Longines kicked off its duties as the official timekeeper of the Triple Crown, timing American Pharaoh’s Kentucky Derby win, while headpieces stole the show at the Met Gala in New York.

Snakes have been a reoccurring theme in jewelry since the beginning of time, symbolizing both good and evil in many cultures.

Michelle Graff

The Couture show is introducing more than 60 new exhibitors this year, hailing not only from cities across the United States but also from countries across the globe.

In two weeks, all sectors of the industry will convene in Las Vegas to see what designers and brands have to offer for the coming seasons.

Brecken Branstrator

MJSA Expo and JA New York announced plans to co-locate at the Javits Center in March 2016 while bangle and jewelry brand Alex & Ani signed on to exhibit at JCK Las Vegas for the first time.

Dendritic agate, or “tree agate” as it is so aptly named in some places, has been popping up a lot lately.

Michelle Graff

Jewelers Mutual introduced an ad campaign that plays on people’s emotional connections to their jewelry, and Nordstrom rolled out a new purchasing program that works via text message.

Since she began designing jewelry, Melbourne, Australia-born Katherine Jetter has made it her mission to elevate opals, incorporating the gemstone into one-of-a-kind pieces and pairing them with diamonds and other colored stones.

Brecken Branstrator

Vegas market week is the most exciting time for jewelry lovers--we get to see so much newness that it can make you lightheaded if you don’t pace yourself.

Michelle Graff

The majority of the industry descended upon Las Vegas for the start of the annual Couture, JCK and U.S. Antique Jewelry & Watch shows this week.

It was a Vegas-centric news week, with Jewelers for Children announcing it had raised $2.8 million to support its charity partners and PGI-USA and the Couture show naming the winners of their respective annual design contests.

When summer rolls around, the paler stones come out to play.

Michelle Graff

A report on mining company Richland beginning production at its Capricorn mine in Queensland, Australia and Gemfields unearthing a rare set of matching rubies were among the headlines in colored gemstone news.

The use of baguette diamonds, as well as chokers and collars, were noticeable jewelry trends at both the Couture and JCK shows in Las Vegas earlier this month.

A new “sales tax fairness” bill was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives this week while Sterling Jewelers officially announced the opening of the new Le Vian by Jared store, and the store’s website revealed there are four more on the way.

Michelle Graff

This is one of those trend items that is very, very specific and will hit for just the right kind of client.

Michelle Graff

It was a big week for retail news: A jeweler in Mississippi talked about an event that moved $57,000 in inventory while Chinese e-commerce company Alibaba announced it would be selling its first U.S.-based e-commerce site.

Rock crystal, also known as clear quartz, is a staple in jewelry design dating back centuries.

Michelle Graff

There’s two things in life Deidre Featherstone is not lacking: an assortment of beautiful gemstones, and a list of accolades relating to her jewelry design.

Philadelphia residents were invited to uncover jewelry prizes at a “bubble bath” in a jewelry store this week, while across the country another gem was uncovered--an 8.52-carat rough diamond at a state park in Arkansas.

There’s something so romantic and vaguely retro about charm bracelets; they evoke an image of summer vacations when charms were purchased at every stop along the way.

Michelle Graff

It was a week of diamond news, with India’s top exporters saying no to temporarily stemming the flow of rough goods into the country and reports surfacing that Kimberley Diamonds Ltd. has shut down its Ellendale mine in Australia.

In honor of Princess Charlotte of Cambridge’s christening and, perhaps, with a nod to the popularity of shows such as Game of Thrones, heraldic imagery is being seen around every corner these days.

Michelle Graff

The American Gem Trade Association updated its Code of Ethics.

Brecken Branstrator

Animals have been cast in gold and gems since the dawn of time, which mirrors the love people have for their pets.

Michelle Graff