Gretchen Koback Pursel is the new chief people officer at the company formerly known as Saks Global.
WJA calling for entries in ‘Diva Design’ competition
The Women’s Jewelry Association has begun accepting submissions for its 2015 Diva Design competition, which celebrates the organization’s current theme for the year of “transformation.”

New York--The Women’s Jewelry Association has begun accepting submissions for its 2015 Diva Design competition, which celebrates the organization’s current theme for the year of “transformation.”
The awards are open to women with all levels of experience. The two divisions of the competition and their submission information are as follows.
--Division One: Gem Diva is done in conjunction with the American Gem Trade Association Spectrum Awards. Women who enter pieces in the following four categories of the AGTA Spectrum Awards are eligible for consideration for a Gem Diva award: business/day wear, evening wear, bridal and classical design.
Entrants must use the AGTA Spectrum award application to enter and check the Gem Diva box to be considered for the award. The deadline for AGTA applications is Sept. 19.
--Division Two: DazzleDiva is meant for two-dimensional art (no finished product will be judged), allowing for the widest possible pool of entries.
Submissions should include either two-dimensional renderings of designs that have not yet been created or photographs of jewels that already have been made. Judges will decide based on uniqueness, how well the piece fits the theme and it execution.
This year’s theme for DazzleDiva is “Transformation.” Entrants are allowed to interpret the theme however they’d like, whether it be literally or figuratively, but must list on their application how their entry fits the theme.
One winner will be awarded in each of the three DazzleDiva categories: business/day wear, evening wear and bridal.
The application deadline is Oct. 3. To enter, email designs and completed entry forms to wjadivacontest@gmail.com. The application form can be found here.
The winner in each of the seven categories in the two Diva Design divisions will receive $250 and a trip to New York City to attend WJA’s annual “In The Spotlight” award reception, scheduled to take place in March 2015.
For more information about the awards, visit the WJA website or contact Cindy Edelstein, WJA Diva competition chair, at 914-738-8485 or cindy@jewelersresource.com.
The Latest

Bromberg is remembered as a Southern gentleman who always wore a suit and tie and treated others with kindness.

With high durability and a wide range of colors to choose from, sapphires may be the ultimate birthstone, Gizzi claims.

Submit your pieces for a chance to win in this year's competition.

Laughter is often considered a distraction in the workplace, but it has benefits for both staff and management, Peter Smith writes.


The California jeweler is renovating its store in Fresno, with plans to show off the new space in December.

A lifelong practitioner of Pilates, Gabrielle looked to the springs’ tension and suspension when creating this ring, our Piece of the Week.

Retailers are seeking new ways to attract customers, increase traffic, and create revenue – Estate buying events are a popular solution.

The auction house has promoted Remi Guillemin, formerly its head of watches for the Americas and EMEA, to the role.

Zaven Ghanimian discussed the value of human craftsmanship and where the implementation of artificial intelligence does work.

The British actor, known for his roles in “Twilight” and “The Odyssey,” will star in a campaign for the Master Control Chronometre.

The “Confetti Disco,” “Champagne Cheers,” “Tuxedo,” and “Classic Punk” jewelry collections each capture a distinct spirit of celebration.

Nelson Holdo of Newport Beach pleaded guilty to multiple counts of felony grand theft and writing bad checks and was sentenced Monday.

Cat ladies of the jewelry world, unite. Sandy Lerner’s “significant” collection of cat jewelry and other objects is going up for auction.

Arnaud Michon, the former Omega USA President, will now lead Messika’s Americas region during its international development.

The branding references the back-to-back jewelry shows that new parent company Forge will host in Miami's Coconut Grove this November.

The stainless steel Patek Philippe “Calatrava” watch from the 1930s sold for nearly $80,000 at a recent Hansons Cornwall auction.

Engagement rings are important but don’t ignore the customers who are buying jewelry “just because,” Emmanuel Raheb writes.

Former Pomellato CEO Sabina Belli has been named president of Kering Italia amid a shakeup of Kering's new Jewelry division.

The veteran luxury packaging executive was appointed to help the company grow its North American business.

Once the property of an Egyptian queen, the necklace was part of a larger exhibition of VCA jewelry at the Museum of Applied Arts (MAK).

The labs’ separate investigations each determined that the East African country is producing copper-bearing tourmaline.

“Chicago Collects: Jewelry in Perspective” at the Oshkosh Public Museum will feature works by Fabergé, Lalique, and Louis Comfort Tiffany.

The “Worn Well” collection is Catbird's take on classic men's jewelry.

This Buddha Mama butterfly is our Piece of the Week honoring the legend, who embraced the beautiful insect as her symbol.

The former De Beers CEO, and perhaps its next owner, will be a featured speaker at the event, slated for Sept. 4-7 in Italy.

The employee-owned jeweler was named a “Best Place to Work” in Maine, New Hampshire, and for women.























