SurveysAug 21, 2026
These Are 2026’s Hottest Retailers, Says NRFThe retailers at the top of the list offer affordable products and fun, discovery-fueled experiences.
EditorsAug 11, 2015
Wearable tech I can really get behind
One of my first jobs out of college was for a content marketing company where I was helping to monitor the flow and publishing schedules of text for multiple websites.
I had to regularly check the stories, features and any other user-facing aspects of the website for errors. While we did have a programming/development department to help us fix certain things, they were so backlogged with work that I had to take it upon myself to learn some HTML code, unless I wanted errors to be on the site for days before they could get to it.
This skill was such a great thing to be able to add to my resume and has been so helpful since that first job, especially now that I’m working for a web-only publication where we are posting our own stories every day.
Not only will being able to code and having technical literacy only continue to grow in importance for those seeking to enter the job market in the future, but the tech arena itself is providing so much room for opportunity in careers.
However, a 2012 study from the Girl Scouts of America showed that while 75 percent of girls were interested in the STEM fields (science, technology, engineering and math), and at the same time creative pursuits like drawing, writing, and fashion, they still are not choosing to study computer science.
And according to a new documentary to be released this year, Code: Debugging the Gender Gap, the reality is that by 2020, there will be 1.4 million jobs in “computing-related fields.” Of those 1.4 million jobs, less than 29 percent will be filled by Americans, and of those, less than 3 percent will be women.
This is why it’s so important that we not only recognize but encourage curiosity in these areas in girls from a younger age, when their interests can so quickly be either piqued or put out.
Enter Jewelbots, a new wearable tech company cofounded by Sara Chipps, Brooke Moreland and Maria Paula Saba that is trying to get teen girls to learn how to code through friendship bracelets.
The project had a page on the Kickstarter crowdsource funding website where it brought in more than five times its original goal, closing at nearly $167,000 just a few days ago.
[caption id="attachment_3286" align="aligncenter" width="510"]
Tapping into the curiosity and creativity of young girls who love communicating with their best friends, the bracelets use a Jewelbots app and also communicate with each other via Bluetooth, so the girls can program them
Editors' Picks
Sponsored by
to light up when their BFFs are near or send secret messages to each other using Morse code.
Then, once they get the hang of it, they can “code the bracelets to do anything they want” using an open source program, including things like social media notifications, text messages and even controlling a drone. By plugging the bracelet into a computer using a micro USB and getting code snippets on the brand’s site once it’s live, they eventually will be able to customize their bracelets any way they want.
“Our hope is to get girls so excited about programming their Jewelbots that they inspire one another to create amazing functionality while learning to code,” co-founder Brooke Moreland said in a video on the Kickstarter.
Now that is wearable tech that I will 100 percent support.
Then, once they get the hang of it, they can “code the bracelets to do anything they want” using an open source program, including things like social media notifications, text messages and even controlling a drone. By plugging the bracelet into a computer using a micro USB and getting code snippets on the brand’s site once it’s live, they eventually will be able to customize their bracelets any way they want.
“Our hope is to get girls so excited about programming their Jewelbots that they inspire one another to create amazing functionality while learning to code,” co-founder Brooke Moreland said in a video on the Kickstarter.
Now that is wearable tech that I will 100 percent support.
More on Editors
The Latest
WatchesAug 21, 2026
Bremont Names Former Vacheron Constantin Exec CMODaniel Bing was formerly the marketing director for the Americas at Vacheron Constantin.
CollectionsAug 21, 2026
Bijules, Kamyen Serve Up ‘Topspin’ Tennis Bracelet Ahead of US OpenIn our Piece of the Week, the designers reimagine the tennis bracelet with green enamel wrapped around a strand of “Desert Diamonds.”
Brought to you by
Your Piece Could Be the One Editors Talk AboutSubmit your pieces for a chance to win in this year's competition.
PodcastsAug 20, 2026
Episode 8: Diamond Industry Update With David Bonaparte & Ronnie VanderLindenThe industry veterans join the podcast to discuss diamond marketing, the FTC Jewelry Guides, and lobbying for lower tariffs.
Weekly QuizAug 20, 2026
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
TechnologyAug 20, 2026
A New AI-Powered Gemstone Identification App Is HereFounder Vik Westermann said the app is a “starting point” to inspire people to work with appraisers and gem labs, not replace them.
AuctionsAug 20, 2026
Storied Unicorn Brooch Up for Auction Gallops to New Home The Verdura brooch, which belonged to the late Virginia Fortune Ryan Ogilvy, was sold to a private collector in Asia.
Brought to you by
Why More Jewelry Retailers Are Hosting Turnkey Estate Buying EventsRetailers are seeking new ways to attract customers, increase traffic, and create revenue – Estate buying events are a popular solution.
Events & AwardsAug 20, 2026
MJSA Education Foundation Names 5 Scholarship WinnersThe five students were awarded a total of $10,000 through the nonprofit’s 2026 “Future of Jewelry Making” scholarship.
MajorsAug 20, 2026
Plumb Club Elects 2026-2027 BoardSteven Lerche is now beginning his term as the youngest member to become president of The Plumb Club’s elected executive committee.
MajorsAug 19, 2026
Mike Alexander To Succeed Scott Murphy as Jewelers Mutual CEO Murphy will retire at the end of the year and Alexander, currently the company’s president, will take over at the start of 2027.
Policies & IssuesAug 19, 2026
Spinelli Kilcollin Embraces Dupes With Trade-In ProgramThe jeweler is encouraging customers who own lookalike rings to come into the store and trade them for credit towards an authentic piece.
MajorsAug 19, 2026
Zales Wants You to Wear Fine Jewelry Every DayThe new campaign, “You Are The Occasion,” discourages shoppers from saving their fine jewelry for special occasions only.
SourcingAug 19, 2026
Vasant Mehta, a Dedicated Diamond Industry Leader, Dies at 81Mehta led India’s GJEPC through the 2008 financial crisis and was respected worldwide for his wisdom, integrity, and knowledge.
CrimeAug 18, 2026
2 California Men Arrested in Fatal Vehicle Smash RobberyOne is the driver who allegedly crashed a car into a Sacramento jewelry store in April, striking a 71-year-old employee who later died.
ColumnistsAug 18, 2026
Peter Smith: The IKEA Effect and Bridal Branding In a new column, Peter Smith posits that people actually enjoy putting together IKEA furniture, and the same is true for engagement rings.
CrimeAug 18, 2026
Thieves Snatch $1M in Jewelry From New Jersey Jeweler9lakha Jewelers in Iselin, New Jersey, was the target of a smash-and-grab robbery on Aug. 8.
Lab-GrownAug 18, 2026
Ring Concierge, Kendall Jenner’s Tequila Brand Collab on GiveawayThe jeweler has partnered with 818 Tequila to gift lab-grown diamond studs to a bride-to-be and their bridal party.
Events & AwardsAug 17, 2026
Exhibition on Louis Comfort Tiffany’s Studios to Open at The MetThe exhibition will feature more than 100 drawings of stained-glass lampshades, windows, and more, many created by women and émigrés.
CollectionsAug 17, 2026
Marquise Diamonds Dance in Spinelli Kilcollin’s ‘Wren’ CollectionMarquise-cut diamonds in drop charms are the center of the new collection, reflecting the movement of a dancer in modular styles.
Events & AwardsAug 17, 2026
There’s a New Jewelry Show Coming to FloridaThe inaugural Fort Lauderdale Jewelry, Antique, & Object Show will be held from Jan. 28 through Feb. 1, 2027.
IndependentsAug 14, 2026
Smyth Jewelers to Open Fourth LocationThe family-owned jeweler will open a new showroom in Bel Air, Maryland, this fall.
CrimeAug 14, 2026
Wife of Man Convicted in Jeweler’s Murder Sentenced for Conspiracy Amanda Ileana Hernandez is married to Carlos Hernandez, one of two men in prison for the 2024 murder of Michigan jeweler Hussein Murray.
TrendsAug 14, 2026
Paul Morelli’s Latest ‘Wavey Vine’ Earrings Embrace ColorThe reimagined jewel, our Piece of the Week, trades the diamonds in the original 1998 design for blue, pink, yellow, and green sapphires.
Supplier BulletinAug 13, 2026
Your Piece Could Be the One Editors Talk AboutSponsored by American Gem Trade Association
FinancialsAug 13, 2026
Pandora’s ‘Talisman’ Collection Shines, Lab-Grown Diamond Sales FallIn the United States, second-quarter sales were flat amid soft consumer sentiment and lower in-store traffic.
AuctionsAug 13, 2026
This Gold Cadbury ‘Conundrum’ Egg Set a World Auction RecordThe 22-karat gold egg, sold at Batemans Auctioneers in the U.K., was part of a 1980s treasure hunt ad campaign for Cadbury Creme Eggs.
