JCK Jewelry Agenda: Week of Sept. 6

By Victoria Gomelsky | September 03, 2026

The week after Labor Day is notoriously busy with prep work for the season ahead. The events schedule, on the other hand, is light—unless you happen to be in Venice, Italy, where a blockbuster crafts exhibition benefits from the contributions of one of the jewelry industry’s biggest players. Otherwise, a jewelry cataloging webinar, a JCK podcast, and the JCK Industry Fund are all deserving of your attention.

LISTEN

The Jewelry District Podcast, Episode 178 (ongoing)

The Jewelry District podcast and De Beers Desert Diamonds logos In the latest episode of The Jewelry District, JCK editor-in-chief Victoria Gomelsky and cohost Rob Bates talk about Victoria’s experience attending Watch Week Aspen for the first time. She shares how the annual gathering started, how it has grown, and the culture of watch collectors and watchmakers coming together. Rob talks about Signet’s latest executive appointments. The hosts take a step back to think about what this type of news from a big industry player means for JCK’s audience and what listeners can take away from it. Finally, Rob closes with an update on a gold scam that jewelers should be on the lookout for.

ATTEND

De Beers x Homo Faber in Venice, Italy: Sept. 1–30 (in person)

*Artisan Shakunona Parata (photo courtesy of De Beers)*

For the Homo Faber 2026 Biennale in Venice, a biennial exhibition celebrating contemporary European and global craftsmanship, artistic director Es Devlin has curated works based on the theme “An Island of Light,” which examines the interplay between light, materials, talent, and creativity, placing the work of craft artists from around the world at the heart of the experience. As part of the exhibition, De Beers celebrates the creative traditions of Southern Africa by supporting two artists, Abongile Sidzumo (South Africa) and Shakunona Parata (Botswana) in collaboration with Mabeo Studio, through two live demonstrations dedicated to leatherwork and basket-weaving.

Gemflix Webinar—A Historian’s Guide to Cataloguing Your Jewelry Collection: Sept. 9, 12 p.m. ET (online)

The art of cataloguing your jewelry collection is a comprehensive exercise in asset management, but where to begin? Author, historian, and Gem X 2024 scholar Sigrid van Roode, a specialist in jewelry from North Africa and Southwest Asia, leads a Gemflix talk on the process of jewelry cataloguing. She will walk attendees through the passions and practicalities of cataloguing a jewelry collection, touching on both digital and physical methods as well as offering insights into how this practice can apply to preserving all personal relics.

APPLY

JCK Industry Fund Grants: Through Nov. 13 (online)

The JCK Industry Fund, one of the jewelry industry’s longest-running sources of grant funding for education, development, and advocacy, has begun to accept submissions for 2027 grants. Over nearly three decades, the program has awarded more than $8 million to organizations pursuing initiatives designed to strengthen the jewelry trade and address challenges facing the industry. As it begins its 2027 grant cycle, the fund’s advisory committee said it remains focused on supporting programs capable of creating lasting impact and meaningful change.