IndependentsOct 15, 2026
Retailer Hall of Fame 2026: Amy and Elise Greenberg For 40 years, sisters Amy and Elise Greenberg have helmed their 126-year-old family business, leading with appreciation and integrity.
Events & AwardsJul 19, 2018
6 Questions with a WJA Visionary: Caryl Capeci
National Jeweler spoke with this year’s Awards for Excellence recipients about their career paths, the industry today, mentors and more. Featured today: the president of Hearts On Fire.
Hearts On Fire President Caryl Capeci’s No. 1 piece of advice for young women starting out in the jewelry industry today? “Be a sponge,” she said. “Ask why.”
New York—The Women’s Jewelry Association changed the format of its Awards for Excellence gala this year.
Instead of voting on nominees in more than a dozen categories and revealing the winners live at the event, the WJA pre-selected three individuals and one corporation/organization to recognize with the first WJA Visionary Awards.
Prior to the jewelry event Monday night in New York, National Jeweler asked each of the recipients about their career paths, their mentors, the jewelry industry today and more.
Second in our WJA Q&A Visionary series: Caryl Capeci, who started her career working on the De Beers advertising account at NW Ayer in the late 1980s and landed at Hearts On Fire in 2007, rising through the ranks to become the company’s president in 2015.
National Jeweler: Your first job connected to jewelry was in 1986 at NW Ayer, where De Beers was your only account. Compare what it was like to be a woman in business in 1986 with what it is like today.
Caryl Capeci: It’s like night and day. Let’s just say that tremendous strides have been made since 1986. I would say most female leaders were in creative positions, like design or marketing, and there were very few female business leaders at the helm of organizations.
NJ: Whom do you consider your mentor and why?
CC: I’ve been fortunate to work with phenomenal people throughout my career. My mentors, however, are my sisters Claire, Vira, and my sister-in-law Amy. I’m lucky to have a family of strong and tenacious females who are also a whole lot of fun.
What I find most spectacular about my sisters is their combination of strength and softness. They have all been very successful, rising to the top of their fields in advertising, fashion, and publishing, but also raise families. They are mothers, daughters, sisters, and wives first, all while continuing to drive their companies forward every day.
NJ: What is the biggest challenge facing women in C-suite positions, particularly in the jewelry industry, today?
CC: Balance. Most women are managing their time between family, career, and self-care. We as women need to be at the top of our game in these categories, and sometimes that’s a job in and of itself.
Editors' Picks
Sponsored by
It goes back to being both fierce and feminine, and we need to balance that too—let’s not lose the femininity that is so intrinsic to our DNA, but also be able to counter that with our fierce determination and strong opinions.
NJ: What advice would you give to a young woman starting out in a career in the jewelry industry right now?
CC: Be a sponge. Ask why. Absorb every conversation. It is so important to listen and insert yourself into conversations and learn from them.
Also, stay connected with every person you respect and find valuable. Be sure to take them along with you as you move forward and advance in your career.
NJ: What has been the most memorable jewelry event of your career?
CC: I have had dozens of great memories over the years, but the most special was the first time I stepped onto the stage at Hearts On Fire University. If you’ve been, you know there is such a sense of community, passion, and energy in that room, an indescribable energy. You really need to experience it to understand. Stepping out onto that stage in front of 700 highly engaged, bell-ringing, Hearts On Fire enthusiasts was so exhilarating.
We will be taking the next HOFU to the new Encore Boston Harbor property, so HOFU in our hometown will be over-the-top, for sure.
NJ: Tell us one thing people would be surprised to learn about you.
CC: I am equal parts New York City and Boston. I love the New York Post. When I first moved to Boston there were no digital editions, so getting Page 6 was not easy. I remember walking blocks to find it and sharing the key highlights with anyone who would listen.
NJ: What advice would you give to a young woman starting out in a career in the jewelry industry right now?
CC: Be a sponge. Ask why. Absorb every conversation. It is so important to listen and insert yourself into conversations and learn from them.
Also, stay connected with every person you respect and find valuable. Be sure to take them along with you as you move forward and advance in your career.
NJ: What has been the most memorable jewelry event of your career?
CC: I have had dozens of great memories over the years, but the most special was the first time I stepped onto the stage at Hearts On Fire University. If you’ve been, you know there is such a sense of community, passion, and energy in that room, an indescribable energy. You really need to experience it to understand. Stepping out onto that stage in front of 700 highly engaged, bell-ringing, Hearts On Fire enthusiasts was so exhilarating.
We will be taking the next HOFU to the new Encore Boston Harbor property, so HOFU in our hometown will be over-the-top, for sure.
NJ: Tell us one thing people would be surprised to learn about you.
CC: I am equal parts New York City and Boston. I love the New York Post. When I first moved to Boston there were no digital editions, so getting Page 6 was not easy. I remember walking blocks to find it and sharing the key highlights with anyone who would listen.
More on Events & Awards
The Latest
ColumnistsOct 15, 2026
Peter Smith: What Is the Culture REP?It’s a term Smith coined and felt compelled to share following a bad experience with an aborted flight and an unfeeling flight attendant.
WatchesOct 15, 2026
Stephanie Gottlieb’s New Movado Watches Are Made for Your Wrist StackMovado teamed up with the New York-based fine jewelry designer on a new collection of Movado Museum Velura watches.
Brought to you by
Meet Gemology’s Next Generation Microscope: GIA® Gemolite® NXT Professional EditionExperience gemstones with greater precision and comfort than ever before.
SourcingOct 15, 2026
Signet Jewelers, Richemont May Join Bidder for De Beers, Report SaysThe two companies are reportedly in talks to join the Global Diamond Consortium, led by former De Beers CEO Gareth Penny, as per Bloomberg.
Weekly QuizOct 15, 2026
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
CollectionsOct 15, 2026
Wolf x Marla Aaron's New Jewelry Box Is for Some (Not All) of Your ThingsThe “Some of the Things” box follows the two larger “Everything” box designs with the look and function of antique sewing and toolboxes.
IndependentsOct 14, 2026
Retailer Hall of Fame 2026: Coleman and Mitchell ClarkFourth-generation jewelers Coleman and Mitchell Clark exemplify the best qualities of their predecessors: humility, modesty, and confidence.
Brought to you by
Your Piece Could Be the One Editors Talk AboutSubmit your pieces for a chance to win in this year's competition.
SourcingOct 14, 2026
Manuel Marcial de Gomar, ‘The Emerald Whisperer,’ Dies at 90The gem hunter, whose 70-year career was defined by adventure and exploration, is remembered for his steadfast faith and sense of wonder.
FinancialsOct 14, 2026
LVMH’s Jewelry Brands Turn in ‘Very Good’ Performance in Q3 Tiffany & Co. continued its full-scale store renovation project while Bulgari’s high jewelry collection generated “record-breaking revenue.”
MajorsOct 13, 2026
David Webb Owner Purchases Lugano JewelryThe high-end jewelry retailer was sold to private investment firm Middle West Partners and a group of longtime clients.
Lab-GrownOct 13, 2026
Stephanie Gottlieb Takes Lab-Grown Diamond Collection WholesaleThe jewelry designer has partnered with Sofer Jewelry to distribute her 85-piece lab-grown diamond collection.
IndependentsOct 13, 2026
Retailer Hall of Fame 2026: Sean DunnDunn, this year’s Single-Store Independent inductee, is passionate about innovation and telling the story of natural diamonds.
AuctionsOct 13, 2026
Christie's Geneva To Auction 'Bulgari Pink' DiamondThe 24-carat fancy intense pink diamond ring could fetch up to $18 million at the November sale.
IndependentsOct 13, 2026
Greenwich St. Jewelers’ New Candle Smells Like HomeThe “Island Jewel” candle honors New York City and Puerto Rico and raises money for the island’s water relief efforts.
TechnologyOct 13, 2026
GemFind Is a New JA Member Benefit Partner The partnership will give JA members access to preferred pricing, exclusive benefits, technology solutions, education, and resources.
SurveysOct 09, 2026
These Will Be the 10 Busiest Days for In-Store Shopping This Holiday SeasonStores should expect to see the most customers on Nov. 27, and Christmas week is expected to be hectic too, as Dec. 25 falls on a Friday.
CollectionsOct 09, 2026
Elisa Solomon Collabs With Serendipity 3 on ‘Frozen Hot Chocolate’ CharmThe charm, our Piece of the Week, features brown diamond frozen hot chocolate topped with white diamond whipped cream and a ruby straw.
AuctionsOct 09, 2026
8-Carat Blue Diamond Goes Unsold at UK Jewelry Auction The top lot of Elmwood’s recent fine jewelry sale in London was a 1.84-carat, D color Tiffany & Co. solitaire diamond ring.
WatchesOct 09, 2026
Movado to Sell Majority Stake in Ebel for $66.5MThe watch company agreed to sell a 95 percent interest to a group comprised of F.P. Journe, Chanel, and Swiss watch exec Pierre Jacques.
Policies & IssuesOct 08, 2026
Third Wave of IEEPA Tariff Refunds Begins This round of tariff refunds is for importers that have sued over IEEPA tariffs in the Court of International Trade and won.
CollectionsOct 08, 2026
Brent Neale’s New Collection Goes ‘Back to Basics’It revisits the brand’s most requested silhouettes, from "Pillow"-set necklaces and bracelets to "Signature"-set rings and earrings.
SourcingOct 08, 2026
Ethical Gem Fair Heads Back to BrooklynThe trade-only event includes buying opportunities as well as educational sessions on artisanal mining, the new Paraíba source, and more.
AuctionsOct 08, 2026
Reba McEntire’s Jewelry, Watches Head to Julien’s AuctionsThe live charity benefit sale in Nashville will also feature gowns, boots, and other memorabilia from the country music legend.
Supplier BulletinOct 08, 2026
Overnight Mountings’ Bridal Builder Helps Jewelers Turn Custom Design into a Hands-On Selling ExperienceSponsored by Overnight Mountings
Policies & IssuesOct 07, 2026
The Plumb Club Amplifies Its Voice as Geopolitical Pressures MountThe supplier organization recently joined JA and JVC to have more input on political issues affecting the jewelry industry.
CollectionsOct 07, 2026
Blue Nile, Royal Asscher Collection Highlights Natural Diamond BeautyBlue Nile, a Signet Jewelers-owned brand, is now Royal Asscher’s exclusive licensed retailer in North America.
