As you may have heard—since we keep reminding everyone—this year marks JCK’s 150th year of publication. And today, we’ve released a special podcast commemorating both that milestone and this month’s special anniversary mega issue.
Tune in for a very entertaining interview with legendary JCK salesperson Bill Furman, and hear past and present JCK staff reminisce about their favorite articles and their contributions to the anniversary issue.
Plus, you’ll learn the answer to these burning questions: How did the “aphrodisiac” qualities of chocolate inspire the campaign for chocolate diamonds? What decade had the weirdest covers? How did JCK cover the filming of Breakfast at Tiffany’s? What former JCK writer was a badass? Who made a rude noise at the first JCK Las Vegas show? What did the magazine have against hippies? And so much more.
It’s the kind of podcast that comes around only once in 150 years. You can listen here, and Apple podcast app users can subscribe here
This week in Diamond Shavings: How Amazon plans to undercut everyone this holiday. The Queen of England’s diamond-cleaning secret. And a man makes jewelry out of fingernail clippings. All below.
LVMH confirms it wants to take over Tiffany.
– Tiffany says it’s “not in discussions.”
– Rivals may be forced to respond.
– Other possible bidders.
– Analyst: Tiffany will want $160 a share.
– Good profile on LVMH head Bernard Arnault.
– How would LVMH redefine Tiffany?
– What LVMH stands to gain.
– Could help “resuscitate Tiffany.”
– Pam Danziger: A “match made in luxury heaven.”
– Luxury Society: A “win-win.”
– My thoughts: Meh.
De Beers outlines vision for new diamond market.
– Danielle Max: Relax. People still like diamonds.
InStore’s survey of best performing brands and categories
Five notable jewelry stores that opened in 2019.
Kelly Waters purchases Legère and Lindsay & Co.
Barneys sale will mean stores will close.
– New York Times: We may see “eye-popping” sales.
– The Cut: Where Barneys went wrong.
Six numbers that explain the fate of department stores.
– Department stores turn into restaurants.
How retailers are targeting high-end consumers.
A quarter of people have already started Christmas shopping.
– Google releases study of holiday shopping trends.
– Fake goods show up in more than 60% of Google product searches.
Amazon is pricing products 20% below everyone else.
– Amazon demotes organic results.
Diamond manufacturers brace for automation.
Investors growing weary of diamond mine stocks.
Colored diamond prices set to head up.
Drew Brees’ lawsuit award gets increased by a few million.
Indiana jeweler faces bad-check charges.
FTC charges skin care company with writing fake reviews.
$1.84 million diamond stolen from Japan jewelry fair.
Was the $40 million Princie diamond stolen?
Unmined gold fuels deadly industry in South Africa.
Inside Ghana’s gold-scamming syndicates.
Marange villagers complain of forced labor.
Petra Diamonds opens tailings to small-scale miners.
Mozambique hopes to work with Russia on selling diamonds.
Botswana governing party wins tight election.
Diamond Producers Association hires head of external affairs, industry relations.
Gemological Institute of America appoints new senior vice president, chief marketing officer.
Sotheby’s appoints new CEO after going private.
Mitchell Portnoy, president of New York Mineralogical Club, dies.
Third-generation jeweler Arnold Bockstruck dies.
Demolition damage halts production at Minnesota jeweler.
J.C. Penney opens up new “experiential” store in Texas.
New American Dream mall has “everything but customers.”
Inside Nordstrom’s New York flagship.
– Nordstrom has its debt degraded.
– Nordstrom family ends effort to get control.
HBC’s go-private bid hits a roadblock.
– Can Hudson’s Bay survive?
Interview with Pandora’s chief marketing officer.
People shouldn’t be surprised that Calvin Klein and Swatch broke up.
Pam Danziger: What’s important about Burberry-RealReal hookup.
De Beers partners with Circa to offer natural diamond authentication.
Coach becomes first luxury brand to have float in Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade.
Costco workers get free turkeys for the holidays.
Former Bulgari CEO is starting a hedge fund.
The Queen of England uses “gin and water” to keep her diamonds clean.
– The queen has awkward moment with dog and jeweler.
Meghan Markle’s gold rings support causes close to her heart.
Jennifer Aniston appears topless while wearing LeVian.
Nicki Minaj and Kenneth Petty show off “over-the-top” diamond wedding rings.
Lil Yachty sued by celebrity jeweler.
Wine spilled on diamond-covered Hermès bag prompts lawsuit.
Ashes of dead people can’t be exhumed to make jewelry, court rules.
Man makes an engagement ring out of fingernail clippings.
The legends behind four “cursed gemstones.”
Rare gold coins found in shipwreck.
New Jersey teen turns in $10,000 ring she found on the beach
Nine-year-old jewelry entrepreneur finds success at micro boutique.
Media Watch
The New York Times/Victoria Gomelsky on 10 watches that changed the industry.
U.S. News & World Report: How to save on engagement rings.
Elite Daily on the history of the engagement ring tradition.
The New Yorker on the disappearing diamond on the stock exchange.
From the Blog
Why Tiffany Should Tell LVMH: “No Thanks”
JCK Podcasts
Have a great weekend!
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– Twitter: @robbatesjck
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