Events & AwardsJun 06, 2025
Here Are the 2025 Retailer Hall of Fame InducteesThis year’s honorees include a Midwest retailer and two multi-store independents, one in New York and the other in New England.
OtherDec 03, 2013
‘Live at the Bench’ sessions return to GemFair
MJSA again will sponsor “Live at the Bench” demonstrations at the 2014 American Gem Trade Association GemFair Tucson, scheduled for Feb. 4 to 9 at the Tucson Convention Center.
Attleboro Falls, Mass.--MJSA again will sponsor “Live at the Bench” demonstrations at the 2014 American Gem Trade Association GemFair Tucson, scheduled for Feb. 4 to 9 at the Tucson Convention Center.
The sessions will take place twice daily from Feb. 4 to 7 in the fair’s Tools, Technology and Supplies pavilion, and will cover topics ranging from working with currently fashionable gemstones and metals to new setting techniques.
The bench presenters are Jim Dailing, who operates Jim Dailing Designs in Portland, Ore.; Joel McFadden, designer and owner of Joel McFadden Designs in Red Bank, N.J.; and Arthur Skuratowicz, co-founder of the Jewelry Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo.
The sessions are as follows.
Feb. 4
Mixing and Matching Gemstones with Fashionable Colors: What Bench Jewelers Need to Know, Skuratowicz, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Learn which gemstones will complement Pantone’s colors of the year for 2014, how to pair multiple stones for maximum effect and how to best work with them to avoid breakage, chipping and other shop disasters.
Rivets, Screws & Cold Connections, Oh My, Skuratowicz, 2:30 to 4 p.m.
This session will cover how to make needed tools for supplies, from decorative screws and rivets to inconspicuous shims, and then use them to connect parts efficiently.
Feb. 5
Sizing Up and Down: How to Shorten Times and Improve Quality, Skuratowicz, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Skuratowicz will show participants how to sequence jobs, join many types of metals cleanly and securely and finish each joint to achieve a strong, secure bond with minimum time and effort.
The Pros and Cons of Dovetail Joints When Sizing a Ring, Skuratowicz, 2:30 to 4 p.m.
Learn the instances when a dovetail should and shouldn’t be used, its various forms and the techniques that will save time and produce a superior joint.
Feb. 6
New Techniques for Setting Princess-Cut Diamonds, McFadden, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
McFadden will demonstrate a new technique he developed that simplifies the setting process and ensures the stone’s points remain unharmed.
Belly Busters: Strategies for Setting Colored Stones, McFadden, 2:30 to 4 p.m.
This session will demonstrate different strategies for evaluating colored gemstones, as well as techniques for setting a bellied stone in either prongs or bezels to ensure a tight, secure fit.
Feb. 7
The “Other” White Metals: Palladium & Tarnish-Resistant Silvers, Dailing, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
This presentation will discuss
the fabrication and casting characteristics of palladium and the new tarnish-resistant silvers, show how to best work with them and examine long-term wear and care issues.
Achieving the Perfect Polish, Dailing, 2:30 to 4 p.m.
Learn which polishing compounds and wheels will provide the best polish for various metals and surfaces, as well as techniques that will ensure your finished pieces have a shine and finish that sets them apart.
Additional information on the 2014 AGTA GemFair Tucson can be found here.
More on Other
The Latest
CollectionsJun 06, 2025
Piece of the Week: Harwell Godfrey’s ‘Granny Squares Eleanor’ Necklace As an homage to iconic crochet blankets, the necklace features the nostalgic motif through a kaleidoscope of cabochon-cut stones.
Events & AwardsJun 05, 2025
The 12 Fresh Faces in Couture’s Design AtelierDiscover the dozen up-and-coming brands exhibiting in the Design Atelier for the first time.
Brought to you by
The True Power Behind the Counter: Why Sales Associates Are the Heart of the Jewelry BusinessWhen investing in your jewelry business, it's important not to overlook the most crucial element of success: the sales associates.
SourcingJun 05, 2025
A Rare Suite of Rubies Has Arrived in Las VegasThe “Royal Ruby” Collection is a quintet of untreated rubies curated by collector Jack Abraham.
Weekly QuizJun 05, 2025
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
Events & AwardsJun 05, 2025
Daymond John to Give Keynote at JCK Las VegasThe entrepreneur and “Shark Tank” star will share his top tips for success.
MajorsJun 05, 2025
Platinum Guild International Updates Leadership TeamTwo existing executives have been given new roles.
Brought to you by
Clienteling Isn’t a Buzzword. It’s an Essential Business Model.More shoppers are walking out without buying. Here’s how smart jewelers can bring them back—and the tool they need to do it right.
Events & AwardsJun 05, 2025
Zillion Announces 'Women in STEM' Scholarship RecipientMeredith Tiderington, an electrical engineering student, was selected for the award.
Lab-GrownJun 04, 2025
GIA Reverting to More General Terminology for Lab-Grown DiamondsIt will quit assigning the stones specific color and clarity grades in favor of applying “new descriptive terminology.”
Events & AwardsJun 04, 2025
As JCK Talks Returns, Don’t Miss These 12 SessionsFrom design trends to sustainability, here’s a roundup of can’t-miss education sessions at JCK Las Vegas.
CrimeJun 04, 2025
10 Safety Tips for the Las Vegas Shows The Jewelers’ Security Alliance offers advice for those attending the annual trade shows.
MajorsJun 04, 2025
Amy Curran Promoted at Hill & Co.Her new role is director of strategic initiatives.
CollectionsJun 03, 2025
In Her Latest Collection, Viviana Langhoff Is Leaning Into GoldThe designer is embracing bold pieces with weight to them in “AU79,” a collection she celebrated with a creative launch party.
FinancialsJun 03, 2025
Signet Jewelers Sees Turnaround in Q1 With Sales Ticking Up 2%On an earnings call, CEO J.K. Symancyk discussed what’s working for the company and how it’s preparing for the potential impact of tariffs.
SurveysJun 03, 2025
Consumer Confidence Improves in May The index partially rebounded after months of decline, due in part to the U.S.-China deal to temporarily reduce import tariffs.
CollectionsJun 03, 2025
Dakota Johnson Is Roberto Coin’s New Brand AmbassadorThe actress stars in the latest campaign set in Venice, Italy, and is set to participate in other creative initiatives for the jeweler.
GradingJun 03, 2025
Mason-Kay Jade Adds ‘Fei Cui’ to Jade ReportsThe company has joined other labs, including GIA and Lotus Gemology, in adopting the Chinese term for "jadeite jade."
SourcingJun 02, 2025
Gemfields’ June Auction to Include 36-Carat RubyThe large stone will be offered at its June sale along with a selection of secondary-type rubies from a new area of the Montepuez mine.
GradingJun 02, 2025
GSI Opens New Lab in Thailand Located in Bangkok, the laboratory is Gemological Science International’s 14th location worldwide.
TrendsJun 02, 2025
Amanda’s Style File: Three Gems for June Those born in June have a myriad of options for their birthstone jewelry.
SourcingJun 02, 2025
David Allouche Joins Grandview Klein DiamondsThe diamond industry veteran has been named its senior sales executive.
FinancialsMay 30, 2025
Movado’s Q1 Sales Slip Amid ‘Challenging’ Retail Environment The company plans to raise the prices of select watches to offset the impact of tariffs.
Policies & IssuesMay 30, 2025
Tariffs & Designers: Navigating Pricing in an Unstable EnvironmentBetween tariffs and the sky-high cost of gold, designers enter this year’s Las Vegas shows with a lot of questions and few answers.
CollectionsMay 30, 2025
Piece of the Week: Renato Cipullo’s ‘Hematite Blaze’ NecklaceDesigned by founder Renato and his daughter Serena Cipullo, it showcases a flame motif representing unity and the power of gathering.
Policies & IssuesMay 30, 2025
Trade Court Declares Trump’s Tariffs InvalidHowever, the tariffs remain in effect in the short term, as an appeals court has stayed the U.S. Court of International Trade’s decision.
CollectionsMay 29, 2025
Britney Spears Files Trademark for New Jewelry LineThe pop icon is one step closer to launching her “B Tiny” jewelry collection, a collection she first began posting about last fall.
