JCK Jewelry Agenda: Week of June 25

By Victoria Gomelsky | June 22, 2023

The first full week of summer deserves a hear, hear! The jewelry industry takes a collective pause around July 4, and the relative shortage of events this week reflects the slowdown that’s coming. Still, take note of two webinars on Wednesday, covering very different but equally important topics.

ENTER

Gem Legacy Raffle: through June 29 (online)

Gem Legacy Umba Sapphire — *One of the raffle items: a 2.58 ct. custom-cut mint green Umba sapphire (MSRP: $1,100)*

Gem Legacy, the industry nonprofit that supports vocational training, entrepreneurship, and community development in East African artisanal gem-mining communities, is holding a raffle to raise money for its initiatives. Sale of raffle tickets ($25 each) concludes on Thursday at midnight Eastern time. Two winners will be selected for the grand prizes: a 2.58 ct. mint green Umba sapphire and a 1.6 ct. t.w. diamond three-stone rustic ring, both donated by gem and jewelry supplier Caleb B. Quashen International and valued at $1,100 and $1,500, respectively. (Winners will be notified on July 5.)

ATTEND

Plumb Club Security Webinar: June 28, 2 p.m. ET (online)

security camera in store Getty Images — *(Photo: Getty Images)*

The Plumb Club is hosting a webinar on “Protecting Your Jewelry Store: Essential Security Measures,” featuring Regina Ciarleglio, membership director for Jewelers of America; John Kennedy, president of the Jewelers Security Alliance (JSA); and Scott Guginsky, vice president of JSA. The session will focus on strategies to ensure the safety of retailers’ stores, including how to assess vulnerabilities, implement effective security measures, and understand the latest technologies and techniques to safeguard merchandise, employees, and customers.

WJA Webinar on Deconstructing Gender: June 28, 7 p.m. ET (online)

WJA diversity speakers — (Clockwise from top left) Tracey Carswell of Powerful in Pink (moderator), and panelists Samonte Cruz of Samonte Cruz Studios, Naomi Johnson of Metal Petal Jewelry, and Jen Lorang of Alchemilla Jewelry (photos courtesy of WJA)

Women’s Jewelry Association chapters for New York Metro and Miami team up with Queer Metalsmiths this week to host “Conversations on Diversity: Deconstructing Gender in Jewelry Part III,” a virtual event focused on prioritizing the mental and emotional well-being of LGBTQIA+ jewelry creators, makers, and industry professionals.

Top: Petrified opal drop earrings on South Sea pearl hearts in 18k yellow gold, $3,000; Guita M