SurveysJan 30, 2026
These Are the Top Brands of 2026, Says YouGovFrom tech platforms to candy companies, here’s how some of the highest-ranking brands earned their spot on the list.
OtherJun 11, 2014
4 new, potentially good releases
100 of the Worst Ideas in History and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s tome on her time in office are among National Jeweler’s chosen new releases for the month of June.
New York--Goodreads, an online book discussion site, just issued its list of new releases for the month of June.
As it did in April and May, National Jeweler sifted through the virtual stacks to find four books business owners might find useful and added one staff selection. Picks this month include 100 of the Worst Ideas in History, a book that includes a bad marketing decision by one very famous candy company, and Hillary Clinton’s latest, Hard Choices.
The following list includes a brief summary of each and links to their information on Goodreads, as well as one additional book that comes highly recommended by one National Jeweler editor.
1. 100 of the Worst Ideas in History
Michael Smith, Eric Kasum
This collection of top 10 lists compiles some of humanity’s biggest blunders in the areas of business, pop culture, fashion, sports and more. Did anyone know, for example, that Mars Inc. turned down the chance for M&M’s to be in E.T. because they thought seeing the famous extraterrestrial eat their candy might scare kids? The spot, arguably one of the greatest product placements in movie history, was gobbled up by Reese’s Pieces. This book is 288 pages.
2. The Explorers: A Story of Fearless Outcasts, Blundering Geniuses, and Impossible Success
Martin Dugard
In The Explorers, the author recounts the epic journey Richard Francis Burton and John Hanning Speke undertook in 1856 to find the source of the Nile River, a journey that ended with the two men as enemies for life. While the book tells the tale of the two men’s trek, it also explores the seven traits vital to seeing any long journey through to the end: curiosity, hope, passion, courage, independence, self-discipline and perseverance. This book is 304 pages.
3. Hard Choices
Hillary Rodham Clinton
After she lost the Democratic Party’s nomination for president to Barack Obama in 2008, former First Lady and U.S. Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton received a surprising offer: her one-time bitter rival asked her to serve as Secretary of State. This book, the second memoir by one of the most powerful politicians in the world, recounts the four years Clinton spent in the role. It is 688 pages.
4. Rock Breaks Scissors
William Poundstone
Described as a “hands-on guide to turning life’s odds in your favor,” Rock Breaks Scissors gives readers methods of improving the accuracy of their own
Editors' Picks
Sponsored by
guessing, which then can be applied to a number of everyday situations, such as buying a home, the stock market or playing the lottery. This book is 320 pages.
5. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn
Betty Smith
Picked by: Editor-in-Chief Michelle Graff
I have a close friend who reads A Tree Grows in Brooklyn every summer, but I didn’t discover it until 2011, after buying it for 50 cents at a moving sale in the Brooklyn neighborhood I lived in at that time, Bay Ridge.
Laid up with ankle injury that summer, I spent a lot of time reading and I devoured A Tree Grows in Brooklyn. For me, the book represented the perfect blend of past and present. It reminded me of the books by Beverly Cleary I loved so much as a child--particularly her first memoir, A Girl from Yamhill, which remains one of my best-loved books of all time--but was set in Brooklyn, where I lived then (and still live now, though no longer in Bay Ridge). I thought it was fascinating to read about the struggles of Francine Nolan as she grew up poor, the daughter of German and Irish immigrants, in the Williamsburg neighborhood of Brooklyn, an area now populated by hipsters, trendy boutiques and craft breweries.
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn might remind me of a book I read and loved as a young girl but I think it stands the test of time and is an excellent read for any age.
Need more books to take to the beach this summer? Check out National Jeweler’s picks for April and May.
More on Other
The Latest
CollectionsJan 30, 2026
Follow the Beat With Etiq’s ‘Khol’ RingThe “Khol” ring, our Piece of the Week, transforms the traditional Indian Khol drum into playful jewelry through hand-carved lapis.
MajorsJan 30, 2026
Arch Crown’s 2026 ‘Tag & Label’ Catalog Is HereThe catalog includes more than 100 styles of stock, pre-printed, and custom tags and labels, as well as bar code technology products.
Brought to you by
The MJSA Mentor & Apprenticeship Program: Attracting & Training the Next Generation of Bench JewelersLaunched in 2023, the program will help the passing of knowledge between generations and alleviate the shortage of bench jewelers.
CollectionsJan 29, 2026
Ghirardelli’s ‘Chocolocket’ Returns for Valentine’s DayThe chocolatier is bringing back its chocolate-inspired locket, offering sets of two to celebrate “perfect pairs.”
Weekly QuizJan 29, 2026
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
AuctionsJan 29, 2026
These Were Bonhams’ Top 10 Jewelry Lots in 2025The top lot of the year was a 1930s Cartier tiara owned by Nancy, Viscountess Astor, which sold for $1.2 million in London last summer.
SourcingJan 29, 2026
Stuller Website to Mark AGTA-Sourced GemstonesAny gemstones on Stuller.com that were sourced by an AGTA vendor member will now bear the association’s logo.
Brought to you by
How Jewelers Can Fight Back Against Cell JammersCriminals are using cell jammers to disable alarms, but new technology like JamAlert™ can stop them.
WatchesJan 29, 2026
Audemars Piguet Opens AP House in AtlantaThe Swiss watchmaker has brought its latest immersive boutique to Atlanta, a city it described as “an epicenter of music and storytelling.”
SourcingJan 28, 2026
Ethical Gem Fair to Debut Designer Showcase in TucsonThe new addition will feature finished jewelry created using “consciously sourced” gemstones.
ColumnistsJan 28, 2026
Peter Smith: Setting the Next Generation Up for SuccessIn his new column, Smith advises playing to your successor's strengths and resisting the urge to become a backseat driver.
SurveysJan 28, 2026
Consumer Confidence Falls Below Pandemic Lows in JanuaryThe index fell to its lowest level since May 2014 amid concerns about the present and the future.
IndependentsJan 28, 2026
Foundrae Heads to Aspen for Latest Store OpeningThe new store in Aspen, Colorado, takes inspiration from a stately library for its intimate yet elevated interior design.
FinancialsJan 28, 2026
Tiffany & Co., Bulgari Sales Resilient as LVMH’s 2025 Sales SlipThe brands’ high jewelry collections performed especially well last year despite a challenging environment.
CollectionsJan 27, 2026
De Beers London, GemFair Debut New Collection Highlighting Artisanal DiamondsThe collection marks the first time GemFair’s artisanal diamonds will be brought directly to consumers.
SourcingJan 27, 2026
GemGuide Launches Pricing for Montana SapphiresThe initial charts are for blue, teal, and green material, each grouped into three charts categorized as good, fine, and extra fine.
TechnologyJan 27, 2026
Clientbook Launches Appointment Booking ToolThe new tool can assign the appropriate associate based on the client or appointment type and automate personalized text message follow-ups.
SourcingJan 26, 2026
Tucson Preview 2026: Earthy Tones and Innovative Shapes Buyers are expected to gravitate toward gemstones that have a little something special, just like last year.
SourcingJan 26, 2026
Angolan Diamond Cos. Join NDC as Rio Tinto, Murowa Exit Endiama and Sodiam will contribute money to the marketing of natural diamonds as new members of the Natural Diamond Council.
MajorsJan 26, 2026
Francesca’s To Close All StoresThe retailer operates more than 450 boutiques across 45 states, according to its website.
MajorsJan 26, 2026
BIJC Names 5 New Board MembersThe new members’ skills span communications, business development, advocacy, and industry leadership.
CollectionsJan 26, 2026
Tiffany & Co. Celebrates 189 Years of Love StoriesThe jeweler’s 2026 Valentine’s Day campaign, “Celebrating Love Stories Since 1837,” includes a short firm starring actress Adria Arjona.
GradingJan 26, 2026
DCA Updates Colored Gemstone CourseThe new features include interactive flashcards and scenario-based roleplay with AI tools.
MajorsJan 23, 2026
Watches of Switzerland Acquires 4-Store Jewelry Chain in TexasFamily-owned jewelry and watch retailer Deutsch & Deutsch has stores in El Paso, Laredo, McAllen, and Victoria.
WatchesJan 23, 2026
Damiani Group to Acquire Baume & MercierThe Italian luxury company purchased the nearly 200-year-old Swiss watch brand from Richemont.
TrendsJan 23, 2026
Martin Katz’s Earrings Call to Mind Wintry Weather Micro-set with hundreds of diamonds, these snowflake earrings recreate “winter’s most elegant silhouette,” and are our Piece of the Week.
MajorsJan 23, 2026
Rembrandt Charms Names New Director of Creative, Brand StrategyElla Blum was appointed to the newly created role.
