Supplier News: Week of June 22

By Brittany Siminitz | June 22, 2026

Smiling Rocks Raises Funds for Make-A-Wish India at JCK

Lab-grown diamond brand Smiling Rocks announced that, in partnership with Jewelers for Children (JFC), it would be able to serve 135 critically ill children through its Wish Jar activation at the JCK show in Las Vegas.

Helping bring awareness to Make-A-Wish India’s efforts, Smiling Rocks had the Wish Jar at its JCK booth, where show attendees were invited to draw wishes from the jar. The company is making a donation for each wish through Jewelers for Children, which will distribute the funds to Make-A-Wish India to support the granting of those wishes.

Yehuda Upgrades Sherlock LGD Detection Software

Sy Kessler, a supplier of equipment for the diamond and jewelry industries, has updated the AI-powered lab-grown diamond detection device known as Sherlock, available from Sy Kessler subsidiary Yehuda. Sherlock software was designed to identify diamonds created through CVD (chemical vapor deposition), which Yehuda said are increasingly difficult to detect, due to newer “stealth” CVD material entering the market.

Sherlock produces color-coded results in distinguishing between natural diamonds, lab-grown diamonds, moissanite, and cubic zirconia. Yehuda will continue to enhance the product as new detection capabilities are developed, according to a Sy Kessler statement.

CBG to Add Roundtables, Exhibiting Designers by the Time It Gets to Phoenix

Continental Buying Group (CBG) brought together its retailer and supplier members for two days of buying, networking, and education at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas last month.

CBG continued it AI-focused education initiative for independent retailers during the May 26–27 event, with a presentation by Technology Therapy Group’s Jennifer Shaheen. Educational programming also included a seminar by De Beers London’s Elizabeth West on natural diamond storytelling.

This year’s CBG Vegas saw an expanded Curated Designer Project, which had four participating designers in its original incarnation at CBG’s Miami show last winter. In Las Vegas, the pavilion featured eight designers, including Folium, GemologyGeek, Rahul’s Jewels, and Chris Ploof Designs. CBG said it intends to expand the curated pavilion by another four designers for its upcoming event in Phoenix.

That event is the CBG Experience, scheduled for Sept. 13–16 at the Arizona Biltmore resort. Attendees can expect new strategy roundtables and a keynote address from business strategist and author Rishad Tobaccowala, CBG said.

“The Las Vegas event reminded us of what makes this community special,” said Joe Murphy, the group’s CEO, in a statement. “The quality of conversation on the floor, the genuine connections between our retail and supplier members, and the energy around the Curated Designer Project all point to an organization that is moving in the right direction. We are carrying that momentum into Phoenix.”

Top: Ainsley Skopik of Kindler’s Gem Jewelers in Waco, Texas, at the Smiling Rocks booth at JCK Las Vegas (photo by Camilla Sjodin)