With their national conventions just a month away, Republicans and Democrats will soon finalize their nominees for the 2016 presidential election. Over the past six months, through dozens of nationally televised debates, town halls, and endless stump speeches, the slowly narrowing field of candidates has honed the issues facing the nation to those of greatest apparent concern to the electorate. Independent jewelers across the country spoke to JCK about what they deem to be the five most important, explaining their direct relevance to the trade and the potential effect on retail jewelers.  Free Trade vs. Fair Trade Few industries are more globally interwoven than fine jewelry. Independent jewelers in the United States source luxury watches from Switzerland and Japan; pearls from the Far East and South Pacific; diamonds from Israel, India, and Belgium; and colored stones from