The “River of Heaven” necklace, our Piece of the Week debuting at Couture, combines 26 salt and pepper diamonds spaced by Tahitian pearls.
This Cheeky Boob Locket Benefits Breast Cancer Treatment
Proceeds from sales of the KatKim locket go toward one woman’s cancer treatment.

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and while there’s no dearth of creative products out there that raise money for worthy causes ranging from research to prevention education, it’s rare that I see something in the category I would want to buy regardless of its charitable angle.
Los Angeles fine jewelry brand KatKim has solved the purchasing-for-good dilemma with its Boob Locket, a tongue-in-cheek nod to the cause it’s supporting that is, in fact, an elegant and versatile piece of jewelry.
The sphere, available in 18-karat yellow or white gold for $2,000, or silver for $780, is embedded with a round diamond on either side and hinges open to reveal an engraved message of the purchaser’s choice—examples shown on the KatKim website are “fighter” and “survivor.”
Kim created the necklace to aid her friend Yuri Chung, who, at the tender age of 33, is fighting cancer for the second time.
Chung’s first cancer diagnosis—stage III breast cancer—was in 2010, when she was 25 years old. After nearly five years in remission she was diagnosed with stage IV breast cancer, which has spread to her lungs, bones and brain.
“She has been anything but a quiet victim of her illness,” Kim explained via e-mail.
A designer by profession, Chung embarked on a creative project to share and process what it was like to battle the disease. The resulting series of writings called Notes To A Friend was eventually presented as a collaborative, multimedia art show in Los Angeles.
A version of the show also took place in New York City, featuring a voice-activated digital ink projection installation.
“Under all the challenging conditions, she pursued her own passion project sharing some of her most vulnerable moments,” Kim said.
Last March, Chung was diagnosed with leptomeningeal carcinomatosis, a condition that affects around 5 percent of cancer patients, in which the cancer invades the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord. Doctors predicted Chung had only two to three months to live,
Now, all proceeds from the KatKim locket will go toward Chung’s treatment through Hope 4 Cancer, an alternative and holistic treatment center offering a fully integrative cancer treatment program.
Kim said the locket will remain in her permanent collection and once Chung recovers, proceeds will benefit an organization of her choice.
In addition to purchasing a locket, those interested can donate any amount of their choosing to Chung’s treatment via her GoFundMe page.
The Latest

This year’s inductees include second-, third-, and fourth-generation jewelers.

The author, speaker, and entrepreneur will give his presentation, “Spiritual Billionaire,” on Saturday morning.

As gold prices rise, today’s retailers are looking for alternatives at prices that will appeal to wider audiences.

Three-time Grammy award-winning artist Nelly is set to perform at the annual event at Tao Beach on Sunday night.


Signet will integrate the online-only, natural diamond-focused jeweler into Blue Nile, which it wants to position as a higher-end retailer.

These up-and-coming jewelry brands are bringing their distinct aesthetic and unique point-of-view to the Design Atelier for the first time.

With the trade and customer trust in mind, GIA® developed NextGem™ – on-demand training designed specifically for retail.

The lab’s proprietary diamond cut grade has been expanded to include the popular fancy shape.

This year, it’s what could happen outside of show hours that worries JSA Executive Vice President Scott Guginsky.

High-end fashion houses know how to emotionally connect with customers online. Retail jewelers should take note, Emmanuel Raheb writes.

The designers are the third cohort of mentees from the show’s Belonging @ Couture mentorship program.

Buying discipline at trade shows starts with clarity about your inventory levels, Smith writes.

The trade show’s education series returns, with sessions on retail trends, AI, watches, marketing, corporate responsibility, and more.

The Curated Designer Project has expanded to highlight eight independent jewelry designers during CBG’s Las Vegas show.

Bring a cool tone to your summer jewelry with these white metal pieces.

The deal closed this week, which means Instore will produce the JA NY show slated to take place this fall.

The company’s jewelry sales were up in Q4 and the fiscal year, with Richemont raising prices in part because of the cost of gold.

The “Bauble” capsule collection of colorful one-of-a-kinds includes our Piece of the Week, the “Bauble” earrings, featuring rose zircon.

The updated catalog has a newly dedicated section for gift wrapping.

Everett covers colored stones’ surging popularity, the mellow return of the “Mellon Blue,” and his “The Devil Wears Prada” doppelgänger.

Fourth-generation CEO Lilly Mullen wants to emphasize experience, connection, and personalized service.

The new award, created in partnership with Henne Jewelers, honors the late designer’s legacy through supporting jewelry education.

The addition of the diamond-producing countries as nation affiliated members broadens the federation’s global representation, WFDB said.

The NYPD is warning elderly New Yorkers to keep their jewelry hidden when walking outside to avoid being a target.

Designer Viviana Langhoff has realized her dream of owning a space for her Chicago jewelry store that looks and feels like her brand.

The sessions will run from Friday, May 29, to Sunday, May 31, with one being a live taping of an episode of Couture’s podcast.


























