JCK Jewelry Agenda: Week of Oct. 12

By Victoria Gomelsky | October 09, 2025

The fall events schedule is in full swing. Between an important jewelry conference in Chicago and two watch shows in the Big Apple that have effectively transformed mid-October into NYC Watch Week, there’ll be no shortage of news for watch and jewelry lovers this week. And don’t miss a cool raffle to support a community of opal miners, organized by our friends at Columbia Gem House!

LISTEN

The Jewelry District Podcast, Episode 156 (ongoing)

The Jewelry District podcast and Jewelers Mutual logos On JCK’s podcast, The Jewelry District, editor-in-chief Victoria Gomelsky and news director Rob Bates share interviews they did at Converge—a new event combining the American Gem Society Conclave and GIA Symposium—which was held Sept. 7–10 at the Omni La Costa Resort in Carlsbad, Calif. They checked in with Elyssa Jenkins-Pérez, Katherine Bodoh, Elizabeth Gibson, Georgie Gleim, Sara Murphy, Elizabeth West, Pinny Gniwisch, and Terry Chandler. In the interviews, these experts give their points of view on a variety of subjects: trends they’re stocking up on for the holidays, how the industry is handling lab-grown diamonds, the benefits and drawbacks of AI, and key takeaways from Converge’s packed agenda of professional development and educational programming.

ATTEND

Chicago Responsible Jewelry Conference: Oct. 17–18 (in person)

Pauline Mundia at CRJC gem boutique — *Pauline Mundia at the Responsible Gem Boutique (photo courtesy of CRJC)*

Topics at this year’s Chicago Responsible Jewelry Conference (CRJC), opening this coming Friday at Film Row Cinema, include equitable market pathways for rubies and emeralds, protecting endangered species in the environments where we source, mining in America, scalable responsible gold beyond traceability, and tariffs and the legal landscape. Join event founder Susan Wheeler, mistress of ceremonies Brandee Dallow, and Columbia Gem House’s Eric Braunwart, as well as jewelry, gem, and mineral experts from Ethiopia, South Africa, Germany, Japan, Oman, and other gem-producing nations for frank conversations about how to foster meaningful change in the jewelry trade. Don’t miss the pre-CRJC opportunity to shop for responsible and traced gemstones and jewelry at the Responsible Gem Boutique on Oct. 16.

WIN

Columbia Gem House’s “Opals for Outback Heroes” Fundraiser: Through Oct. 31 (online)

Allison Teague Ring — *One of the items up for grabs: a ring by Alison Teague*

Columbia Gem House’s fifth annual online fundraiser is underway. The raffle, known this year as “Opals for Outback Heroes,” benefits the Lightning Ridge Rural Fire Brigade of New South Wales, Australia—which protects the people, wildlife, and landscape surrounding the mines that produce this year’s featured gemstone, the Lightning Ridge opal. Columbia Gem House and its sourcing partner Cheal Opal chose the fire brigade as this year’s recipient as a way to give back to the community that makes these stones possible.

Opals for Outback Heroes runs alongside the MJSA Responsibly Sourced Design Challenge, whose entries serve as prizes in the raffle. Designers in the competition—which celebrates responsible sourcing and creative jewelry design—craft one-of-a-kind pieces inspired by a fictional story, using gemstones donated by Columbia Gem House. The jewels are then donated to the fundraiser. Raffle tickets can be purchased for $25 at columbiagemhouse.com.

SHOP

WatchTime New York: Oct. 17–19 (in person)

MBandF LM101 EVO Green — *LM101 EVO Ti Green, 40 mm, with titanium case, green CVD dial plate, and rubber strap, CHF 62,000 ($77,453); MB&F*

WatchTime New York opens its doors at Gotham Hall this weekend. In its 10th-anniversary year, the collector-focused event will play host to its biggest number of brands ever (44), among them majors such as Blancpain, Chopard, Piaget, and Ulysse Nardin, and independent makers including Kari Voutilainen, MB&F, and Urwerk.

Windup Watch Fair in New York: Oct. 17-19 (in person)

*Big Crown Pointer Date, 40 mm, in stainless steel with deer leather strap, $2,600; Oris x Cervo Volante*

The Windup Watch Fair will also celebrate its 10th anniversary, with over 140 value-focused brands—including Bremont, Christopher Ward, G-Shock, Oris, and Shinola—in attendance at Center415 on Fifth Avenue. Thousands of enthusiasts are expected at the event, featuring activations, panels, happy hours, and more in three exhibit halls.

BID

Bonhams’ Paris Jewels: Oct. 16, 8 a.m. ET (in person and online)

Van Cleef and Arpels Rubans diamond brooch circa 1937 — *Van Cleef & Arpels diamond Rubans clip brooch, circa 1937, with baguette and brilliant-cut diamonds in 18k gold and platinum, signed, with French assay marks and maker’s marks*

From unsigned vintage treasures to collectible jewels by all the big names—Boucheron, Buccellati, Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels, and more—Bonhams’ Paris Jewels sale has it all.

Top: Loki ring with 4.57 ct. bezel-set emerald-cut blue green tourmaline in 18k yellow gold, $13,800; HOWL