It's one of the ironies of the jewelry trade that while its products are worn mostly by women and often bought by women, the industry is dominated by men. Even today, some feel the industry is still something of a boys' club.
"From the time I graduated law school, I was always surrounded by an equal number of women and men," says Cecilia Gardner, executive director of the Jewelers Vigilance Committee. "I don't find that in this industry. Ninety percent of the time I am in a meeting to discuss any of the issues that JVC is involved in, I am the only woman in the room."
But that's beginning to change. "We are definitely seeing a trend where more women than men are interested in the industry," says Kathryn Kimmel, vice president of marketing and public relations for the Gemological Institute of America. "When I first joined GIA 12 years ago, our student body was about 40% women. Today i