The Jewelry District

Latest Episodes:

Episode 10: JCK Tucson, the Golden Globes, and Tiffany Jan 16, 2020

Show notes

In This Episode

In this edition of “The Jewelry District,” you’ll hear JCK editor-in-chief Victoria Gomelsky and news director Rob Bates discuss the latest news, including 2019 holiday sales, the upcoming JCK Tucson jewelry show, what the stars wore to the 2020 Golden Globes, and LVMH’s recent acquisition of Tiffany & Co. You’ll also hear a positively grotesque weird story of the week that’ll be sure to make your stomach churn.

Show Notes

00:30 Rob Bates recaps the trends of the 2019 holiday sales compared to 2018.

02:30 Victoria Gomelsky is excited for JCK Tucson and predicts the colors that will be big this year.

06:27 Victoria gives the scoop on what jewelry was popular for stars at the 2020 Golden Globes.

08:25 Rob talks about what LVMH's recent acquisition of Tiffany and Co. means for brand consolidation across the industry.

18:18 Weird Story of the Week

Episode Credits

Hosts: Rob Bates and Victoria GomelskyEditor: Levi SharpeProducer and engineer: Natalie ChometPlugs: jckonline.com, @jckmagazine

Show Recap

2019 Holiday Sales

It was a decent year for sales at the end of 2019. Rob comments on the main difference between the 2018 holiday and the 2019 holiday. While physical stores continue to face challenges, there were still plenty of discounts this year. Rob confesses his biggest shopping steal.

JCK Tucson and 2020 Color Predictions

JCK Tucson is just three weeks away, and Victoria has some leads on what colors might be big this year ahead. The Pantone Color of the Year, Classic Blue, is an obvious go-to, but does Victoria think it will it make a difference in the world of gems in 2020? She lets us know what other colors to keep on our radar going into the new year and beyond.

What Was Hot at the 2020 Golden Globes

There’s one jewelry style that stood out at the Golden Globes. Can you guess what it was? The statement necklace! Victoria lets us know who made a statement and who didn't. And, she reveals the star known for her minimalist style who chose to go big with diamonds at this year's show.

LVMH Takes Tiffany: What Is Industry Consolidation Doing to Us?

LVMH took over Tiffany & Co. toward the end of 2019—and Rob has mixed feelings on this new ownership. Should we be putting all of our eggs in one basket? Victoria cites a 2014 article called “Jewelry Industry in 2020” that predicted more industry consolidation. Was this new ownership written in the stars? Will more companies consolidate sooner than later? And will Tiffany remain the traditional American company it always has been or will it lean into more French style?

Weird Story of the Week

Eek! It doesn’t get weirder than this. Rob lets us in on this newest weird story originally reported by two British newspapers. A Japanese man—and perhaps the more squeamish shouldn’t keep reading—took an entire year of this fingernail clippings and turned them into an engagement ring for his significant other. He made a YouTube video of the entire process—and Rob describes it in detail for those of us who would rather not see it for ourselves.

Episode 9: Best of Weird Stories 2019 Dec 23, 2019

Show notes

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, @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

A dental hygienist relieved several patients of their jewelry while under sedation. The local police chief asserts that this incident that was “no laughing matter,” despite the use of laughing gas.

Episode 8: Guest Sally Morrison Dec 09, 2019

Show notes

In This Episode In this edition of “The Jewelry District,” you’ll hear JCK editor-in-chief Victoria Gomelsky and news director 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, @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.

Episode 7: NYC Jewelry Week, Sustainability, and New De Beers Research Dec 02, 2019

Show notes

In This Episode

In this edition of “The Jewelry District,” you’ll hear JCK editor-in-chief Victoria Gomelsky and news director 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, @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.

Episode 6: Guest Bill Furman Oct 31, 2019

Show notes

In This Episode This episode of “The Jewelry District” pays tribute to JCK magazine’s 150th anniversary. JCK editor-in-chief Victoria Gomelsky and news director 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 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 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 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

Episode Five: Guest Tiffany Stevens Sep 19, 2019

Show notes

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, and other essential items are made in China. This adds up.

New Print and Digital Plan for JCK

JCK’s print frequency will change for 2020 from seven issues to four, keeping a spring, pre-show, at-show, and fall holiday preview issue. The focus will shift to digital, including the podcast, webinars, web coverage, and more. Though this is a change, it is in line with the rest of the industry. The upcoming 150th Anniversary issue is an example of a timeless print issue that may not translate to the web in the same way. JCK will keep its foot in print, while strengthening the already solid digital presence.

Weird Story: A Moo-ving Proposal

A farmer in Singapore proposes to his girlfriend by placing a diamond engagement ring on a cow’s udder, sparking incredulous reactions from a ring-shaming Facebook group, questions of animal cruelty, and a plethora of bovine-inspired puns.

Interview: Tiffany Stevens

JVC, founded in 1917, has covered a lot of issues over its history in tandem with whatever is going on in the jewelry industry. Its mission is to help all those along the supply chain with any compliance issues that they are experiencing. Tiffany covers new types of fraud that had been uncovered as the lab-grown diamond industry begins to grow. She advises on how consumers can get in touch with the JVC if they have an issue they want to bring to their attention. Tiffany speaks on what the State Department asks of the industry regarding sourcing. She also talks about AML laws as well as the FTC guides and much more.

Episode 4: Guest Joe Thompson Aug 08, 2019

Show notes

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, @jckmagazine, 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, and the items had disappeared from her family’s home over time, though the family did not suspect anything.

Interview: Joe Thompson

Joe describes Hodinkee, and why the fan site for watches captures the interest of watch connoisseurs out there. Joe talks about his early days at JCK and what he found in the archives from that time period, including articles he wrote from when he got his start. He tells stories about the managing editor in 1977, George Holmes, including a tale about an article he wrote that the interviewee wanted altered. Lesson: never send a copy of the article to the subject before it’s published!

Episode 3: June Edition Jun 25, 2019

Show notes

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 their favorite moments from JCK Las Vegas and the highlights of its grand return to the Sands Expo.

You’ll also hear several interview snippets that Rob and Victoria captured live from the show floor, with Jennifer Dawes, Roger Kadet, Eddie Le Vian, Charles Stanley, Iris Van der Veken, and more.

Show Notes

00:49 Victoria Gomelsky and Rob Bates recap their favorite highlights from JCK Las Vegas.

06:20 Victoria and Rob go over key takeaways from the show.

discuss some of the talks they attended on lab-grown, traceability, and sustainability.

11:33 Interview from show floor Ben Hakman from Diamond DNA.

15:02 Lightbox presentation recap: Lab-grown diamonds.

20:10 Victoria interviews Omi Gems and Omi Privé’s Niveet Nagpal.

24:01 Victoria and Rob discuss the President of Botswana’s speech and the protester who made a brief appearance.

32:02 Rob cover’s the first lady of Botswana’s speech at the Forevermark breakfast.

32:56 Rob interviews Charles Stanley of Forevermark.

36:00 Select clips from Rob and Victoria’s interviews captured live from the show floor including Robbie Vanderlinden, Eddie Le Vian, and more.

Episode Credits

Hosts: Rob Bates and Victoria Gomelsky

Guests: Jennifer Dawes, Ben Hakman, Roger Kadet, Eddie Le Vian, Niveet Nagpal, Charles Stanley, Iris Van der Veken, and Ronnie Vanderlinden

Engineer: Brett Fuchs

Editor: Levi Sharpe

Producer: Natalie Chomet

Plugs: jckonline.com, @jckmagazine, jcklasvegas2019.com

Show Recap

The Talk of the Show

The mood at JCK Las Vegas was high, and people are thinking hard about ways to meet business challenges, including the launch of many new initiatives. Exhibitors and attendees alike were happy to make a triumphant return to the Sands. It wasn’t the most dramatic show, but in a positive sense. The new lab-grown pavilion shows acceptance of this product entering the market, and conversations about lab-grown diamonds are maturing. There’s less clash and controversy, rather a deepening of the sustainability and tracing conversations.

Interview Clip: Ben Hakman from Diamond DNA

Ben Hakman explains the way things have been evolving in different price points and categories of lab-grown diamonds. He believes the future is moving towards transparency regarding grow type, treatment type, and country of origin.

Thoughts on the Lightbox Presentation

Rob gives his reactions to the Lightbox presentation. Some thought that De Beers’ aggressive pricing last year was intended to push the lab-grown pricing down. Their perspective is that the pricing will come down anyway, and when it does, they will be well situated because they’ve had a chance to build their brand. That said, Rob has heard some wildly different predictions for lab-grown over the past few years. Victoria comments on the progress since last year’s presentation.

Interview Clip: Niveet Nagpal from Omi Gems and Omi Privé

People are loving the colored stones, rarer gems, and edgier designs. People aren’t shying away from more interesting pieces that tell a story. He describes his inventive window display and the concept behind it, called “A Gemstone Journey.”

President Masisi of Botswana’s Speech

President Masisi emphasized the connection between American retailers and the mining countries and people involved in production. Victoria remarked on the feeling of awe and respect at hearing this dignitary speak. The protester who interjected to voice her displeasure at Botswana’s lifting of the ban on elephant hunting momentarily shifted the emphasis of President Masisi’s speech, but he navigated it with grace.

Interview Clip: Charles Stanley from Forevermark

Charles Stanley speaks about the First Lady of Botswana’s speech. He found it inspirational. The benefit diamonds have given to Botswana, and importance of investing in their future. Forevermark has a new and timely bridal campaign that aims to be more relevant to the bridal consumer.

Interviews from the Show Floor

Ronnie Vanderlinden, President of Diamond Manufacturers & Importers Assn; United States Jewelry Council

Eddie Le Vian, Director and CEO of Le Vian

Iris Van der Veken, Executive director of Responsible Jewellery Council

Roger Kadet, Owner and CEO of Roger Kadet Ltd.

Jennifer Dawes, Owner of Jennifer Dawes Design

Bonus Episode: JCK Las Vegas Excitement May 21, 2019

Show notes

Bonus Episode of the Jewelry District

In This Episode

In this bonus episode, you'll hear JCK editor-in-chief Victoria Gomelsky and news director Rob Bates share in some pre-show excitement for JCK Las Vegas with Yancy Weinrich, Senior Vice President at Reed.

Yancy recounts how she got her start in the jewelry business, her memories from her first JCK Las Vegas show, and how much it has grown since. The team remembers what was so wonderful about the old Sands and teases what's new, improved, and exciting for this year's show.

Show Notes

01:00 Yancy explains how she got her start at Reed and in the jewelry industry at large.02:48 Yancy talks about the first JCK show she attended and what she loves about the trade show business.06:25 Yancy and Victoria recall details about the show when it was at the old Sands.07:30 Yancy walks through the decision to move to Mandalay Bay from the Sands and back again.11:03 Victoria and Yancy talk about the Sunday night party at Tao and new restaurants.14:05 Yancy offers her top tips to be prepared during the busy show experience. 15:25 Rob asks Yancy about what's new and different this year.17:20 Rob and Yancy discuss Baselworld and the future of trade shows.19:00 Rob inquires about consumer and influencer interest in the JCK show.21:40 Yancy shares her favorite JCK show memories.

Episode Credits:

Hosts: Rob Bates and Victoria GomelskyGuest: Yancy Weinrich, Senior Vice President, ReedEngineer and Editor: Levi SharpeProducer: Natalie ChometPlugs: jckonline.com, @jckmagazine, jcklasvegas2019.com

Episode 2: May Edition May 02, 2019

Show notes

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 discuss the gender discrimination and harassment allegations at Signet Jewelers. Victoria covers how watch retailers are embracing the secondhand market.

You’ll also hear a Weird Story of the Week about a jeweler/fan of Elon Musk who has a surprising issue with his Tesla! Rob and Victoria interview gem dealer Joe Menzie about his history in the industry, and gemstone expeditions around the globe.

Show Notes

01:10 Victoria Gomelsky talks about JCK’s history and what she’s found in the 150 years-worth of archives.

02:40 Victoria and Rob Bates talk about the bombshell report on Signet’s treatment of female employees over the years.

07:40 Rob covers the other struggles Signet is having with their retail stores and new marketing strategy.

09:20 Victoria covers watch retailers and their recent embrace of the secondhand market

12:40 Rob tells the “Weird Story of the Week”.

15:55 Victoria and Rob interview Joe Menzie, gem dealer and former president of ICA, about his career in the jewelry industry and the gemstone expeditions he leads

Episode Credits:

Hosts: Rob Bates and Victoria Gomelsky

Guest: Joe Menzie, gemstone dealer

Engineer and Editor: Levi Sharpe

Producer: Natalie Chomet

Plugs: jckonline.com, @jckmagazine, menzie.com

Show Recap:

Signet’s Alleged History of Gender Discrimination

Victoria and Rob react to the exhaustive New York Times Magazine cover story that details the many alleged incidents of gender discrimination and sexual harassment that took place in Signet Jewelers’ Sterling division over the years. Rob voices his opinion on how the company has responded since the article came out. Victoria underlines the overarching issue of when a company culture breeds this kind of behavior.

Retailers Embrace Secondhand Watch Market

Victoria interviewed Hamilton Powell, founder and CEO of Crown & Caliber about the pre-owned watch market’s increase in popularity. She sees it as a way to hedge against other issues in the marketplace. She also discusses Les Ambassadeurs’ recent partnership with WatchBox – a secondhand watch powerhouse.

Weird Story of the Week

Rob tells the story of Ben Baller who created a $400,000 diamond and ruby ring for Elon Musk. He then gets locked in his own Tesla for 40 minutes. Baller posts a video of the incident to his Instagram feed. Conflict and conspiracy theories ensue.

Interview with Gemstone Dealer Joe Menzie

Victoria and Rob discuss Joe’s storied career and how he ended up in the gemstone industry. Victoria reminisces about the first time she met Joe in Tucson, and his dependable insight into this unique niche of the jewelry world over the years. Joe talks about his trajectory, beginning in social work, to accounting, then finally finding his way to his grandfather’s gemstone dealing trade. He describes how he ended up as the president of the ICA. Joe also details some of his exciting gemstone expeditions, and Victoria recalls her experience at a tanzanite mine.

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