WatchesApr 21, 2026
Coco Chanel Enters the Game with New Watch CollectionGabrielle “Coco” Chanel is a character in the “Coco Game” collection of watches and the queen in its first haute horlogerie chessboard.
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
IndependentsApr 21, 2026
Meet Jewelers of America’s 2026 ‘20 Under 40’ ClassThe annual list honors rising professionals on the retail and supply sides of the jewelry industry.
CrimeApr 21, 2026
Customs Nabs 1,500 Pieces of Counterfeit Jewelry Bound for NYCSeized in Kentucky, the packages include fake Cartier, Tiffany & Co., Chanel, and Fendi jewelry.
Brought to you by
Discover Timeless Treasures: A Showcase of Antique Jewelry & Timepieces in Las VegasGain access to the most exclusive and coveted antique pieces from trusted dealers during Las Vegas Jewelry Week.
CrimeApr 20, 2026
Queens Man Convicted in Bludgeoning Death of Pawn Shop OwnerRodolfo Lopez-Portillo faces 25 years to life in prison after being found guilty in the March 2022 beating death of Arasb Shoughi.
Weekly QuizApr 16, 2026
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
TrendsApr 20, 2026
Beth Bernstein, Sonia Esther Soltani Pen New Jewelry Book“Jewelry Creators: Dynamic Duos and Generational Gems” highlights the relationships among 22 influential designers, brands, and gem dealers.
Events & AwardsApr 20, 2026
Atlanta Jewelry Show’s Spring Event Is Hitting the RoadThe AJS Spring 2027 show will be held in Savannah, Georgia, with future shows taking place in other Southeast cities.
Brought to you by
Las Vegas Antique Jewelry & Watch Show: Showcasing the Most Collectible Merchandise from Across the GlobeGain access to the most exclusive and coveted antique pieces from trusted dealers during Las Vegas Jewelry Week.
MajorsApr 20, 2026
Kendra Scott Names New CFO, Chief Business OfficerThe jewelry retailer plans to open 20 new stores this year and expand into new product categories.
TrendsApr 17, 2026
New (Groundbreaking) Floral Jewelry for Spring 2026Flower motifs are the jewelry trend blooming amongst the new collections that debuted this spring.
MajorsApr 17, 2026
QVC Group Files for Chapter 11 BankruptcyThe retailer reported an 8 percent decline in annual sales as it struggles under the weight of billions of dollars of debt.
CollectionsApr 17, 2026
Edina Kiss’ Earrings Are the Devil on Your ShoulderThe “Devil” drop earrings, our Piece of the Week, are part of designer Edina Kiss’ new namesake jewelry line that she will show at Couture.
CrimeApr 17, 2026
FBI Issues Warning to Refineries, Retailers Due to High Price of GoldThe alert states that burglary crews are targeting jewelry businesses and details how jewelers and refineries can protect themselves.
WatchesApr 16, 2026
Cartier Brings Back the RoadsterThe “watchmaker of shapes” debuted the reworked version of the vintage sports car-inspired timepiece at Watches & Wonders.
IndependentsApr 16, 2026
Edge Retail Academy Updates Leadership TeamAs demand for jewelry retail coaching grows, the company has established a dedicated business coaching leadership team.
MajorsApr 16, 2026
Stuller’s Latest Mountings Catalog Is Out NowThe “Mountings 2026-2027” catalog showcases Stuller’s largest and most diverse assortment to date with more than 400 new mounting styles.
PodcastsApr 15, 2026
Episode 4: The Natural Diamond DilemmaSally Morrison and Mark Klein discuss De Beers’ first beacon in 16 years and the mistake the industry made with lab-grown diamonds.
MajorsApr 15, 2026
Spark Creations’ Randy McKenzie Dies at 72 McKenzie spent 45 years with Spark Creations and is remembered for being kind, dedicated, and hardworking.
WatchesApr 15, 2026
These Are the New Rolex Watches for 2026Rolex focused exclusively on the Oyster Perpetual this year, as the model is celebrating its 100th anniversary.
FinancialsApr 15, 2026
Kering’s Jewelry Shines in Q1, Gucci’s Struggle ContinuesThe luxury giant discussed the Middle East conflict and its transformation plans, hinting at a stronger jewelry presence in North America.
SourcingApr 15, 2026
Diamond Club West Coast Names 2026 BoardKalpesh Jhaveri was re-elected as president for a third year.
TechnologyApr 15, 2026
This Jewelry Brand’s Video Series Is Up for a Webby Award“Diamond Divas,” a social media reality series by Shahla Karimi Jewelry, is nominated in the “Best Social: Fashion & Beauty” category.
SourcingApr 14, 2026
De Beers Expands ‘Desert Diamonds’ Beacon Into BridalThe campaign seeks to reignite desire for natural diamond engagement rings by highlighting the “distinct character” of warm-toned diamonds.
FinancialsApr 14, 2026
LVMH’s Q1 Sales Sink 6% Amid Middle East ConflictPlus, how Saks Global’s bankruptcy affected the luxury giant’s first quarter.
SourcingApr 14, 2026
International Jade Summit to Return to MontereyPresented by Mason-Kay Jade, the summit, in its second year, will again be held during the Monterey Bay Jade Festival.
Events & AwardsApr 14, 2026
CBG Releases Details for Las Vegas ShowThe group has announced its lineup of speakers and a new “Rising Stars” pavilion.
CollectionsApr 13, 2026
Uniform Object’s New Jewelry Collection Centers on the ‘Carbon Form’The “Carbon Form” collection explores the contrast between high and low materials, using rubber cord alongside 18-karat gold and gemstones.
