Jamie Dunton and Gabriella Botelho are the first graduates of the program, created by the WJA Foundation and Julius Klein Diamonds.
Richline’s Gemvara Adds Lab-Grown Diamonds to Ring Builder
A major retailer also is testing the platform, and Richline said it plans to expand to more retailers later this year.
New York—Gemvara, the e-commerce site for custom jewelry owned by Richline Group, is getting into the lab-grown game.
The company announced this week that it is now offering customers both natural and lab-grown diamonds as well as colored gemstones as options on its ring builder.
Gemvara is selling lab-grown center and accent diamonds as well as lab-grown sapphires, rubies and emeralds 3 mm and larger for most jewelry styles.
Richline said the initiative is currently in a “private test” with a “large retailer” under the name Gembuilder.
The company is not disclosing which retailer is testing the initiative at this time, though it seems likely it is one of the sizable retailers owned by parent company Berkshire Hathaway.
Berkshire Hathaway owns 210-store chain Helzberg Diamonds and 92-store chain Ben Bridge Jeweler along with Borsheims in Omaha, Nebraska.
Richline said it will expand the program to a limited beta test group later this year, allowing retailers to utilize Gemvara’s customization platform for their own customers for both complete designs as well as semi-mounts with lab-grown diamond accents.
Gembuilder is slated for a wider rollout in 2020.
When asked the source of its lab-grown diamonds for Gemvara/Gembuilder, Richline said it is not releasing that information at this time.
The sale of lab-grown diamonds on Gemvara is Richline’s second initiative involving lab-grown diamonds after the launch of “Grown With Love” at J.C. Penney and Macy’s last year.
For that line, Richline sources some of the lab-grown diamonds from WD Lab Grown Diamonds.
“By adding both the Gemvara and the upcoming Gembuilder launch to the company’s already robust lab-grown diamond offerings, we are proud to be at the forefront of this exciting new space with an innovative experience that offers modern shoppers meaningful choices,” Richline Group President and CEO Dave Meleski said.
For more information on Gembuilder, email gembuilder@richelinedigital.com.
Richline will exhibit at the upcoming JCK Las Vegas jewelry trade show, scheduled for May 31-June 3 at The Venetian and Sands Expo.
Contact Michael Schechter, mschechter@richlinedigital.com, for an appointment.
The Latest
In the spirit of giving, Retrouvaí will donate $4,000 from the sale of this ring to the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank.
Co-owner Dan DeVries shared what it’s like moving into a space triple the size of its old store and how it feels to be a “real jeweler” now.
‘Forever Present’ campaign revives the iconic A Diamond is Forever tagline and celebrates the diamond dream.
Along with the latest “Gardens” collection, the brand has released limited-edition designs offering more indulgent pieces.
The man and woman are accused of stealing jewelry from a shipping container then trying to flee by paddling a small boat out into a bay.
The 2,488-carat diamond recovered from a mine in Botswana has been dubbed “Motswedi” while its 1,094-carat sibling is “Seriti.”
For over a century, Jewelers of America has been the voice of the industry and valuable resource to jewelers across the country.
The average price per carat hit a record high for the miner, which said it remains unaffected by the conflict in Mozambique.
The nearly 17-carat stone made history for the color-change gem that, according to the auction house, is experiencing a “notable surge” in the market.
More than a century after survivors gifted a Tiffany timepiece to the captain of the ship that rescued them, the jeweler has reclaimed it.
The videos highlight how pieces from the “Xpandable” and “Reversible Xpandable” collections put the wearer in the spotlight.
Feldman reflected on 45 years in the jewelry industry and clarified that it’s not a total retirement.
The luxury brand is being honored for excellence in high jewelry design in its “Haute Joaillerie Sport” collection.
Circelli was a pioneer in the world of TV shopping who is remembered for his passion for gemstones and his big personality.
The nearly 6-carat stone headlined the recent jewelry auction, which also featured Mica Ertegun’s jewelry.
The three men, who got their nickname because they’d toss the jewelry they stole into black plastic bins, were arrested back in August.
“The History of Diamond Engagement Rings: A True Romance” is a 128-page small-format book containing more than 165 images.
Gearys opened a 6,200-square-foot Rolex store with a design that pays homage to the brand’s connection to the ocean.
The diamond cut grade is now available for marquise- and pear-shaped diamonds.
DDG said the honorees’ business practices embody a commitment to positive social impact, industry innovation, and community empowerment.
Estimates on the size and value of the solitaire diamond, which is mounted on a diamond pavé-set yellow gold band, vary.
These half-moon tanzanite earrings totaling 25 carats are part of a special trunk show taking place this weekend in Dallas.
The National Jeweler editors recap the top news, the best jewels, and their favorite stories of the year.
The highest-grossing lot of the sale was the retired QB’s Rolex Paul Newman Daytona “John Player Special.”
Recent expansion initiatives at the Zambian emerald mine have shown strong production numbers, said Grizzly founder Abdoulaye Ndiaye.
The competition awarded 12 designers, each from a country where De Beers recovers diamonds, with business support and tuition assistance.