FinancialsJun 02, 2026
Signet Jewelers’ Q1 Sales Up 2% As It Focuses on ‘Core Four’ The jewelry retailer is zeroing in on Zales, Jared, Kay Jewelers, and Blue Nile as it looks to create unique brand identities for each.
EditorsMar 10, 2016
T.I.A., Part 4: Visiting a Maasai School in Tanzania
In the last installment of a multi-part series about her trip to East Africa, Associate Editor Brecken Branstrator discusses visiting a rural Tanzanian school that the jewelry and gemstone industry is helping.
As often as it’s said and as cliché as it can sound, travel really can change your perspective.
For me, those occasions popped up every day when I was in East Africa. Seeing the way the gemstones were mined, meeting people and hearing how they lived--it was brand new and completely eye opening.
Professionally, the trip was beyond measure in what it taught me.
For me, those occasions popped up every day when I was in East Africa. Seeing the way the gemstones were mined, meeting people and hearing how they lived--it was brand new and completely eye opening.
Professionally, the trip was beyond measure in what it taught me.
I jumped in to take a picture with the kids.
But personally, one of the most profound moments happened when we took a trip out to the Kitarini Maasai Children’s School in rural northern Tanzania near the Kenyan border, where more than 400 children from the Maasai tribe attend classes. (Side note: for a great read about the Maasai people, check out the autobiography The Worlds of Maasai Warrior.)
The connection to the school originally came through a miner Roger Dery knows, Sune Merisheki. Sune has been involved since he first drove past the “school” and saw that they had no buildings or materials, and he and his wife Pia have been doing what they can to bring money and resources to Kitarini. Since then, a number of buildings have been constructed and more is, hopefully, to come.
One of the obstacles a place like Kitarini faces is that many of the children have to walk a few miles each way every day to get to school, so attendance remains an issue. What’s more, it’s hard to attract good teachers who will move out there and stay in an area with such a hard lifestyle.
The students loved having their pictures taken and then getting to see themselves on the screen afterward. Photo credit: Dan Lynch
One of the reasons we went out to visit Kitarini was to give them the new books that our group had collected. Roger and Ginger partnered with a number of jewelry stores across the country who had collected books from their local community for kids of all ages. Others in the group also brought books and supplies.
The kids also were excited for us to be there because they knew we’d be handing out something special--candy. They lined up and patiently waited as we gave them, one by one, a lollipop.
The smiles on their faces after such a small gift, and their excitement later as the whole group received two new soccer balls to play with, was something so touching I can’t even put it into words.
It takes a special type of experience to force you to acknowledge how blessed you are and what you’ve taken for granted, and it’s an experience I wish everyone could have.
The children at Kitarini are entranced by the selfie stick.
Thank you to all of those who allowed me this opportunity of a lifetime--Roger and Ginger Dery; Nancy Schuring, Joe Portale and the Devon Foundation; Gichuchu Okeno; my National Jeweler team for supporting me while I was off the grid for a couple weeks; and our owner, Jewelers of America. This was one trip that will not soon be forgotten.
There is so much good work to be done for these communities still.
If you’d like to give money to help some of these projects that I’ve talked about in my T.I.A. blog series, donate to the Devon Foundation, which helps build up and support the gemstone communities in East Africa. Debbie Swinney is the primary contact for the foundation, and she can be reached at debbie@devonfinejewelry.com or at 201-848-8489.
If you’re interested in taking a trip to East Africa with Roger and Ginger, you can reach out to Roger directly at gemdigital@cs.com, Ginger at gingerdery@gmail.com, at 248-545-3546 or via SpectralGems.com.
More on Editors
The Latest
SourcingJun 02, 2026
Leader Appointed for Botswana’s Diamonds for Development Fund Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, a development economist, will head the fund created to help Botswana diversify its economy.
WatchesJun 02, 2026
Watch Industry Veteran James Marks Joins Sotheby’sSotheby’s has appointed the former Phillips executive as its global head of private sales and retail in its watches division.
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.
AuctionsJun 02, 2026
Sotheby’s to Auction 10-Carat Blue Diamond, 1960s Harry Winston Necklace A private collection of five Paraíba tourmalines also will be up for sale at Sotheby’s High Jewelry auction in New York, scheduled for June 16.
Weekly QuizMay 28, 2026
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
IndependentsJun 02, 2026
State of Retail: 6 Things Retailers Should Know About Consumers TodayFrom Gen Z’s view of luxury to “doom spending,” these are the six consumer trends to note this year.
Events & AwardsJun 01, 2026
Design Atelier Brands Have a Big Night at Emotional Couture Design AwardsThe show started by honoring Mildred Marcano, ended with a tearful Beth Anne Bonanno, and recognized a dozen-plus designers in between.
Brought to you by
How Modern Training Is Becoming a Competitive Advantage for Jewelry RetailersWith the trade and customer trust in mind, GIA® developed NextGem™ – on-demand training designed specifically for retail.
SourcingJun 01, 2026
RapNet Rebranding as Rapaport TradeThe revamped online diamond marketplace will feature pricing intelligence and data-driven tools for more efficient buying and selling.
SourcingJun 01, 2026
Gemfields’ Higher-Quality Emerald Auction Achieves $26.8MThe miner said demand for higher-quality emeralds is stable, but there is notable caution in the market.
CollectionsMay 29, 2026
Cultus Artem’s Necklace Is the Oasis in Las Vegas’ DesertThe “River of Heaven” necklace, our Piece of the Week debuting at Couture, combines 26 salt and pepper diamonds spaced by Tahitian pearls.
IndependentsMay 29, 2026
Meet the 2026 Retailer Hall of Fame InducteesThis year’s inductees include second-, third-, and fourth-generation jewelers.
Events & AwardsMay 28, 2026
JCK Announces Jesse Itzler as 2026 Keynote SpeakerThe author, speaker, and entrepreneur will give his presentation, “Spiritual Billionaire,” on Saturday morning.
Events & AwardsMay 28, 2026
JCK Rocks To Ride With NellyThree-time Grammy award-winning artist Nelly is set to perform at the annual event at Tao Beach on Sunday night.
MajorsMay 28, 2026
Signet Jewelers to Buy The Clear Cut Signet will integrate the online-only, natural diamond-focused jeweler into Blue Nile, which it wants to position as a higher-end retailer.
CollectionsMay 28, 2026
Meet The 17 Newcomers to Couture’s Design AtelierThese up-and-coming jewelry brands are bringing their distinct aesthetic and unique point-of-view to the Design Atelier for the first time.
GradingMay 28, 2026
GCAL By Sarine Launches 8X Cushion CutThe lab’s proprietary diamond cut grade has been expanded to include the popular fancy shape.
Events & AwardsMay 27, 2026
5 Security Tips for Las Vegas Jewelry Market Week 2026This year, it’s what could happen outside of show hours that worries JSA Executive Vice President Scott Guginsky.
ColumnistsMay 27, 2026
What Jewelers Can Learn From Luxury Fashion’s Digital PlaybookHigh-end fashion houses know how to emotionally connect with customers online. Retail jewelers should take note, Emmanuel Raheb writes.
Events & AwardsMay 27, 2026
Couture’s ‘The Iridescence’ Will Showcase 7 Emerging Jewelry DesignersThe designers are the third cohort of mentees from the show’s Belonging @ Couture mentorship program.
ColumnistsMay 26, 2026
The Key Mindset for Better Trade Show BuyingBuying discipline at trade shows starts with clarity about your inventory levels, Smith writes.
Events & AwardsMay 26, 2026
12 JCK Talks Sessions to Add to Your Las Vegas ScheduleThe trade show’s education series returns, with sessions on retail trends, AI, watches, marketing, corporate responsibility, and more.
Events & AwardsMay 26, 2026
CBG Brings Its Curated Designer Project to Las Vegas ShowThe Curated Designer Project has expanded to highlight eight independent jewelry designers during CBG’s Las Vegas show.
TrendsMay 26, 2026
Amanda’s Style File: A Cooldown Is ComingBring a cool tone to your summer jewelry with these white metal pieces.
Events & AwardsMay 22, 2026
Instore Buys JA New York ShowThe deal closed this week, which means Instore will produce the JA NY show slated to take place this fall.
FinancialsMay 22, 2026
Richemont’s Jewelry Brands Lead the Charge in Q4The company’s jewelry sales were up in Q4 and the fiscal year, with Richemont raising prices in part because of the cost of gold.
CollectionsMay 22, 2026
Leigh Maxwell Celebrates 5 Years at Couture With ‘Bauble’ CollectionThe “Bauble” capsule collection of colorful one-of-a-kinds includes our Piece of the Week, the “Bauble” earrings, featuring rose zircon.
