In This Episode
In this edition of “The Jewelry District,” you’ll hear JCK editor-in-chief Victoria Gomelsky and news director Rob Bates discuss the latest news, including NYC Jewelry Week, growing concerns over sustainability, and how those concerns will affect fine jewelry sales. Rob covers a talk by the Yurmans and a fascinating panel on jewelry e-commerce. The weird story of the week features a dream that comes true, but not necessarily in a good way!

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Show Notes
00:50 Rob Bates and Victoria Gomelsky recap NYC Jewelry Week, including a talk given by David and Sybil Yurman.
5:45 Rob talks about a panel he was on about e-commerce and jewelry sponsored by eBay.
9:00 Victoria shares why she has been preoccupied with sustainability lately.
16:46 Victoria ponders if there is a product out there that’s 100% sustainable.
20:58 Rob talks about the new De Beers research and what it says about our society and the jewelry industry.
25:25 Weird Story of the Week.

Episode Credits
Hosts: Rob Bates and Victoria Gomelsky
Editor: Levi Sharpe
Producer and engineer: Natalie Chomet
Plugs: jckonline.com, @jckmagazine

Show Recap

NYC Jewelry Week
Rob relates some interesting tidbits he learned at the talk given by David and Sybil Yurman during NYC Jewelry Week. The Yurmans shed light on how their life growing up in the ’60s and ’70s colored their business. Rob also discusses the panel he was on about e-commerce and jewelry, in which designers went over how to establish themselves on different e-commerce platforms.

The Sustainability Question: Who Passes the Test?
In doing research for a panel she organized, Victoria meets an Instagram influencer who is a proponent of zero waste and hasn’t bought a piece of jewelry in many years. Victoria finds it fascinating because there are not many jewelers who would meet these high standards of sustainability. She’s interested in seeing how the relationship between fine jewelry and green living evolves over time.

New De Beers Research and a Rapidly Changing Society
The research raises the question: Is the industry keeping up with larger changes in society, such as changing norms about marriage and commitment, and growing concerns about the environment? Rob talks about how proposals have changed over time and how the bridal industry bases its business on a possibly outdated standard in our culture.

The Weird Story of the Week May Be Hard to Swallow
A woman dreams that she swallows her ring to protect it from a jewelry heist. When she wakes up, she was unable to find the ring, so she went to urgent care, where it was confirmed that she did, in fact, swallow the ring in her sleep! Listen to find out if there’s a happy ending to this tale.