Believe it or not, I didn't always love jewelry. My mother still thinks it's hilarious that I ended up a jewelry editor, since she could never get me to wear jewelry as a little girl. A true tomboy, I had...

Michelle Graff

Wow! December is just flying by. The past few weeks have been a whirlwind of activity, and the diet will definitely have to begin with the new year. Since I won't be indulging my taste buds, I'll indulge my fashion...

Michelle Graff

While retail jewelers hope that most consumers will buy jewelry during the holiday season, it seems that some people are more interested in giving it away. In the Harrisburg, Pa.-area, folks have answered the call of Salvation Army bells by...

Michelle Graff

While working on an upcoming story for National Jeweler about the effects that the newly elected Democratic Congress will have on the retail industry and independent jewelers, I was left speechless when I called a jeweler to get her thoughts....

Michelle Graff

Although it's yet to bow in theaters, Blood Diamond got its first serious Academy Awards boost today (Oprah notwithstanding) as the National Board of Review (NBR) picked it among its 10 best of the year and actor Djimon Hounsou as...

Michelle Graff

It's that time of year again. Holiday sales are in full swing, and so are the ubiquitous parties. I am booked with jewelry lunches, dinners and parties every night this week, with double commitments on quite a few nights. In-store...

Michelle Graff

Here's a hearwarming story about jewelry, just in time for the holidays: The Tennessean Newspaper on Saturday ran a profile, Pearls of hope: Jewelry is just part of Tina Mitchell's rescue efforts, about an outreach and evangelistic pastor who bestows...

Michelle Graff

Having finally seen Blood Diamond in a sold-out preview Saturday night, I think the biggest impact the film will have is to make concerned consumers raise questions. In fact, in its post-script, it urges them to make sure the diamonds...

Michelle Graff

The holiday shopping season is in full swing. Here are a few items I wouldn't mind unwrapping...hint, hint. Voila Watches I love the unisex "Fig. 8" watches because they are so different looking. These triple-timezone chronographs come encased in the...

Michelle Graff

While the diamond industry may be letting out a tentative sigh of relief over Leonardo DiCaprio's recently proclaimed stance on diamonds, things are looking less rosy for the woman who finds herself dating the actor. He's on the record saying...

Michelle Graff

Jewelers make a variety of claims about their jewelry to market and sell it. I've personally met designers who say their pieces do everything from warding off evil spirits to increasing one's chances of falling in love. I understand that...

Michelle Graff

As a fashion editor in the jewelry industry, I have seen my share of unexpected "celebrity" jewelry lines—from Paris Hilton to Playboy Bunnies—but this one might take the cake. Flamboyant former First Lady of the Philippines Imelda Marcos—known for spending...

Michelle Graff

Another reminder this morning why it's important to show those you love that you love them. I was on a crammed subway when two men, late 50s, I'm guessing, got on next to me. They appeared to have known each...

Shame on you if you're reading this column. Pick the ball back up, put that shoulder down, and get back in the store! As Black Friday draws to a close, marked by tired feet, aching lower backs and waning powers...

In August, Businessweek.com kicked off its second annual search for the best young entrepreneurs in the United States, and after receiving nominations from hundreds of readers for their favorite promising ventures, the site has narrowed the list down to 25...

Michelle Graff

A diamond may be forever, but love and marriage sure isn’t. With an estimated 50 percent of all marriages ending in divorce, a new Web site, "I Do, Now I Don't" is looking to capitalize on this more cynical side...

Michelle Graff

My mind has already moved on to next week's turkey dinner, making it a bit hard to concentrate on anything else. Lucky for me, jewelry designers showed a multitude of new offerings this week to distract me from my distraction....

Michelle Graff

We all know that fashion trends are cyclical, and jewelry fads are no exception. Who hasn't dipped into her mother's or grandmother's jewelry box in recent seasons to pluck a brooch or a strand of pearls that had suddenly fallen...

Michelle Graff

When the edit team at National Jeweler was trying to select a style icon for the cover of our 100th anniversary issue we knew that just another pretty face wouldn’t do. There were, it seemed, almost too many recognizable faces...

Michelle Graff

Rapper Nas gave a shout-out to Blood Diamond and announced he has a song on the soundtrack of the forthcoming Leo DiCaprio film. As reported by Eurweb, he was being interviewed about his upcoming album "Hip Hop Is Dead" by...

Michelle Graff

Welcome to National Jeweler's new site, the National Jeweler Network. We've worked on the project for quite some time, and it's all about giving you more of the information you need, more efficiently. If you're like most, you've probably received...

What a week! I feel like I spent more time looking at jewelry and watches than writing about them, not that I'm complaining. Retailers may have holidays on the brain, but jewelry designers have already moved on to spring. Wendy...

Michelle Graff

A colleague forwarded this amusing Miss Manners item about the proper etiquette when it comes to a diamond ring self-purchase. The advice-seeker, who is in a relationship with no plans for marriage, wonders if buying a diamond right-hand ring for...

Michelle Graff

While there's been plenty of chatter about Blood Diamond, and it only seems to be increasing as the Dec. 8 release date looms, I think the diamond industry should keep in mind the success of another film that shares both...

Michelle Graff

I have the best job. I saw a ton of interesting jewelry and watches this week from designers such as the Geneva Watch Co., Alex and Ani, and Temple St. Clair. But these two pieces stood out from the rest:...

Michelle Graff