The Jewelry District

Note: This episode was taped on March 2, and does not reflect the latest news regarding the coronavirus (COVID-19). In This Episode In this episode of The Jewelry District you’ll hear JCK editor-in-chief Victoria Gomelsky and news director Rob Bates talk about the visible effects of the coronavirus (COVID-19) on their hometowns in New York and California and what effects it continues to have on the jewelry industry at large. You’ll also hear them talk about how the international scene has affected gold prices and what’s trendy at fashion week. Rob and Victoria wrap up with a Weird Story of the Week.   Show Notes 00:30 Rob and Victoria discuss the effects of COVID-19 08:55 Rob brings up how we’re seeing a spike in gold prices 10:33 Victoria discusses the trends we’ve been seeing throughout fashion week 12:03 Weird Story of the Week   Episode Credits Hosts: Rob Bates (https://www.jckonline.com/writer/rob-bates/) and Victoria Gomelsky (https://www.jckonline.com/writer/victoria-gomelsky/) Editor: Olivia Briley Producer and engineer: Natalie Chomet Plugs: jckonline.com (https://www.jckonline.com), @jckmagazine (https://www.instagram.com/jckmagazine/)   Show Recap Keep Calm and Wash Your Hands In early March, everyone was beginning to grow a little fearful of COVID-19, colloquially known as coronavirus. Rob has noticed an increase of people with face masks walking around and an abundance of Purell in the office. COVID-19 has caused the cancellations of both Baselworld and SIHH—and you'll hear what that could mean for those shows in the future. Gold Prices Spike COVID-19 isn’t the only international event that’s having an effect on the jewelry industry. New hostilities in the Middle East are causing the price of gold to spike at $1,600. In 2018, the average price for the year was just below $1,300—and this year people are predicting the average will be at $1,500. Hear what that means for people who own a bit of gold! Trends of Fashion Week Fashion week pushed on regardless of coronavirus-induced panic. Victoria notes the trendiest things to hit the runway were pearls, fringe, feathers, and solid gold links. If you’re not at fashion week—what can you do? Stay home and support your local businesses! Weird Story of the Week: Toilet Edition Rob tells another Weird Story of the Week—and this one’s a trip. A Dubai, United Arab Emirates, museum and art gallery has revealed a diamond-encrusted toilet, introduced by Coronet, an Aaron Shum jewelry brand. With 4,815 diamonds (334 cts. t.w.) valued at $1.28 million, it could make anyone’s trip to the restroom sparkle. The jeweled throne even set a Guinness World Record for the greatest number of diamonds set on a toilet bowl.

In This EpisodeIn this episode of The Jewelry District, you’ll hear JCK editor-in-chief Victoria Gomelsky (https://www.jckonline.com/writer/victoria-gomelsky/) and news director Rob Bates (https://www.jckonline.com/writer/rob-bates/) interview John J. Kennedy, president of the Jewelers’ Security Alliance, otherwise known as JSA. Kennedy, with his background in criminal law, crime prevention, and law enforcement, talks about how JSA works to prevent jewelry crime. You’ll hear about what goes on in the minds of criminals, whether guns are a good preventative measure, and what mistakes jewelers often make that could jeopardize the safety of their company. Show Notes 00:30 Victoria and Rob introduce their guest John J. Kennedy04:47 Rob asks about the founding and mission of JSA09:50 How jewelry crime happens12:37 Discussion of different types of crime, including cybercrime15:18 Rob asks Kennedy his opinion of jewelers having guns in their stores18:01 Rob asks about security mistakes jewelers make and preventative measures they can take Episode CreditsHosts: Rob Bates and Victoria GomelskyEditor: Olivia BrileyProducer and engineer: Natalie ChometPlugs: jckonline.com (https://www.jckonline.com/), @jckmagazine (https://www.instagram.com/jckmagazine/) Show Recap John Kennedy, The Man Behind JSARob and Victoria introduce their guest, John Kennedy. He is the president of JSA, and he’s been in that role for the past 28 years. Kennedy has an extensive legal background, serving at different points of his career as an attorney, the assistant commissioner of the New York City Department of Investigation, and the chairman of the New York City Department of Criminal Justice. All of these skills have prepared him for working alongside his team at JSA to prevent jewelry crime, and you’ll hear about his daily workflow that helps to make the industry safer. The Jewelers' Security Alliance Founding and FunctionThe JSA is nearly as old as JCK. Since it was founded in 1883, it has only had four full-time presidents, including Kennedy. That’s some serious dedication. During nearly a century and a half, Kennedy says the mission has not changed—it's focused on preventing crime in the jewelry industry. You’ll hear Kennedy talk about why he’s so dedicated to the position, and why the association is so valuable—especially when zero jewelers were killed during the commission of a crime last year, which is a first since record keeping began in the early '80s. How Does Crime Happen?Kennedy has accumulated much knowledge on jewelry-related crime. You’ll hear how crime is organized by gangs, who is helping these people, and the ways in which criminals follow jewelry trends to make themselves aware of what’s hot—for the taking. All Kinds of CrimeCybercrime isn’t something that JSA focuses on in the way one might think. The cybercrime that JSA is involved with is performed with some human contact, through phone and emails. You’ll hear how criminals build up relationships and establish social connections with jewelers before committing fraud. And those outside of the industry aren’t the only ones committing crimes. Some jewelers get themselves wrapped up in fraudulent ways as well. Insurance—More Valuable Than Guns?

In this EpisodeIn this edition of The Jewelry District, you’ll hear JCK editor-in-chief Victoria Gomelsky (https://www.jckonline.com/writer/victoria-gomelsky/) and news director Rob Bates (https://www.jckonline.com/writer/rob-bates/) discuss all the noteworthy jewelry seen at this year's Oscars. You’ll also hear them talk about Victoria’s trip to the Tucson gem shows and the focus on sustainability practices there. Rob gives us the rundown on all things involving the bankruptcy of de Grisogono USA and then lightens the mood with a Domino’s-themed Weird Story of the Week. Show Notes00:30 Victoria gives the scoop on the Oscars and jewelry07:53 Victoria talks about her trip to the Tucson gem shows and sustainability practices15:13 Rob discusses the bankruptcy of fine jeweler de Grisogono19:00 Weird Story of the Week Episode CreditsHosts: Rob Bates and Victoria GomelskyEditor: Olivia BrileyProducer and engineer: Natalie ChometPlugs: jckonline.com (https://www.jckonline.com), @jckmagazine (https://www.instagram.com/jckmagazine/) Show Recap White Diamonds at the OscarsVictoria arrived home from the Tucson gem shows just in time for the Oscars. This year, as in recent years past, colored gemstones took a backseat while white diamonds stole the spotlight. There were big stars in big diamonds, as large statement pieces were a common theme. Hear Rob talk about how important product placement is in shows like these. Tucson Gem Shows and Sustainability Victoria talks about her stay in Arizona for February's Tucson gem shows. You’ll hear what the mood of the shows were and whether the recent outbreak of the coronavirus had any effect on attendance. You’ll also hear Rob and Victoria talk about the continued importance of sustainability in the jewelry industry. De Grisogono: Leaked Files and BankruptcyFine jeweler de Grisogono was recently in hot water over the case of some leaked files connected to stakeholder Isabel dos Santos. De Grisogono USA has now declared bankruptcy following the bankruptcy of their Swiss division—and dos Santos, along with husband Sindika Dokolo, now face criminal charges. Hear what Rob and Victoria think of the details leading up to the downfall of de Grisogono USA and what consumers should consider when choosing the companies they engage with. Weird Story of the Week: A Conversation “Pizza”Rob tells us a new Weird Story of the Week, and this time it’s all about pizza! Domino’s Australia is holding a contest—just submit a video of how you’d use Domino’s in your engagement to your beloved. Rob reveals the prize: Not only will Domino’s bring your engagement plan to life, and cater your wedding with pizza, but you’ll also win an 18k pizza-shape ring worth more than $9,000, featuring ruby pepperoni and diamond cheese.

In this Episode In this edition of “The Jewelry District,” you’ll hear JCK editor-in-chief Victoria Gomelsky (https://www.jckonline.com/writer/victoria-gomelsky/) and news director Rob Bates (https://www.jckonline.com/writer/rob-bates/) interview a couple for the first time. Hayley Henning, who is an expert in colored gems and is also vice president of sales and marketing at Greenland Ruby, and husband Erik Jens, an expert in diamond industry financing and a strategic partner for companies in the luxury industry, talk about their respective companies, climate change, and JCK Tucson. Show Notes00:31 Rob and Victoria introduce Hayley Henning and Erik Jens11:20 Henning discusses Greenland Ruby15:04 Jens compares the colored gem industry to the diamond industry17:38 Rob and Victoria ask Henning about Greenland and climate change24:56 All things JCK Tucson26:23 Rob asks Jens about his background at ABN AMRO31:13 Rob asks Jens what he sees as the biggest problems in the industry Episode CreditsHosts: Rob Bates and Victoria GomelskyEditor: Levi SharpeProducer and engineer: Natalie ChometPlugs: jckonline.com (https://www.jckonline.com), @jckmagazine (https://www.instagram.com/jckmagazine/) Show Recap Introducing the Power DuoRob and Victoria introduce their guests Hayley Henning and Erik Jens, a couple in the jewelry industry who have been married for three years. You’ll hear the story of how they met at a conference in Moscow and became industry friends, which soon turned to more. Since they met at a conference, they also discuss conferences in general. They question whether conferences really add value and make a difference at all in the face of things such as sustainability. Colored Gemstones Are a Diamond’s Best FriendHenning talks about her experience in the colored stone world. You’ll hear all about Greenland Ruby, where she is the vice president of sales and marketing. She’s fascinated by the originality of the location of gemstones and the process by which these stones go from Greenland to the market. She makes sure to not leave her diamond-industry expert husband out of the mix, as she notes how colored gemstones really are a diamond’s best friend. Jens expands on this. Climate Change and Greenland, the Untapped ResourceRob asks Henning about the independent and autonomous country of Greenland. What Henning finds so interesting about Greenland is the fact that it sits atop one of the world's biggest and richest mineral deposits. It’s an untapped resource that has been under ice and snow for millions, if not billions, of years. Rob also asks about climate change and what that means for the Arctic region. The Pink Polar Bear Piñata PartyVictoria is excited for JCK Tucson and asks the couple if they’ll be making an appearance. Henning and Jens say yes—as they will be hosting the Pink Polar Bear Piñata Party (say that three times fast!). The Pink Polar Bear is a foundation, not for polar bear research, as the title may suggest, but for international polar research, to help all species affected by climate change. Erik Jens: Finance Extraordinaire Jens talks about his background in, and passion for, the world of finance. Jens has experience in banking,

In This Episode In this edition of “The Jewelry District,” you’ll hear JCK editor-in-chief 

In This Episode In the latest installment of “The Jewelry District,” you’ll hear a compilation of our Weird Stories of the Week. You’ll hear quite a few stories from JCK’s news director, Rob Bates, about people’s consumption of jewelry—but not in the way you might think! You’ll also hear JCK editor-in-chief Victoria Gomelsky tell us what her favorite Weird Story has been.  Show Notes 00:30 Victoria introduces her favorite Weird Story  01:10 A Moo-ving Proposal 03:55 Hard to Swallow 07:05 Hungry for Wealth 10:07 Tesla Trouble 13:35 Should You Fire That Hippie? 16:30 No Laughing Matter Episode Credits Hosts: Rob Bates and Victoria GomelskyJCK Staff: Emili VesilindEditor: Levi SharpeProducer and engineer: Natalie ChometPlugs: jckonline.com (http://jckonline.com/), @jckmagazine (https://www.instagram.com/jckmagazine/) Show Recap A Moo-ving Proposal Social media was abuzz with ring-shamers, animal advocates, and those looking to jump on the bandwagon with bovine-puns when a farmer from Singapore proposed to his girlfriend by placing a diamond engagement ring on a cow’s udder.  Hard to Swallow A woman dreams she swallowed her ring to protect it from a jewelry heist. On waking up, her ring was nowhere to be found. After going to urgent care, it turns out she really did swallow the ring while sleeping! Is there a happy ending to this weird story? Listen to find out! Hungry for Wealth Doctors remove a whopping 1.6 kilograms (3.5 pounds) of jewelry from a 22-year-old woman’s stomach. That jewelry totaled £53,000 ($64,310)! When the woman was suffering from abdominal pain, she decided to go to the doctor. What the Bengali doctors found was striking: 69 chains, 80 earrings, 46 coins, 8 lockets, 11 nose rings, 5 anklets, and 1 watch dial—all in her stomach! Somehow, her family didn’t expect anything, as the jewelry went missing over a length of time.  Tesla Trouble Ben Baller, the man who created a $400,000 diamond and ruby ring for Elon Musk, got locked inside of his own Tesla for 40 long minutes. While stuck, he posted video of the incident to his Instagram feed. Conflict and conspiracy theories ensued. Should You Fire That Hippie? An article that was published in 1975 with an inflammatory title is the focus of this weird story. Did the article make points that are still relevant to the industry today? How does it reflect on millennials and their attitudes? No Laughing Matter

In This Episode In this edition of “The Jewelry District,” you’ll hear JCK editor-in-chief Victoria Gomelsky (https://www.jckonline.com/writer/victoria-gomelsky/) and news director Rob Bates (https://www.jckonline.com/writer/rob-bates/) interview Sally Morrison, the chief marketing officer of Lightbox Jewelry. The three talk about how Morrison got into the industry and her own impressions of coming up in the diamond industry. You’ll also hear her discuss how society is changing, her partnerships with designers, and about the sustainability and ethics of diamonds. Show Notes 01:45 Sally Morrison talks about how she got into the industry. 14:20 Rob questions Morrison on our changing society and ad campaigns that try to keep up. 18:45 Victoria asks Morrison how she teams up with designers; Rob asks her about social media. 24:00 Morrison tells us about Lightbox Jewelry. 34:39 Morrison talks sustainability and ethics in the diamond industry. 38:00 Some final thoughts from Morrison about Lightbox and what it's like to be a woman in the jewelry industry. Episode Credits Hosts: Rob Bates and Victoria Gomelsky Editor: Levi Sharpe Producer and engineer: Natalie Chomet Plugs: jckonline.com (http://jckonline.com), @jckmagazine (http://instagram.com/jckmagazine) Show Recap How Sally Morrison Jumped Into the Jewelry Industry Morrison had a long career in different industries in the United States before she got her start in jewelry. On getting her first job at Diamond Information Center, she relates what she learned and her first impressions of the industry. Women self-purchasing diamonds and people’s changing attitudes toward gold jewelry also pop up in the conversation. Morrison shares what ad campaigns she thinks should be emulated. Changing Times Call for Changing Measures Morrison realizes that there’s a need to keep up with cultural changes and trends. Rob and Morrison talk about early De Beers ad campaigns and their effect on the diamond industry, even years later. Morrison also enlightens us on the importance of partnering with designers. Of course, social media is always something to keep in mind in these changing times, and Morrison talks about the difficulties in navigating that terrain. Lightbox Jewelry As the chief marketing officer of Lightbox Jewelry, Morrison certainly knowns the ins and outs of the lab-grown diamond industry. Rob questions Morrison on whether Lightbox helped legitimize lab-grown diamonds—and Morrison has something to say about the word legitimacy. Morrison reflects on the commercial potential she saw in the brand and why 2017 was the right time for takeoff. Can There Be Transparency or Ethics in Sustainability? As Rob and Victoria covered in the last episode, there’s certainly a lot to discuss when it comes to jewelry sustainability and ethics. Victoria asks Morrison about responsibility in ad campaigns for sustainability and ethics promises from company to company. When asked, Morrison talks about how she sees promises of sustainability functioning for Lightbox. The episode wraps up with thoughts about Lightbox and what Morrison thinks about being a woman in the industry.

In This Episode In this edition of “The Jewelry District,” you’ll hear JCK editor-in-chief Victoria Gomelsky (https://www.jckonline.com/writer/victoria-gomelsky/) and news director Rob Bates (https://www.jckonline.com/writer/rob-bates/) cover the latest news, including NYC’s Jewelry Week, and growing concerns over sustainability and how it will affect fine jewelry sales. Rob covers a talk by the Yurmans and a fascinating panel on jewelry ecommerce. The weird story of the week features a dream that comes true, but not necessarily in a good way! Show Notes 00:50 Rob Bates and Victoria Gomelsky recap NYC’s Jewelry Week, including a talk held by David and Sybil Yurman. 5:45 Rob talks about a panel he was on about ecommerce and jewelry sponsored by eBay. 9:00 Victoria shares why she has been preoccupied about sustainability lately. 16:46 Victoria ponders if there is a product out there that’s 100% sustainable. 20:58 Rob covers the new De Beers research and what it says about our society and the jewelry industry 25:25 Weird Story of the Week   Episode Credits Hosts: Rob Bates and Victoria Gomelsky Editor: Levi Sharpe Producer & Engineer: Natalie Chomet Plugs: jckonline.com (jckonline.com), @jckmagazine (instagram.com/jckmagazine)   Show Recap NYC Jewelry Week Rob relates some interesting tidbits that he learns at the talk held by David and Sybil Yurman during Jewelry Week. They shed light on how their life growing up in the 60s and 70s colored their business. Rob also discusses the panel he was on about ecommerce and jewelry, in which designers talked about how to establish themselves on different ecommerce platforms.   The Sustainability Question: Who Passes The Test? In doing research for a panel she organized, Victoria meets an Instagram influencer who is a proponent of zero-waste and hasn’t bought a piece of jewelry in many years. Victoria finds it fascinating because there are not many jewelers who would meet these high standards of sustainability. She’s interested in seeing how the relationship between fine jewelry and green living evolves over time.   New De Beers Research and a Rapidly Changing Society The research raises the question: Is the industry keeping up with larger changes in society, such as changing norms about marriage and commitment, and growing concerns over the environment. Rob talks about how proposals have changed over time, and how the bridal industry bases its business on perhaps an outdated standard in our culture.   Weird Story of The Week May Be Hard to Swallow A woman dreams that she swallows her ring to protect it from a jewelry heist. When she wakes up, she was unable to find the ring, so she went to urgent care, where it was confirmed that she did in fact swallow it in her sleep! Listen to find out if there’s a happy ending to this tale.

In This Episode This episode of “The Jewelry District” pays tribute to JCK magazine’s 150th anniversary. JCK editor-in-chief Victoria Gomelsky (https://www.jckonline.com/writer/victoria-gomelsky/) and news director Rob Bates (https://www.jckonline.com/writer/rob-bates/) talk with a panel of JCK writers about fascinating discoveries they made while combing through the vast expanse of the JCK archives. The weird story won’t be from this week—but 1975 instead! Interspersed throughout the episode, you’ll hear the voices of current and past employees as they reflect on their experiences working at this historic publication. You’ll also hear Rob and Victoria interview Bill Furman, former ad manager, who spent 46 years working at JCK. He’ll share how he got there and some amazing memories from along the way. Show Notes 00:36 Victoria and Rob give an overview of the 150th anniversary issue. 3:10 Victoria kicks off the conversation with a few notable things she learned in her research. 8:40 Rob relates a great quote from Marty Hurwitz of MVI Marketing about his impression of JCK. He also shares the ad that former editor Peggy Jo Donahue answered when she began working at JCK. 10:20 Rob shares a weird story from 1975, “Should You Fire That Hippy?” 12:55 Hedda Schupack talks about her favorite story from working at JCK. 15:50 Victoria introduces the panel of JCK writers and tees up Melissa Bernardo’s story. 16:22 Melissa talks about the amazing covers she found when doing her research, including which eras had the oddest, ugliest, and most beautiful covers and ads. 19:55 Melissa explains how the cover of the 150th anniversary issue was created. 21:15 Emili Vesilind (https://www.jckonline.com/writer/emili-vesilind/) talks about what she discovered while researching the fashion retrospective she authored. 25:35 Ettagale Blauer shares a favorite moment from working at JCK: interviewing Lazare Kaplan. 26:22 Russell Shor talks about his history working at JCK and his journey to India for work. 27:50 Amy Elliott (https://www.jckonline.com/writer/amy-elliott/) relates her process as she researched her piece on pearls, including what coverage JCK had on Breakfast at Tiffany’s and how it affected the popularity of pearls. 31:20 Brittany Siminitz (https://www.jckonline.com/writer/brittany-siminitz/) gives a peek behind the scenes of her epilogue, where she talked to young people in the industry about what the top issues would be in 50 years. 33:45 Mark Smelzer reflects on his favorite experience at JCK. 35:55 Robert Weldon reveals the most important thing he covered while at JCK: East African gemstones. 36:09 Victoria and Rob interview Bill Furman, who worked at JCK for 46 years. Episode Credits Hosts: Rob Bates and Victoria Gomelsky JCK Staff: Melissa Bernardo, Amy Elliott, Brittany Siminitz, Emili Vesilind Guest: Bill Furman JCK Voices: Ettagale Blauer, Hedda Schupak, Russell Shor, Mark Smelzer, Robert Weldon Editor: Levi Sharpe Producer & Engineer: Natalie Chomet Plugs: jckonline.com, @jckmagazine

In This Episode In the latest installment of “The Jewelry District,” you’ll hear JCK editor-in-chief Victoria Gomelsky and news director Rob Bates recap the latest news, including a Fashion Week recap and a look at how the trade war and tariffs on China will affect the industry. Victoria and Rob also cover the new JCK print and digital plan for 2020 and share a weird story of the week. You’ll also hear Rob and Vic interview Tiffany Stevens of the Jewelers Vigilance Committee on how she got there, what she does, and current issues concerning the JVC.   Show Notes 00:45 Recap of Fashion Week and the jewelry trends and best jewelry so far. 07:42 Are the 90s coming back into fashion and what does it mean for jewelry? 09:10 Trade wars and tariffs on China, and how this affects the industry. 15:40 Overview of JCK’s print and digital plan for 2020, including change in magazine frequency. 17:50 JCK’s 150th Anniversary Issue—a print keepsake that will still have value. 19:10 Weird Story: A dairy farmer in Singapore proposed by putting a ring on a cow’s udder. 22:15 Rob Bates and Victoria Gomelsky interview Tiffany Stevens, President, CEO and General Counsel of JVC. 22:30 Tiffany covers her history and beginnings at JVC and what drew her to the jewelry industry. 24:44 Tiffany gives some background on JVC’s history, mission, and what they’re doing now. 27:20 Tiffany talks about how lab-grown diamonds affect the JVC mediation practice. 28:35 Rob asks Tiffany how consumers can get in touch with the JVC if they have an issue they want to bring to their attention. 29:45 Tiffany speaks on what the State Department asks of the industry regarding sourcing. 33:15 What you can do to show you’re compliant: filing suspicious activity reports. 39:00 Rob asks Tiffany how effective Anti-Money Laundering laws are in flagging things. 40:15 Tiffany speaks on the FTC guides and their aftereffects.   Episode Credits Hosts: Rob Bates and Victoria Gomelsky Guest: Tiffany Stevens Editor: Levi Sharpe Producer & Engineer: Natalie Chomet Plugs: jckonline.com, @jckmagazine, jvclegal.org   Show Recap Fashion Week Highlights Vic covers some of the best jewelry moments of the week, and some emerging trends that she has noticed. Some takeaways are a strong 60’s-70’s structural trend, especially from Marc Jacobs. These striking pieces show that fashion designers may be starting to acknowledge jewelry design and craft rather than adding jewelry as an afterthought. Ulla Johnson paired her outfits with pieces from Grainne Morton, a U.K. designer that does these sculptural earrings and necklaces with lots of dangling pieces. Another designer, Brandon Maxwell, paired denim outfits with colored stones and lots of chains. Vic has noticed chains as an emerging trend that will extend to 2020. Are The 90’s Making a Comeback? Vic and Rob notice that some 90’s styles are starting to make a comeback, and they speculate what it could mean for jewelry. Besides the Tin Cup pearl necklace, popularized by the movie it was named for, Vic can’t pinpoint any jewelry styles that were big in the 90’s, and characterizes it as a sad time for jewelry. She supposes that every time an era’s trends come back, they do so with a dash of the modern sprinkled in, which could bring some hope for jewelry trends moving forward. Trade Wars are Back 15% tariffs were put on products from China beginning on September 1st. Though many products were exempt, jewelry products were not among them. Though some large manufacturers say they are not affected, others are sorting through the chaos. Rob explains that it’s not as simple as not purchasing products from China. Many small parts, boxes,

In This Episode In the latest installment of “The Jewelry District,” you’ll hear JCK editor-in-chief Victoria Gomelsky and news director Rob Bates recap the latest news, including a Fashion Week recap and a look at how the trade war and tariffs on China will affect the industry. Victoria and Rob also cover the new JCK print and digital plan for 2020 and share a weird story of the week. You’ll also hear Rob and Vic interview Tiffany Stevens of the Jewelers Vigilance Committee on how she got there, what she does, and current issues concerning the JVC.   Show Notes 00:45 Recap of Fashion Week and the jewelry trends and best jewelry so far. 07:42 Are the 90s coming back into fashion and what does it mean for jewelry? 09:10 Trade wars and tariffs on China, and how this affects the industry. 15:40 Overview of JCK’s print and digital plan for 2020, including change in magazine frequency. 17:50 JCK’s 150th Anniversary Issue—a print keepsake that will still have value. 19:10 Weird Story: A dairy farmer in Singapore proposed by putting a ring on a cow’s udder. 22:15 Rob Bates and Victoria Gomelsky interview Tiffany Stevens, President, CEO and General Counsel of JVC. 22:30 Tiffany covers her history and beginnings at JVC and what drew her to the jewelry industry. 24:44 Tiffany gives some background on JVC’s history, mission, and what they’re doing now. 27:20 Tiffany talks about how lab-grown diamonds affect the JVC mediation practice. 28:35 Rob asks Tiffany how consumers can get in touch with the JVC if they have an issue they want to bring to their attention. 29:45 Tiffany speaks on what the State Department asks of the industry regarding sourcing. 33:15 What you can do to show you’re compliant: filing suspicious activity reports. 39:00 Rob asks Tiffany how effective Anti-Money Laundering laws are in flagging things. 40:15 Tiffany speaks on the FTC guides and their aftereffects.   Episode Credits Hosts: Rob Bates and Victoria Gomelsky Guest: Tiffany Stevens Editor: Levi Sharpe Producer & Engineer: Natalie Chomet Plugs: jckonline.com, @jckmagazine, jvclegal.org   Show Recap Fashion Week Highlights Vic covers some of the best jewelry moments of the week, and some emerging trends that she has noticed. Some takeaways are a strong 60’s-70’s structural trend, especially from Marc Jacobs. These striking pieces show that fashion designers may be starting to acknowledge jewelry design and craft rather than adding jewelry as an afterthought. Ulla Johnson paired her outfits with pieces from Grainne Morton, a U.K. designer that does these sculptural earrings and necklaces with lots of dangling pieces. Another designer, Brandon Maxwell, paired denim outfits with colored stones and lots of chains. Vic has noticed chains as an emerging trend that will extend to 2020. Are The 90’s Making a Comeback? Vic and Rob notice that some 90’s styles are starting to make a comeback, and they speculate what it could mean for jewelry. Besides the Tin Cup pearl necklace, popularized by the movie it was named for, Vic can’t pinpoint any jewelry styles that were big in the 90’s, and characterizes it as a sad time for jewelry. She supposes that every time an era’s trends come back, they do so with a dash of the modern sprinkled in, which could bring some hope for jewelry trends moving forward. Trade Wars are Back 15% tariffs were put on products from China beginning on September 1st. Though many products were exempt, jewelry products were not among them. Though some large manufacturers say they are not affected, others are sorting through the chaos. Rob explains that it’s not as simple as not purchasing products from China. Many small parts, boxes,

Episode 4: Guest Joe Thompson In This Episode In the latest installment of “The Jewelry District,” you’ll hear JCK editor-in-chief Victoria Gomelsky and news director Rob Bates recap the summer news, including the first Jewelers of America Convention and an inside look at how the JCK 150th Anniversary issue is shaping up. You’ll also hear Rob and Vic interview Joe Thompson of Hodinkee on how he got his start at JCK in the 1970s, and the memories he has of the people he worked with during that time. Show Notes 01:00 Rob covers the highlights of the first Jewelers of America Convention. 01:55 A member of the State Department talked about the importance of traceability. 02:31 Rob led a talk on traceability and Blockchain. 08:00 The challenges and future of detection of lab-grown products. 11:02 JP Morgan economist talked about the economy vs. the jewelry and retail industry. 13:58 Victoria speaks on the 150th anniversary issue of JCK, and how people across all different time periods grappled with the same things. 18:20 Rob does the Weird Jewelry Story about doctors who removed a large quantity of jewelry from a patient’s stomach. 21:56 Rob introduces guest Joe Thompson of Hodinkee, who got his start at JCK in the 1970s. 25:30 Joe talks about his early days at JCK and what he found in the archives from that time period. 37:40 Joe describes the different watch revolutions he’s seen over the course of 40 years in the business, including the smartwatch revolution today. 41:15 The watch business used to be the pillar that JCK was built on, and now watch advertising in the industry has declined. Vic asks if Joe sees this as a continuing trend in the watch industry. Episode Credits Hosts: Rob Bates and Victoria Gomelsky Guest: Joe Thompson Editor: Levi Sharpe Producer & Engineer: Natalie Chomet Plugs: jckonline.com (http://jckonline.com), @jckmagazine (https://www.instagram.com/jckmagazine/), hodinkee.com (https://www.hodinkee.com/) Show Recap The First Jewelers of America Convention Rob attended the first annual JA Convention and recounts some of the talks that took place, including a sternly toned talk by a woman from the State Department on traceability. People were taken aback by her hard line. Rob led a panel on traceability and Blockchain. It’s something that the outside world is calling for, but it will be a challenge to figure out how to enact. Vic wonders if this will be easier to implement when technology catches up and Blockchain becomes a ubiquitous, household term. Inside the Anniversary Issue Vic has been diving into the archives and has seen that the same issues jewelers grapple with today are things the industry struggled with in the 1800s through today, including synthetic stones, how to sell certain stones or watches, survival of retail, etc. Vic reads certain sentences that—if it weren’t for the syntax—if they were from the past or present day. It helps build a feeling of camaraderie with our predecessors. Weird Story: Hungry for Wealth Doctors removed 1.6kg of jewelry from a woman’s stomach, worth £53,000. The woman was suffering from abdominal pain and went to the doctor. Baffled doctors in Bengal, India discovered the woman had 69 chains, 80 earrings, 46 coins, 8 lockets, 11 nose rings, 5 anklets, and 1 watch dial in her stomach. The coins likely came from her brother’s store,

Episode 4: Guest Joe Thompson In This Episode In the latest installment of “The Jewelry District,” you’ll hear JCK editor-in-chief Victoria Gomelsky and news director Rob Bates recap the summer news, including the first Jewelers of America Convention and an inside look at how the JCK 150th Anniversary issue is shaping up. You’ll also hear Rob and Vic interview Joe Thompson of Hodinkee on how he got his start at JCK in the 1970s, and the memories he has of the people he worked with during that time. Show Notes 01:00 Rob covers the highlights of the first Jewelers of America Convention. 01:55 A member of the State Department talked about the importance of traceability. 02:31 Rob led a talk on traceability and Blockchain. 08:00 The challenges and future of detection of lab-grown products. 11:02 JP Morgan economist talked about the economy vs. the jewelry and retail industry. 13:58 Victoria speaks on the 150th anniversary issue of JCK, and how people across all different time periods grappled with the same things. 18:20 Rob does the Weird Jewelry Story about doctors who removed a large quantity of jewelry from a patient’s stomach. 21:56 Rob introduces guest Joe Thompson of Hodinkee, who got his start at JCK in the 1970s. 25:30 Joe talks about his early days at JCK and what he found in the archives from that time period. 37:40 Joe describes the different watch revolutions he’s seen over the course of 40 years in the business, including the smartwatch revolution today. 41:15 The watch business used to be the pillar that JCK was built on, and now watch advertising in the industry has declined. Vic asks if Joe sees this as a continuing trend in the watch industry. Episode Credits Hosts: Rob Bates and Victoria Gomelsky Guest: Joe Thompson Editor: Levi Sharpe Producer & Engineer: Natalie Chomet Plugs: jckonline.com (http://jckonline.com), @jckmagazine (https://www.instagram.com/jckmagazine/), hodinkee.com (https://www.hodinkee.com/) Show Recap The First Jewelers of America Convention Rob attended the first annual JA Convention and recounts some of the talks that took place, including a sternly toned talk by a woman from the State Department on traceability. People were taken aback by her hard line. Rob led a panel on traceability and Blockchain. It’s something that the outside world is calling for, but it will be a challenge to figure out how to enact. Vic wonders if this will be easier to implement when technology catches up and Blockchain becomes a ubiquitous, household term. Inside the Anniversary Issue Vic has been diving into the archives and has seen that the same issues jewelers grapple with today are things the industry struggled with in the 1800s through today, including synthetic stones, how to sell certain stones or watches, survival of retail, etc. Vic reads certain sentences that—if it weren’t for the syntax—if they were from the past or present day. It helps build a feeling of camaraderie with our predecessors. Weird Story: Hungry for Wealth Doctors removed 1.6kg of jewelry from a woman’s stomach, worth £53,000. The woman was suffering from abdominal pain and went to the doctor. Baffled doctors in Bengal, India discovered the woman had 69 chains, 80 earrings, 46 coins, 8 lockets, 11 nose rings, 5 anklets, and 1 watch dial in her stomach. The coins likely came from her brother’s store,