AuctionsApr 27, 2026
12 Years Later, the ‘Ocean Dream’ Diamond Resurfaces at Christie’sThe largest known fancy vivid blue-green diamond could fetch more than $12 million at its second auction appearance.
EditorsAug 03, 2016
A Millennial’s Take on All the Talk About Her Generation
Arguing that members of her generation aren’t “lazy,” Senior Editor and millennial Brecken Branstrator talks about the need for a new conversation to help recruit this group.
Truth time: I’ve got millennial discussion burn-out.
And apparently I’m not the only one. Ben Smithee gave a millennial-focused presentation at the recent JA New York Summer show called “Enough Already! Why You’re Sick of the Millennial Madness & Why Most of What You Know Is Probably Wrong.”
It’s sort of bizarre being part of a generation that is studied so closely and written about so much. Brands and companies are trying to figure out how to market to this new consumer group to best capture their spending power and are constantly having conversations about habits that, to me, feel so familiar and natural.
But I think more than anything what angers me most is the fact that so many find it easy to generalize and draw conclusions about such a diverse group, and not usually in a good way: We don’t understand this group, so we’re just going to call them lazy and entitled.
At the JA New York Summer show, I sat in on an education session with National Jeweler Editor-in-Chief Michelle Graff and Peter Smith, one of our columnists.
The session was a follow-up to Smith’s article on National Jeweler addressing the future of retail jewelry stores, which is the most-read story on our site so far this year. (Part 2 and a final follow-up also appeared on NationalJeweler.com.)
The Graff-Smith education session was designed as an “idea exchange” to encourage questions and interaction from the audience. It was a hit. The classroom was full and the questions kept coming long after the one-hour time slot passed.
Among many other topics, one of the things that came up was--surprise!--millennials.
In fact, the man sitting right beside me raised his hand and, as part of a discussion about the next generation not wanting to take the reins at family-owned stores, said that many millennials don’t have any interest in the 100-hour, six-day workweeks the generations before them put in and were “lazy.”
Allow me to speak for my generation for a second to say, that last part is just not the case. Are there young people today who may not be hard workers or feel entitled to good jobs without the hard work? Sure. But I think that could be said across all generations.
What’s more, I’d hardly call someone “lazy” just because they don’t want to work 100 hours a week. I certainly don’t want to, and
Editors' Picks
Sponsored by
I like to think of myself as a pretty hard-working person.
This is something that Peter echoed when he said that he believes the “model has changed,” adding that he would be disappointed if his kids, who are millennials, did aspire to work seven days a week. “I would want them to be figuring out ways to do it smarter,” he said.
Most people seem to think that millennials want 50 vacation days a year, a beer cart and ping-pong table in the office, or to somehow be making six figures without a full-time commitment. No.
What we do want is a work/life balance and a job that we find fulfilling. I realize that waiting for said job might seem silly to some in the older generations, but while those companies are busy calling millennials lazy, they’re losing the best workers to companies that are willing to listen.
Michelle also brought up a great point in her response to the “lazy” comment. She said, “This misnomer that the millennials are lazy, I don’t buy that. I think that, for some reason, we’re just not making it interesting for them to come to the jewelry business.”
We all know that one of the biggest problems that plagues the industry is the lack of younger workers. I wrote a story in our fall 2015 digital magazine about that very issue and what organizations and companies are doing to counter-act it.
One of my favorite parts of Peter’s response to the audience member seated beside me was when he pointed out that the industry can and should be looking outside of itself to see how companies are recruiting members of the younger generation.
As opposed to just posting a job listing stating that the position requires X and Y qualifications and X hours, some of the “cooler” companies like Amazon, Google, Zappos and Southwest Airlines also are talking about a higher purpose, continued learning, social concerns and flexibility of schedule. They’re speaking right to the millennial crowd, and they’re getting them.
I know that it’s not an easy problem to solve and I’m not trying to say that it is. It is, however, a problem that can and should be addressed from our side. Just generalizing a whole generation as lazy and entitled isn’t going to do anything. Let’s steer the conversation to a place that’s productive and aims to figure out how this younger crowd can successfully be brought into the industry, to stay.
In the spirit of that JA New York session, I’d love for this to be a conversation and to hear more thoughts on these issues; please share in the comments!
This is something that Peter echoed when he said that he believes the “model has changed,” adding that he would be disappointed if his kids, who are millennials, did aspire to work seven days a week. “I would want them to be figuring out ways to do it smarter,” he said.
Most people seem to think that millennials want 50 vacation days a year, a beer cart and ping-pong table in the office, or to somehow be making six figures without a full-time commitment. No.
What we do want is a work/life balance and a job that we find fulfilling. I realize that waiting for said job might seem silly to some in the older generations, but while those companies are busy calling millennials lazy, they’re losing the best workers to companies that are willing to listen.
Michelle also brought up a great point in her response to the “lazy” comment. She said, “This misnomer that the millennials are lazy, I don’t buy that. I think that, for some reason, we’re just not making it interesting for them to come to the jewelry business.”
We all know that one of the biggest problems that plagues the industry is the lack of younger workers. I wrote a story in our fall 2015 digital magazine about that very issue and what organizations and companies are doing to counter-act it.
One of my favorite parts of Peter’s response to the audience member seated beside me was when he pointed out that the industry can and should be looking outside of itself to see how companies are recruiting members of the younger generation.
As opposed to just posting a job listing stating that the position requires X and Y qualifications and X hours, some of the “cooler” companies like Amazon, Google, Zappos and Southwest Airlines also are talking about a higher purpose, continued learning, social concerns and flexibility of schedule. They’re speaking right to the millennial crowd, and they’re getting them.
I know that it’s not an easy problem to solve and I’m not trying to say that it is. It is, however, a problem that can and should be addressed from our side. Just generalizing a whole generation as lazy and entitled isn’t going to do anything. Let’s steer the conversation to a place that’s productive and aims to figure out how this younger crowd can successfully be brought into the industry, to stay.
In the spirit of that JA New York session, I’d love for this to be a conversation and to hear more thoughts on these issues; please share in the comments!
More on Editors
The Latest
ColumnistsApr 27, 2026
Stop Treating Mother’s Day Like an AfterthoughtEmmanuel Raheb says jewelers need to start marketing early and make it easy for customers to pick a gift for mom.
IndependentsApr 27, 2026
Longnecker Jewelry Celebrates 30 YearsIn honor of the milestone, the Nebraska jeweler has debuted Leslie & Co., its new in-house jewelry brand.
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.
MajorsApr 27, 2026
JBT Re-Elects Jeff Corey as Board ChairThe trade organization, which held its annual elections earlier this year, also added five new board members.
Weekly QuizApr 23, 2026
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
SurveysApr 24, 2026
Mother’s Day 2026 Jewelry Spending to Top $7B, NRF SaysNRF’s annual survey found that 45 percent of consumers plan to purchase jewelry for a loved one this Mother’s Day.
TechnologyApr 24, 2026
TwentyFour’s Digital-Age Locket Is a Virtual VaultThe “Vault” charm, our Piece of the Week, expands on the memories that can be stored in a locket by connecting to your phone.
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.
Events & AwardsApr 24, 2026
Hamptons Jewelry Show to Return in JulyThe open-to-the-public luxury jewelry and timepiece show, in its second year, is slated for July 23-26.
IndependentsApr 23, 2026
Meet the Real Moms of Day’s JewelersThe jeweler’s Mother’s Day campaign highlights the women who work there—mothers, grandmothers, women who want to be mothers, and dog moms.
Supplier BulletinApr 23, 2026
JM® Shipping Solution: Smarter Shipping for High-Value GoodsSponsored by Jewelers Mutual
Lab-GrownApr 23, 2026
Charles & Colvard May Sell Assets for $1.5MThe proposed agreement follows the moissanite maker’s Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection filing last month.
AuctionsApr 23, 2026
John Jacob Astor IV’s Titanic Pocket Watch Fetches $1MThe Patek Philippe for Tiffany & Co. timepiece Astor brought aboard the ill-fated ship sold for double its estimate at a Freeman’s auction.
CollectionsApr 23, 2026
Adam Neeley’s High Jewelry Collection Steps Into Salvador Dalí’s GardenThe “Dalí’s Garden” collection was inspired by a surreal dream Neeley had after cooking a recipe from Salvador Dalí’s 1973 cookbook.
IndependentsApr 23, 2026
Windsor Jewelers Names New Buying DirectorNatalie Feanny has been appointed to the role.
CrimeApr 22, 2026
New Mexico Couple Pleads Guilty to Selling Fake Native American JewelryThe pair falsely claimed their jewelry was made by Navajo artists, but it was imported from Vietnam.
AuctionsApr 22, 2026
Roberta Flack’s Jewelry Is Going Up for AuctionJulien’s Auctions is selling the musician’s fine and fashion jewelry alongside her clothing, gold records, and other memorabilia.
CollectionsApr 22, 2026
British Museum Curator Pens Book on ‘The Tudor Heart’Rachel King’s book dives into the history of the pendant believed to have belonged to Henry VIII and his first wife, Katherine of Aragon.
Events & AwardsApr 22, 2026
Here’s What Sy Kessler Has on Tap for Las Vegas The company will have deals on precious metals testers as well as the latest in lab-grown diamond detection technology and security.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
