Growing up in the suburbs of D.C., I was lucky enough to be a quick Metro hop from some of the nation's greatest museums. Whenever I get a chance to go back, one of the stops on my shortlist is...
With Michelle Graff’s recent wedding blogging (see her 7/13 and 7/16 posts), I decided it was time for me to chip in. Last week, I joyfully tied the knot. And as I went through the planning process over the better...
This week, Jewelers of America (JA) released the results of its annual industry benchmarking survey, the “Cost of Doing Business.” We received the results mid-day on Tuesday and posted a story immediately. To be honest, I'm a little surprised at...
Last week started out for me not at our offices at 770 Broadway in New York City but instead at the JA New York Summer Show at the Jacob K. Javits Center. The show received pretty much the same reviews...
Exhausted enough from JA New York show week to feel a bit like crying on bad news. One of my favorite independent retailers has closed its doors for good. Since I was three, living in Yellowstone National Park, where my...
At the JA New York Summer Show, jewelry designers continued to experiment with silver and also offered new takes on old favorites, especially diminutive versions of bestsellers. Stacking and layering pieces remain staples. And, as for stones, quartz is taking...
A few months ago, actress Rachel Bilson’s home in Los Angeles was broken into, with thieves making off with a trove of designer clothing, jewelry, shoes and handbags estimated in the hundreds of thousands of dollars. Though the actress cut...
So I found out yesterday that we’ve lost two more industry publications. Cygnus Business Media announced Monday it was "suspending" publication of four titles and that, unfortunately, happened to include Modern Jeweler and its high-end sister publication Lustre. My heart...
I'm off to New Hope, Pa., to attend the wedding of a dear friend, one of my housemates from my mostly memorable days at Ohio University. This wedding is just one of the many I have been involved with this...
Last Thursday, I trekked my happy, east-side self over to Manhattan’s west side for the Diamond Information Center’s annual diamond jewelry showcase extravaganza. There were many pieces I wanted to take home (but won’t, as their price tag well outstrips...
When it comes to what's hot for summer, the answer includes a checklist of chunky cuff bracelets, bib-style statement necklaces, organic materials and all things in shimmery yellow gold. And luckily for jewelry aficionados, stacking, mixing and matching are all...
It’s a hard week to grab headlines, with the untimely death of the man who will forever be known around the world as the King of Pop dominating nearly every news outlet. (God be with you, Michael Jackson. May you...
As kids, my little brother and I would comb for box turtles in the nearby woods. And if we were fortuitous enough to find one, we’d take it home and attempt to make it a new pet. But luckily for...
Last minute-shopping for dad? Check out some of these new products introduced during Las Vegas Market Week. While you'll see plenty of aspirational pieces ($20,000-plus cuff bracelet from Sevan—totally fabulous, but also totally pricey), keep the design elements in mind...
They say creativity thrives during times of financial hardship. Based on my experiences over the past week, I can't help but agree. In the span of seven days, I’ve seen more interesting work from up-and-coming and established jewelers than I...
I personally don't own an iPhone and probably never will. Instead, I have this phone called the "Instinct," which is basically Samsung's version of the iPhone and is a device so similar that it causes some people to actually envy...
Reflecting back on what I saw and heard at the Vegas shows, one week later, my overriding sense is that jewelers were on the receiving end of a lot more finger wagging than I’ve seen in the past Nearly every...
For the last two years, I’ve sat in on Enlightened--Swarovski Elements’ trends presentation during the Las Vegas jewelry shows to find out what four “megatrends” its forecasters believe will be the most likely to influence fine-jewelry design in the next...
Let me start off this blog post with my general impressions from the Couture and JCK shows in Las Vegas. As you might have read elsewhere, the shows were better than expected, although both were being measured against some pretty...
Warren Buffet is forecasting that 25 percent of all fine jewelry companies, across the distribution pipeline, will be out of business within 12 months. I received this information on deep background from a very trustworthy source. As you're probably aware,...
Yesterday, Friday morning, was the first in our series of four breakfast educational sessions at the 2009 Couture show. Held at the opulent Wynn Hotel, the breakfasts are part of our America's Best Jewelers program, which not only recognizes top-performing...
Early yesterday morning, scanning through my Google News Alerts, I came across a headline that read “Silver Jewelry--Is It Fashion Or Fine Jewelry?” After finishing up my first Couture 2009 appointment, I quickly answered that question for myself. The Couture...
Being as much stars as the competitors themselves, the judges on reality shows such as American Idol and Dancing With the Stars are rarely at a loss when it comes to spectacular jewelry. But I was particularly impressed with pieces...
I spent the bulk of Tuesday afternoon getting my schedule together for the big trip next week out to Las Vegas for the jewelry shows. While there’s a lot to be excited about, one of the appointments that’s most intriguing...
Did you remember that postage rates went up last week? I sure didn’t, and on May 11 I found myself wishing I hadn't decided to drop off some letters the day before. It’s times like these that the Forever stamps...
This site uses cookies to give you the best online experience. By continuing to use & browse this site, we assume you agree to our Privacy Policy
