The retailer’s “On the Clock” campaign celebrates how time, precision, and purpose come together.
WJA Names its 2020 Female Veteran Grant Winner
This year’s winner is a Los Angeles-based designer and jeweler.
New York—The Women’s Jewelry Association Foundation has named its 2020 Female Veteran Grant recipient.
Latoya Boyd, a jewelry designer based in Los Angeles, has been awarded the $5,000 award, which is offered to a U.S. military veteran to assist in their professional growth in the jewelry or watch industries.
The grant is sponsored by Jewelers Mutual Insurance Group.
Boyd served in the U.S. Army as a mechanic and was stationed in Afghanistan for a year. She was honorably discharged in 2014.
She studied jewelry and metalsmithing arts at Los Angeles’ Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising, before earning a graduate gemologist diploma at the Gemological Institute of America, plus a computer-aided design certificate.
Additionally, Boyd earned a diamond jewelry repair certificate from John Fish Jewelry School in Las Vegas.
Now, Boyd is the proprietor of Latoya Boyd Jewelry, creating custom jewelry designs as well as a fine jewelry collection.
In a statement from WJA, Boyd said her grant would be used toward marketing, including copywriting and photography services, plus web hosting fees and bookkeeping software.
Sheri Ihde, Jewelers Mutual Insurance Group’s direction of industry relations, commented: “Congratulations to Latoya Boyd on winning the 2020 Female Veteran Grant.”
“Jewelers Mutual is honored to be a continuing sponsor of the grant for the sixth consecutive year. This grant is not only a way of giving back to the industry, but it is bestowed on a deserving female veteran, who has the passion and desire to invest her talents in our industry. It’s very meaningful, and we’d like to thank Latoya for her service and wish her luck in her ongoing jewelry career.”
The WJA Foundation has funded hundreds of thousands of dollars toward education, business support and mentorship since its inception.
The foundation president is Brandee Dallow, while the Female Veteran Grant committee chair is Isabel Cajulis.
WJA conducts much of its grant fundraising at the annual Awards for Excellence. This year, it’s happening virtually on July 27.
The Latest
Associate Editor Natalie Francisco chose her 12 favorite Piece of the Week picks from the year gone by.
Lab clients have the option to request this addition on their emerald reports.
A Diamond is Forever hosted a holiday celebration in honor of their new marketing campaign, ‘Forever Present.’
Jamie Dunton and Gabriella Botelho are the first graduates of the program, created by the WJA Foundation and Julius Klein Diamonds.
In the spirit of giving, Retrouvaí will donate $4,000 from the sale of this ring to the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank.
Co-owner Dan DeVries shared what it’s like moving into a space triple the size of its old store and how it feels to be a “real jeweler” now.
‘Forever Present’ campaign revives the iconic A Diamond is Forever tagline and celebrates the diamond dream.
Along with the latest “Gardens” collection, the brand has released limited-edition designs offering more indulgent pieces.
The man and woman are accused of stealing jewelry from a shipping container then trying to flee by paddling a small boat out into a bay.
The 2,488-carat diamond recovered from a mine in Botswana has been dubbed “Motswedi” while its 1,094-carat sibling is “Seriti.”
The average price per carat hit a record high for the miner, which said it remains unaffected by the conflict in Mozambique.
The nearly 17-carat stone made history for the color-change gem that, according to the auction house, is experiencing a “notable surge” in the market.
More than a century after survivors gifted a Tiffany timepiece to the captain of the ship that rescued them, the jeweler has reclaimed it.
The videos highlight how pieces from the “Xpandable” and “Reversible Xpandable” collections put the wearer in the spotlight.
Feldman reflected on 45 years in the jewelry industry and clarified that it’s not a total retirement.
The luxury brand is being honored for excellence in high jewelry design in its “Haute Joaillerie Sport” collection.
Circelli was a pioneer in the world of TV shopping who is remembered for his passion for gemstones and his big personality.
The nearly 6-carat stone headlined the recent jewelry auction, which also featured Mica Ertegun’s jewelry.
The three men, who got their nickname because they’d toss the jewelry they stole into black plastic bins, were arrested back in August.
Gearys opened a 6,200-square-foot Rolex store with a design that pays homage to the brand’s connection to the ocean.
The diamond cut grade is now available for marquise- and pear-shaped diamonds.
DDG said the honorees’ business practices embody a commitment to positive social impact, industry innovation, and community empowerment.
These half-moon tanzanite earrings totaling 25 carats are part of a special trunk show taking place this weekend in Dallas.
The National Jeweler editors recap the top news, the best jewels, and their favorite stories of the year.
The highest-grossing lot of the sale was the retired QB’s Rolex Paul Newman Daytona “John Player Special.”
Recent expansion initiatives at the Zambian emerald mine have shown strong production numbers, said Grizzly founder Abdoulaye Ndiaye.