Industry Insight
Jewelry marketing dream team Liz Kantner of Stay Gold and Laryssa Wirstiuk of Joy Joya have launched a podcast! Success With Jewelry is available now and offers listeners an intimate and exclusive “peek behind the curtain” of all the things you wish you could know about achieving success in our industry. successwithjewelry.com
A Legacy of Love
Gem Legacy has launched a new fundraising initiative to prevent silicosis in the tanzanite mining areas of Merelani, Tanzania. Gem Legacy, a non-profit organization, has committed to buying masks and filters, at a cost of $30 per set-up, for 5,000 miners. gemlegacy.org
Ethical Reading
Ethical Metalsmiths’ online publication, The Source, just celebrated its second anniversary! The Source offers content that helps inspire responsible jewelry practices through education, connection, and action. ethicalmetalsmiths.org
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Outstanding Ovals
Facets of Fire diamonds are known for their fire, an effect achieved by etching thousands of intricate nano-prisms onto the pavilion of a natural diamond. This technology is now available in a new shape: Facets of Fire now offers fancy oval-shape diamonds in sizes from 0.25 carats to over 5.00 carats. facetsoffire.com
Brand New Brand
Former founder and CEO of Unique Settings of New York Mel Anda and EVP Johnny Guven have established Kozza & Company, an all-new manufacturer in the heart of the New York City’s Diamond District. Kozza & Company specializes in classic bridal designs, and their first catalog was released in October 2022. kozza.com
Honoring a Legacy: How Smith & Son Jewelers Exceeded Every Goal With Wilkerson
When Andrew Smith decided to close the Springfield, Massachusetts location of Smith & Son Jewelers, the decision came down to family. His father was retiring after 72 years in the business, and Andrew wanted to spend more time with his children and soon-to-arrive grandchildren.
For this fourth-generation jeweler whose great-grandfather founded the company in 1918, closing the 107-year-old Springfield location required the right partner. Smith chose Wilkerson, and the experience exceeded expectations from start to finish.
"Everything they told me was 100% true," Smith says. "The ease and use of all their tools was wonderful."
The consultants' knowledge and expertise proved invaluable. Smith and his father set their own financial goal, but Wilkerson proposed three more ambitious targets. "We thought we would never make it," Smith explains. "We were dead wrong. We hit our first goal, second goal and third goal. It was amazing."
Smith's recommendation is emphatic: "I would never be able to do what they did by myself."
