Gretchen Koback Pursel is the new chief people officer at the company formerly known as Saks Global.
What you might have missed
In case you may have missed the industry activity last week, here are the five most popular stories from NationalJeweler.com and the top three from the blog, 10X, for the week of Aug. 24 to 30, according to Google Analytics.
New York--Leave early for the holiday weekend? Too busy with jewelry sales to have a chance to look at National Jeweler’s daily newsletter?
In case you may have missed the industry activity last week, here are the five most popular stories from NationalJeweler.com and the top three from the blog, 10X, for the week of Aug. 24 to 30, according to Google Analytics.
NationalJeweler.com
1. 14 great pieces from the Emmys and VMAs. Drop earrings and diamond pieces dominated the red carpet this year at the Primetime Emmy and MTV Video Music awards held in August. Check out National Jeweler’s roundup to see the best pieces.
2. A retailer’s solution to diamond grading confusion. With the diamond grading confusion that currently exists in the industry, jeweler and guest columnist James Alperin says labs that want to give diamonds “trumped-up” grades should develop their own grading system and not use the same scale popularized by the GIA.
3. What jewelers can learn from crimes in California. After a recent wave of crimes in California, David Sexton, vice president of loss prevention consulting at Jewelers Mutual, reminds jewelers of valuable tips for retailers everywhere and how they can remain vigilant.
4. Rocks On: Tanzanite comes into its own. National Jeweler takes a look at what’s happening lately in the tanzanite market--including pricing, news updates and design trends--and showcases a number of tanzanite jewelry pieces in the second installment of Rocks On.
5. Pandora names another new CEO. Last week, Pandora announced that CEO Allan Leighton will step down in March 2015 and be replaced by tobacco company executive Anders Colding Friis, who will be the fifth CEO of the Danish jewelry brand since the company went public in 2010.
10X
1. A primer on lead glass-filled rubies. With the recent consumer press reports accusing major chains of selling lead glass-filled rubies without proper disclosure, Associate Editor Brecken Branstrator takes a look at the rules for selling these stones.
2. These are your grandmother’s pearls. Senior Editor Hannah Connorton details how she has come to appreciate her great-aunt’s jewelry and how she wears it in a modern way.
3. A new take on lace. Associate Editor Brecken Branstrator interviews jewelry designer Monica Knutsson about her gold-dipped lace jewelry.
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 deadline to apply is Nov. 13.

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.

Jewelers of America also revealed the recipients of the Seymour & Evelyn Holtzman Bench Scholarship and its own scholarship programs.

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.






















