The trio of Advent calendars include a version with 18-karat gold and lab-grown diamond jewelry in a red lacquer jewelry box.
Lessons from Mad Men
I don’t have to start this post with a spoiler alert because I haven’t seen all of Mad Men yet. I’m still on season 6 so I don’t know what happened on Sunday night’s big series finale. And don’t spoil it for me either.

The millennials aren’t the first generation with a “you-don’t-know-how-to-advertise-to-us” attitude. This topic came up at least once during the show’s run. I connect it with the character Michael Ginsberg, a young copywriter in his 20s who first appeared on the show in the fifth season. I believe he said something to the effect of “advertising doesn’t work on us” about his generation to his older boss, Don Draper.
I know from hearing from jewelers that it’s tough to reach millennials today but it’s always important to keep perspective. This isn’t the first generation that feels like they don’t know how to reach younger people and also not the first to have to embrace new technology.
During the run of Mad Men, Harry Crane recognizes the advertising power of what was at that time still a fairly fresh medium and makes himself head of a new department for the agency—the television department. The employees of the agency must learn the best way to reach people through something that is not a billboard, radio or print ad.
Sticking it out with a company can be rewarding, even when times get tough. One aspect of Mad Men that I really enjoyed was watching the dedication the primary characters—Don, Peggy, Pete, Roger and Joan—have for the agency, through good times and lean, and various sales and mergers.
I was with National Jeweler when we had a magazine and a full staff and were owned by Nielsen. We got moved around on so many different floors on 770 Broadway that I lost count. We lost our magazine. We got moved downtown. Then Nielsen didn’t want us anymore and there was “Emerald Expositions.” Now we’re owned by Jewelers of America and there’s a digital magazine.
You just have to keep your head down and make it about the work.
Things always have changed and they always will. It was true at a Madison Avenue advertising agency in the 1960s and it’s true for businesses today.
Don’t allow smoking in the office. Also not advisable: smoking and/or drinking while pregnant, smoking
OK, so I lied. These aren’t all lessons from Mad Men. This last one marks another TV milestone that happened in the past week, the retirement of longtime late-night talk show host David Letterman.
The funny man hosted his final show Wednesday night. In an interview that ran in The New York Times the day before, Jerry Seinfeld shared a bit of advice Letterman gave to him back in 1988, when Seinfeld had just signed on to do a new sitcom on NBC.
According to the Times story, Letterman told the up-and-coming comic, “Just make sure if you fail, you did what you wanted to do.”
Seinfeld did. He did a show about nothing, and had a bit of success with it too.
Have a great Memorial Day weekend everyone. See you in Vegas!
The Latest

Created in collaboration with Nymphenburg Porcelain, the lock is part of a four-piece collection that took two years to bring to fruition.

Jewelry industry veteran Alisa Bunger has taken on the role.

The upcoming show provides savvy retailers with the opportunity to stock their cases with best sellers in advance of the holiday season.

The company and industry leader’s two-decade tenure with De Beers will come to a close at the end of the month.


“The Winter Egg” set the world auction record for a Fabergé piece twice at previous Christie’s sales.

The company will pay 1.5x silver’s current spot price for each pound of silver oxide batteries submitted.

The line includes a “Shadow” series crafted exclusively for the new men’s offering and reimagined styles from the brand’s core collections.

The rough on offer was recovered from a newer area at the Montepuez mine.

The retailer’s new collection of engagement rings and fashion jewelry is set with natural diamonds that are traceable via blockchain.

The champagne colorway in her newest “Ombré” collection combines white and trendy brown diamonds, a departure from her usual vibrant hues.

Kosann partnered with the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, to create a set of necklaces inspired by the artwork on samurai sword handguards.

Carlos Jose Hernandez and Joshua Zuazo face life in prison for the October 2024 murder of 72-year-old Detroit-area jeweler Hussein Murray.

The brand’s first high jewelry collection, “Tempest” plays with movement while calling to mind the folklore of the sea.

Proceeds from its jewelry raffle will go to a volunteer-run fire and rescue group in the Lightning Ridge area of New South Wales, Australia.

Stuller said the recipients embody the company’s core values, which include community participation and personal and professional growth.

Citizen’s new “Rainell” women’s watch has a raindrop-shaped case and is available with a silver-, gold-, purple-, or green-colored dial.

The “Mercedes Gleitze Rolex Oyster,” named for the British endurance swimmer who made it famous, will go up for sale next month.

Amit Pratihari was previously the managing director of De Beers India and Forevermark India.

Members of the Jewelers 24 Karat Club of Southern California will gain access to expanded services, resources, and connections, DCWC said.

Gomez’s jewelry included Tiffany & Co. drop-style earrings while Blanco stacked diamonds from Jacob & Co. on his wrist.

Diamond industry banking veteran Paul De Wachter will take on the role in January 2026.

Taylor Swift flaunts an Elizabeth Taylor-esque gemstone in promo for her new album, “The Life of a Showgirl.”

Its “Quantre Sand” capsule was made using a 3D sand printing technique borrowed from the automotive and aeronautics industries.

Four individuals have been charged in the “takeover-style” robbery of Heller Jewelers last month, and additional charges are expected.

“Radiance and Reverie” will showcase more than 150 jewels from Lane’s personal collection by Tiffany & Co., Cartier, and more.