a pathway for growth, DCA is dedicated to supporting retail staff development.
TechnologyMar 12, 2026
Caratwise Launches, Names Former Signet Exec CEO The new smart design software allows jewelers to configure, price, and confirm a custom engagement ring in real time for in-store customers.
SourcingMar 12, 2026
Grandview Klein Opens New Factory in South Africa The 10,000-square-foot diamond manufacturing facility officially opened in late February and employs 50 people.
Events & AwardsMar 12, 2026
MJSA ‘Future of Jewelry Making’ Scholarship Applications OpenThe MJSA Education Foundation’s scholarships support students pursuing jewelry careers.
AuctionsMar 11, 2026
‘Spectacular’ 26-Carat Diamond Going Up for Auction in London The largest white diamond to come to market in the U.K. in more than a decade, the VVS1, I-color stone is expected to top $1 million.
TechnologyMar 11, 2026
Cast Jewelry’s Rachel Skelly on Coming Back Online Only Skelly shares her plans for reimagining the fine jewelry retailer she re-acquired after it faltered last year.
CollectionsMar 11, 2026
Pyrrha Highlights ‘The Space Between’ In New CollectionThe collection takes inspiration from the emotional space between people, moments, and experiences.
IndependentsMar 11, 2026
From the Jazz Age to the Information Age: London Jewelers Turns 100In 2026, the jewelry retailer is celebrating a milestone only a small percentage of family-owned businesses survive to see.
IndependentsMar 11, 2026
Virginia Jewelers Raise Nearly $30K for Children’s HospitalThe group of jewelers held a jewelry raffle in support of the Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU.
FinancialsMar 10, 2026
Signet Jewelers’ Q4 Sales Fall Flat The jewelry giant released preliminary results for the fourth quarter and full year on Monday, with final results slated to come next week.
MajorsMar 10, 2026
Saks Global to Close 15 More StoresThe retailer also gave an update on its vendor partnerships.
TrendsMar 10, 2026
Messika Names Julianne Moore as AmbassadorThe award-winning actress is the “epitome of modern allure,” the brand said.
CollectionsMar 10, 2026
Gemstones ‘Bloom’ in Sorellina’s New CollectionThe “Bloom” collection draws from the flower power movement of the 1960s and ‘70s with inlay pendants offered in eight colorways.
Events & AwardsMar 10, 2026
Diamond-Studded Painting Shines at RJO Foundation AuctionThe unique piece was one of the custom works offered at the foundation's recent silent art auction, which garnered nearly $15,000 in total.
TrendsMar 09, 2026
Jake Gyllenhaal Is Bulgari’s Latest AmbassadorBulgari named Gyllenhaal as its brand ambassador for his embodiment of artistic depth, intellectual curiosity, and warmth.
Events & AwardsMar 09, 2026
TJS Announces 2026 Scholarship WinnersAwards were given to four students, one apprentice, and an emerging jeweler.
AuctionsMar 09, 2026
Joanna Carson’s Jewels Lead White-Glove SaleThe top jewelry lot of the late model’s estate sale, hosted by John Moran Auctioneers, was an Oscar Heyman & Brothers for Cartier necklace.
GradingMar 06, 2026
Tom Moses Leaving GIA After Nearly 50 YearsMoses, who started at GIA’s Santa Monica lab in 1976, will leave the Gemological Institute of America in May.
Lab-GrownMar 06, 2026
Charles & Colvard Files for Bankruptcy, Citing Price PressuresIncreased competition, falling lab-grown diamond and moissanite prices, and the rising cost of gold took a toll on the moissanite maker.
CollectionsMar 06, 2026
Zome’s ‘Solara’ Earrings Embody Celestial BeautyThe earrings, our Piece of the Week, feature pink tourmalines as planets orbiting around an aquamarine center set in 18-karat rose gold.
