MajorsJun 16, 2026
5 Things to Know About the 2026 NBA Championship TrophyThe New York Knicks took home the Larry O'Brien Trophy crafted by Tiffany & Co.
OtherSep 14, 2015
The good old days, gone by quickly
We’re living in a time not unlike the Industrial Revolution, with the speed of change making many long-standing professions obsolete. Jewelers have to adapt or they’ll be done, retailer and columnist Jim Alperin writes.
Retailer Jim Alperin owns James Alperin Jewelers in Pepper Pike, Ohio. He can be reached at alpjewel@aol.com.
If you’ve had the pleasure of being in the jewelry business as long as I have, since the mid-1970s, you probably remember “the good old days,” the days about which you now get to bore your children and grandchildren, telling them stories of life before the Internet and big-box retailers.
Those were the days when people shopped at the jewelry store for jewelry, the local drug store for medicines and sundries, book stores for books, stationary stores for paper, optical stores for glasses, etc. Those were the days when your neighbor owned the store down the street and you supported their business and they knew you by name when you walked in the door.
Wait, let me bore you further; I don’t have any children or grandchildren to annoy with my stories.
There was a day when people trusted their jeweler like they trusted their doctor. Your parents shopped at a certain jewelry store and, when it came time for you to buy that all-important engagement ring, mom or dad took you by the hand to meet their jeweler and help you spend your money on a beautiful diamond ring. Those were the days before diamonds were commoditized into categories that now make shopping for a diamond not that much different than shopping for a Ford.
But, that’s enough indulgence in memories. The past is gone and it’s a new world with mega-stores, multi-thousand-location store chains and the Internet selling the product that once defined our industry. The world as it is today is here to stay, at least until the next great change.
We are living during the technology revolution, what will be looked at in history as one of the seismic shifts in the world of business.
Looking back in time, we can see that life really hadn’t changed much for people for thousands of years before the discovery of electricity. If you had been born in the year 400 or the year 1400, you cooked on a wood fire, heated your home with wood, went outside to use the bathroom and took a bath once or twice a year. The Industrial Revolution marked a point in history when electricity gave us light, gas heated our homes and gave us the ability to put the horse in the barn and drive a car. It put the ice man out of business and did
Editors' Picks
Sponsored by
the same to the guy who ran the livery stable.
People who had good jobs, the only jobs they had known for a lifetime, suddenly found themselves out of work, not because they did a poor job but because with little warning, their jobs were no longer needed by a society that had changed, seemingly overnight. A thousand years of shoeing horses and within a short period of time, everyone wanted to drive a car.
One day, people will look back on our time as one of the great revolutions of society. It is a time when what had been a fine way to make a living for hundreds of years suddenly became obsolete because of the technology revolution. The local shop owner, the small wholesale business, businesses that have taken care of families for generations are beginning to disappear.
Not sure that it’s happening? Ask your children if they want your parents fine china, silver flatware or crystal stemware. Oh yes, the next generation still fights over grandma’s treasures but today it isn’t “I want Grandma’s china.” It’s “I don’t want it, you take it,” “No way, I don’t want it, you take it.” What about your mother’s yellow gold peridot and diamond brooch? Try giving that to the kids!
Adjusting to the new reality in which we live is going to be painful to many of us in the jewelry industry. Some will survive and flourish as they learn to integrate the technology age into their businesses. Others, well, others will suffer the fate of the farrier who couldn’t or wouldn’t learn how to change tires and pump gas. If you want your business to remain for the next generation to take over and grow, change is the watchword of the future.
Remember, there was a day when the local jeweler sold toasters and shavers--change isn’t new for our industry, it’s just happening much faster than in the past.
The “good old days” are nothing more than the past; they’re fun to remember but it’s time to come into the modern day and accept the challenges of the new reality of our industry.
Retailer Jim Alperin owns James Alperin Jewelers in Pepper Pike, Ohio. He can be reached at alpjewel@aol.com.
More on Other
The Latest
TrendsJun 16, 2026
Post-Vegas Jewelry Trend Report: Big Beads, Western Flair, White MetalsAssociate Editor Natalie Francisco lists the trends she spotted during Jewelry Market Week that will dominate the second half of 2026.
SourcingJun 16, 2026
GemGuide Updates Ruby PricesIts app now reflects increased prices for Mozambique ruby, as well as changes to its Burma ruby charts.
Brought to you by
Building the Future of Jewelry Retail: DCA Expands Education, Leadership Development, and Workforce SolutionsDCA is preparing the next generation of professionals by supporting workforce development, leadership growth, and career advancement.
MajorsJun 16, 2026
Sasha Primak Hires New Design DirectorThe manufacturer has tapped Alicia Arnold, the former director of custom design at Tiny Jewel Box.
Weekly QuizJun 11, 2026
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
IndependentsJun 15, 2026
DeBoulle Diamond & Jewelry to Renovate Dallas FlagshipThe revamped, elevated space will feature a two-story Patek Philippe atelier and a rooftop patio for parties.
WatchesJun 15, 2026
G-Shock, Coca-Cola Partner on Bottle-Inspired WatchThe special-edition piece marks the 140th anniversary of the iconic beverage brand.
Brought to you by
All Eyes on Gold Prices. Alternatives to Look For. And What to BEWARE of in VegasAs gold prices rise, today’s retailers are looking for alternatives at prices that will appeal to wider audiences.
TrendsJun 15, 2026
Amanda’s Style File: Tiny Charms Are TrendingHere are 13 small charms to inspire your layered looks this summer.
AuctionsJun 12, 2026
16th-Century ‘Hogback’ Diamond Ring Going Up for Auction in LondonFound by a metal detectorist, the ring likely belonged to a wealthy, possibly royal, owner, said Noonans.
CollectionsJun 12, 2026
Chouette Designs To Launch Collection Celebrating All Types of LoveOur Pride Month Piece of the Week, the “Margaux” ring, is part of the wife-and-wife team’s new “Lovestoned” collection.
Events & AwardsJun 12, 2026
CBG Announces Plans for Phoenix ShowThe group has named the keynote speaker and announced a new pavilion for its next event, which is slated for September.
EditorsJun 11, 2026
This Was the Best Animal Jewelry in Las Vegas From lions and hippos to snails and fish, Senior Editor Lenore Fedow wrangles her picks for cutest jewelry critters in Las Vegas.
SourcingJun 11, 2026
Grandview Klein, London Jewelers Partner To Cut 63-Carat RoughThe big stone will be fashioned into a 20.26-carat diamond in celebration of the retailer’s 100th anniversary this year.
MajorsJun 11, 2026
Former Cartier Creative Director To Head Chanel’s Jewelry Creation StudioMarie-Laure Cérède will join Chanel as the new director of its jewelry creation studio, starting in October.
Lab-GrownJun 11, 2026
Smiling Rocks’ ‘Wish Jar’ Generates 100+ Wishes in Las Vegas At the JCK show, the lab-grown diamond brand teamed up with Jewelers for Children to support Make-A-Wish India.
SourcingJun 11, 2026
Signet Jewelers Exec Joins Diamonds Do Good BoardIlana McCabe is Signet’s vice president of public relations and brand communications.
AuctionsJun 10, 2026
31.62-Carat ‘Azure Blue’ Diamond Sells For $8M+ at Christie’sIt was a banner day for blue gemstones, with another blue diamond topping $8 million and a 41-carat sapphire going for $2.3 million.
MajorsJun 10, 2026
Saks Global Receives Bankruptcy Court Approval for ReorganizationThe approval means the retailer is on track to exit bankruptcy proceedings this summer.
CrimeJun 10, 2026
2 Suspects Arrested in Texas Jewelry Store RobberyThe men are believed to be part of the group of several masked suspects that robbed Marc Robinson Jewelers in April.
CollectionsJun 10, 2026
Sylvie Debuts ‘Elevated’ Bridal Collection Inspired By Designer’s RingThe bridal-focused brand is also launching its Custom Atelier this summer, a digital custom design tool for its authorized retailers.
EditorsJun 09, 2026
Q&A: Al Cook on the Lab-Grown ‘Bubble,’ Dwindling Diamond Supply The De Beers Group CEO also discussed tariffs, Desert Diamonds, and the pending sale of De Beers in an interview with Michelle Graff.
MajorsJun 09, 2026
Wilkerson's Russ Whitehouse RetiresThe industry veteran is bringing his 56-year run in the fine jewelry sector to an end.
Events & AwardsJun 09, 2026
Pride Month Panel to Highlight LGBTQ+ Jewelry VoicesThe panel discussion will feature LGBTQ+ leaders across the jewelry, luxury, and creative industries.
CollectionsJun 09, 2026
Marie Lichtenberg’s New Capsule Collection Is a Smash, LiterallyInspired by a locket that got run over, the “Smash” capsule collection reimagines the shape of Lichtenberg’s signature style.
MajorsJun 09, 2026
Frederick Goldman Names Director of Sales for SoutheastThe company has promoted Katherine Whitacre to the role.
MajorsJun 08, 2026
Stuller Expands Selection of Lab-Grown Diamonds, Demi-Fine JewelryThe jewelry manufacturer has added Taylor Swift-esque diamond shapes, and more silver, gold vermeil, and gold-plated jewelry.
