Have you ever yelled at a radio call-in show or television program in hopes of warning the person of impending doom? That’s how it felt recently listening to a caller on a popular personal-finance show who asked if they should go into debt to buy a Royal Pop pocket watch.
Someone asked the Ramsey Show–think the Baby Steps and Dave Ramsey–about whether they should buy the Audemars Piguet x Swatch Royal Pop collaboration on the aftermarket for $1,500, and it was high comedy.
The hosts not only discouraged the question writer to avoid debt and family guilt, but they went on a tear about people who buy and collect watches. The conversation starts at about an hour and 36 minutes into the episode. Enjoy the rant.
Here is a look at what else made JCK’s collective brain click this week.
News Worth Reading
Shoppers will find lean inventories this season as they scour stores for the right items at the right price.
Will spending fall because of plummeting consumer sentiment? ING thinks so.
Alan Cohen shares his thoughts about the Federal Trade Commission and the use of the word synthetic in a guest blog for the World Diamond Council.
This watch is bananas. B-A-N-A-N-A-S.
Marie Antoinette is that girl, forever. The movie’s rerelease, a documentary, and a book has jewelry looks the French queen would love on trend.
Walmart opens up about people’s concerns about dynamic pricing.
The upcoming Melee show in Paris promises to be a good one.
Concerns about the stock market and overall economy had Oura postpone its much bally-hooed IPO plan. (subscription needed)
Will consumers buy gold during the holidays?
Cartier adds jewelry to Annual Emerging Talent Award. (subscription needed)
AP said the Royal Pop has been a huge victory in terms of page views and such.
An industry gem is getting the Gem Award for Lifetime Achievement.
This is the perfect holiday gift: a diamond-filled hourglass charm.
These retailers are exploring how to reach customers in innovative ways with their shop-in-shop concepts.
Obsessions
Now this is a rant: Rapaport’s Sonia Esther Soltani asks the industry why it is indulging in out-of-touch lab-grown diamond messaging.
If you love Bugs Bunny, you may want to bid on Mel Blanc’s watch—a gorgeous Patek Philippe.
Swatch honors its 15th anniversary of its Peace Hotel project with a new collection.
Paul Zimnisky celebrates 10 years of his State of the Diamond Market.
Podcast Queue
Carol Woolton speaks to two inspiring jewelers, Francesca Grima and Amy Burton-Totton, as they debut their collaboration GRIMA for Hancocks.
The Material chats with Deux Amis, the wife-and-husband team of Danielle and Devin Zdanowski.
The Business of Watches downloads with Formex CEO and head of product development at Dexel, Raphael Granito.
The Business of Fashion looks back on Italy’s supply chain reckoning and says the story still isn’t over.
Pass the Torch talks to Casey Sobel about the bench test and how to get through it.
In the Loupe gets into it with Punchmark about its 2026 State of the Union.
Video Yaya
GIA asks gemologists to share their favorite gems.
3 Graces of Gold highlights her weirdest piece of jewelry she owns and why she can never let it go.
Retailers get together to talk about how diamond buying is changing.
(Photo: Getty Images)
- Subscribe to the JCK News Daily
- Subscribe to the JCK Special Report
- Follow JCK on Instagram: @jckmagazine
- Follow JCK on X: @jckmagazine
- Follow JCK on Facebook: @jckmagazine
