JA members will have several opportunities to attend AJM Magazine‘s “At the Bench Live” seminars in 2006, being held at upcoming trade shows.

These seminars consist of a series of interactive demonstrations by some of the industry’s leading professionals. The effort is being sponsored the Manufacturing Jewelers and Suppliers of America, AJM Magazine, and Jewelers of America.

“By collaborating with MJSA and AJM, we are able to offer our members and others a year-long opportunity to learn from bench jewelers working at a bench in real time,” said JA President and CEO Matthew Runci. “Jewelers can witness a visually dynamic presentation filled with important tips and techniques.”

“As in so many areas in today’s world, techniques and technology continue to change in jewelry manufacturing—including in bench work,” said Frank Dallahan, President/CEO of MJSA. “Retail jewelers need to know these new developments and, as important, actually see them implemented. In At the Bench Live presentations, they can learn from world-class jewelers how to ensure their bench is a profit center.”

The first collaborative At the Bench Live program will be held on Jan. 22, 2006, at the winter JA New York Show in the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center. There, Arthur Anton Skuratowicz of Anton Nash will present two seminars, “Working with Gemstones” and “Tool Modification;” Blaine Lewis of the New Approach School for Jewelers will offer “Channel Setting Made Easy;” and Karen Christians of Metalwerx will present “Making the Most of Your Flex-Shaft.”

Other collaborative At the Bench Live programs will be held the Midwest Jewelry Expo in Madison Wisconsin (March 25-26), the summer JA New York Show (July 30-Aug. 2), and the Oklahoma Jewelers Association’s 100th anniversary event in Oklahoma City (Sept. 15-17).

JCK