Prize Pearls
The Cultured Pearl Association of America’s 14th Annual International Pearl Design Competition, hosted in collaboration with retail partner Aaron Faber Gallery, is accepting entries! The contest is open through Nov. 3. Winning designs will be offered for sale at Aaron Faber Gallery in New York City. cpaa.org
Ethical Foundations
Ethical Metalsmiths (EM) is collaborating with Christina T. Miller Sustainable Jewelry Consulting to provide EM members with access to Miller’s course, “Foundations for Sustainable Jewelry Practices.” The course was designed for jewelers beginning their sustainability journey. ethicalmetalsmiths.org
Innovative Insurance
Jewelers Mutual Group’s new LUX Digital Vault mobile app is now open to those on its waiting list and select retailers. The new tech connects customers to their trusted jeweler and their jewelry and watch collections with a 15-day jewelry insurance offer through a seamless app-based experience. jewelersmutual.com
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Dynamic Diamonds
Liquid Diamonds has created a co-pilot for diamond sourcing using a proprietary reverse auction system combined with AI-driven predictive analysis. A buyer can bid on all acceptable diamond options while also seeing real-time views of both the competing supply of sellers and the competing demand of buyers. liquid.diamonds
Lab-Grown and Large
The International Gemological Institute has certified the first lab-grown diamond to surpass 50 carats. The 50.25-carat polished diamond, created by Ethereal Green Diamond LLP, is a Type IIa emerald cut measuring 22.95 by 18.45 by 11.57 millimeters, with G color, VS2 clarity, and Excellent cut, polish, and symmetry. etherealdiamond.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."
