The jewelry retailer said it sees opportunity at higher price points, particularly in natural diamonds for bridal and fashion.
JBT Confirms Richard Weisenfeld as President
He has been serving as acting president since October, when Anthony Capuano went on medical leave.

Providence, R.I.--The board of directors of the Jewelers Board of Trade has confirmed the appointment of Richard Weisenfeld as president.
He has been serving in the position since October 2017, when Anthony Capuano announced he would be out on medical leave. Capuano then announced his retirement earlier this year.
Weisenfeld has served on the JBT board for 17 years. He was elected to the executive committee in 2008 and also served as chairman from 2014 to 2015.
He also has experience in executive positions in various jewelry companies over the last 45 years, including Pranda North America and most recently Riva Precision Manufacturing in Brooklyn, New York.
Weisenfeld is a member of the 24 Karat Club, Providence Jewelers Club, Boston Jewelers Club, Women’s Jewelry Association and International Precious Metals Institute.
He lives in East Greenwich, Rhode Island, with his wife, Jan.
His appointment follows closely on the heels of the announcement that Michael Kaplan, president of packaging and display company Rocket, is the new chairman of the board.
The board also recently elected the following officers and directors to serve a one-year term.
--First Vice-Chairman: Ann S. Arnold, Buyers International Group, LLC
--Second Vice-Chairman: Richard Katz, Richline Group, Inc.
--Secretary: Brenda M. Pimentel
--Treasurer: Richard Weisenfeld
Brian D. Fleming of Carla Corporation also was appointed to the JBT Executive Committee.
The following people were elected to the board for a two-year term.
-- Keven Peck, Color Merchants, Inc.
--Jeffrey Sarfaty, Head of Credit Division, ABN AMRO Capital USA LLC
Directors re-elected to the board for two years are as follows.
--Ann S. Arnold, Buyers International Group
--Ira Bergman, The Gordon Company, Inc.
--David Bonney, Lux Bond & Green, Inc.
--Edward N. DeCristofaro, LDC, Inc.
--Roderick H. Lichtenfels, W. R. Cobb Company
--Nilesh Sheth, Forever Collections, Inc.
--Todd Wolleman, Leo Wolleman, Inc.
Re-elected to the advisory board for a period of two years are the following.
--Phyllis Bergman, Mercury Ring (Div. of Kiran Jewels USA)
--Richard Greenwood, A. F. Greenwood Co., Inc.
These board members will continue to serve existing terms.
--Danielle Ingwer Cohen, Leo Ingwer Inc.
--Jeffery Corey, H. E. Murdock Company Inc.
--Brian D. Fleming, Carla Corporation
--Kevin Green, Seiko Corporation of America
--Michael L. Kaplan, Rocket Jewelry Box, Inc.
--Richard Katz, Richline Group, Inc.
--Michael Pelto, Jewelers Mutual Insurance Company
--Avi Raz, A & Z Pearls, Inc.
--Pinny Rubin, Quality Gold Inc.
The Latest

The Los Angeles-based, family-owned jeweler was founded by Lenny and Sunny Friedman in 1946.

The auction, held in Bangkok, was 96 percent sold by lot, with nearly 411,000 carats of Mozambiquan rubies sold.

Submit your pieces for a chance to win in this year's competition.

Learn more about the new terms for lab-grown diamonds and composite gemstones, and the major changes in store for precious metals jewelry.


Bromberg is remembered as a Southern gentleman who always wore a suit and tie and treated others with kindness.

With high durability and a wide range of colors to choose from, sapphires may be the ultimate birthstone, Gizzi claims.

Retailers are seeking new ways to attract customers, increase traffic, and create revenue – Estate buying events are a popular solution.

Laughter is often considered a distraction in the workplace, but it has benefits for both staff and management, Peter Smith writes.

The California jeweler is renovating its store in Fresno, with plans to show off the new space in December.

A lifelong practitioner of Pilates, Gabrielle looked to the springs’ tension and suspension when creating this ring, our Piece of the Week.

The deadline to apply is Nov. 13.

The auction house has promoted Remi Guillemin, formerly its head of watches for the Americas and EMEA, to the role.

Zaven Ghanimian discussed the value of human craftsmanship and where the implementation of artificial intelligence does work.

Jewelers of America also revealed the recipients of the Seymour & Evelyn Holtzman Bench Scholarship and its own scholarship programs.

The British actor, known for his roles in “Twilight” and “The Odyssey,” will star in a campaign for the Master Control Chronometre.

The “Confetti Disco,” “Champagne Cheers,” “Tuxedo,” and “Classic Punk” jewelry collections each capture a distinct spirit of celebration.

Nelson Holdo of Newport Beach pleaded guilty to multiple counts of felony grand theft and writing bad checks and was sentenced Monday.

Cat ladies of the jewelry world, unite. Sandy Lerner’s “significant” collection of cat jewelry and other objects is going up for auction.

Arnaud Michon, the former Omega USA President, will now lead Messika’s Americas region during its international development.

The branding references the back-to-back jewelry shows that new parent company Forge will host in Miami's Coconut Grove this November.

The stainless steel Patek Philippe “Calatrava” watch from the 1930s sold for nearly $80,000 at a recent Hansons Cornwall auction.

Engagement rings are important but don’t ignore the customers who are buying jewelry “just because,” Emmanuel Raheb writes.

Former Pomellato CEO Sabina Belli has been named president of Kering Italia amid a shakeup of Kering's new Jewelry division.

The veteran luxury packaging executive was appointed to help the company grow its North American business.

Once the property of an Egyptian queen, the necklace was part of a larger exhibition of VCA jewelry at the Museum of Applied Arts (MAK).

The labs’ separate investigations each determined that the East African country is producing copper-bearing tourmaline.
























