JCK Take 3: Jewelers Mutual, Rapaport, JA New York

By JCK News Desk | May 21, 2026

Jewelers Mutual Opens Bench Jeweler Training Studio at SCAD

The Jewelers Mutual Studio has opened at the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD), continuing a long-term alliance aimed at strengthening bench jeweler education.

The newly named facility includes updated classrooms, workspaces, and technology, including equipment for casting, laser welding, engraving, and finishing, as well as digital fabrication tools such as 3D printers and laser scanners.

Jewelers Mutual, a Wisconsin-based industry insurance provider, has partnered with SCAD to address workforce shortages in the jewelry trade, as retirements outpace bench jeweler entries. The company said it has made a $10 million, 10-year investment in the project, the largest financial contribution in the history of SCAD’s jewelry program. Funding supports scholarships, curriculum development, and training environments that prepare students for careers as bench jewelers.

Rapaport’s RapNet Becomes Rapaport Trade

Rapaport announced a group-wide rebrand that unifies its pricing, trading, market intelligence, auctions, and news platforms under a single name, according to a press release issued May 21.

As part of the change, RapNet, the company’s online diamond trading network, has been renamed Rapaport Trade. The network includes access to more than 1.8 million natural diamonds, Rapaport said.

Rapaport’s rebrand is intended to better integrate its various services, shifting from operating them as separate business units to offering a connected platform where pricing data, trading tools, and market information are combined.

Rapaport said the transition will not affect existing RapNet users, as accounts, listings, and connections will remain in place. The rebranded platform and broader strategy will be presented at the JCK Las Vegas show (opening next week), where company executives plan to discuss the changes and outline Rapaport’s future direction.

InStore Acquires JA New York Trade Shows

Trade magazine InStore has acquired JA New York, the long-running biannual trade show, from Emerald Holding. InStore is owned by Montclair, N.J.–based publisher SmartWork Media.

The acquisition brings JA New York, which started as a members’ market for Jewelers of America, to a company focused on serving independent jewelers and their suppliers. SmartWork said future shows will emphasize education, networking, and business connections.

Under JA New York’s ownership, Tobi Smith, the show’s longtime global account manager, will return. InStore said Smith’s involvement reflects continuity with the event’s history and its role within the industry. The media outlet will use its JA acquisition to build on existing relationships across the jewelry sector and expand its role in live events, according to a press release.

JA New York holds spring and fall editions. Its next show is Oct. 25–27 at the Javits Convention Center in midtown Manhattan. Emerald Holding remains the owner of the Couture show, which takes place each year in Las Vegas.

The JCK News Desk uses AI to help research and produce the first draft of articles. This story was then reviewed and edited by staff writer David Blomquist.

Top: Scott Murphy, CEO of Jewelers Mutual, visits SCAD classrooms that blend traditional jewelry craftsmanship with advanced digital technology. (Photo courtesy of Jewelers Mutual)