The trio of Advent calendars include a version with 18-karat gold and lab-grown diamond jewelry in a red lacquer jewelry box.
New Year, New Focus
Editor-in-Chief Michelle Graff dishes on the three New Year’s resolutions the National Jeweler team made to improve the website in 2016.
The advent of a new year is, perhaps, the most popular point in the calendar for making, or at least vowing to make, changes in both your professional and personal life.
What will you try to do differently in the coming 365 days? Exercise more and eat healthier? Read more books and spend less time staring mindlessly at your smartphone screen while your life slips away? Finally get that Instagram/Vine/Snapchat account up and running for the store? Figure out what Vine and Snapchat are exactly?
We’re no different. The team at National Jeweler, with the help of our magnanimous new owners at Jewelers of America, spent the last few months of 2015 outlining a plan for 2016.
Here’s what we decided we will do in the new year.
1. Streamline our newsletters to make them better. For years, National Jeweler had been distributing seven newsletters a week—the Daily five days a week in the morning, the Diamonds newsletter on Wednesday afternoon and the Majors newsletter on Thursdays.
We also had a monthly newsletter with a theme that had evolved over the years but, most recently, was Metals & Gems Monthly.
This year, we are cutting back to five newsletters a week—just the Daily—plus our quarterly digital magazine. The next issue of the digital magazine is set for publication on Wednesday, Feb. 24.
The idea of generating less “content” in an age where there is relentless pressure to produce seems counterintuitive, but I firmly believe that our resources here will be better spent generating less while making what we do produce more in-depth and helpful to readers.
2. Focus on original content that helps jewelers improve their businesses. National Jeweler has been in the business of helping jewelers run their businesses since 1906 and we are renewing that focus in 2016.
Many of you may recall our popular Product Panel. We are resurrecting this survey of jewelers regarding product sales in a specific categories (e.g., bridal, silver, watches), and we are retaining another much-loved National Jeweler feature, About Retail. About Retail highlights a retailer involved in an interesting promotion or venture, such as J.R. Dunn Jewelers’ partnership with the Humane Society that we wrote about back in October.
We also are launching One to Watch, which highlights an up-and-coming jewelry designer, and How To, an instructional article for jewelers. The first “How To” will run in February and the
3. Update our look. In early 2016, a new NationalJeweler.com will go live. The site will be a more streamlined version of what we have now and will include larger photos and a comments section, among other new and improved features.
After the new site is up and running, we will overhaul our newsletters, which are in the need of a bit of a facelift, to put it nicely.
We hope all our readers have a prosperous and happy 2016.
If there’s anything else you’d like to see National Jeweler cover in the coming year, please don’t hesitate to note it below or email me at michelle.graff@nationaljeweler.com.
The Latest

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Jewelry industry veteran Alisa Bunger has taken on the role.

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


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

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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.

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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.