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Reading Time: 4 minutes Key Takeaways: • Jewelers of America and the GEM Awards Committee have opened applications for the David Yurman GEM Awards Grant from November 3 to December 2, 2026. • The grant recipient will receive $50,000 in funding and mentorship opportunities with executives from David Yurman and the jewelry industry. • Eligible applicants must be U.S.-based fine jewelry designers who have operated their own business for at least three years. (NEW YORK) – Jewelers of America, the national trade association supporting every facet of the jewelry industry, and the GEM Awards Committee announce the return of the David Yurman GEM Awards Grant, a $50,000 Grant Program that provides funding and mentorship opportunities for an emerging jewelry designer. Applications for the Grant will be open from November 3, 2026 through December 2, 2026. The Grant Recipient will be presented at the 25 th annual GEM Awards on Friday, March 12, 2027, at Cipriani 42nd Street i...

Reading Time: 4 minutes Key takeaways • GIA has acquired an unmatched collection of 2,665 rare gem and mineral inclusion specimens curated over 60 years by John Koivula. • The collection will serve as an extraordinary educational resource to support GIA’s education programs, research, and laboratory services. • Select pieces from the Koivula collection will make their debut at the AGTA Tucson GemFair and Tucson Gem and Mineral Show in February 2027. ( CARLSBAD, Calif.) – GIA has acquired an unsurpassed collection of 2,665 crystals, gems and minerals, each exhibiting extraordinary inclusions composed of foreign minerals, as well as trapped fluids and structural characteristics. The unique collection was curated over 60 years by GIA Analytical Microscopist John Koivula, who is widely regarded as the world’s foremost expert in identifying and documenting gem inclusions. GIA will debut select pieces from the collection at the AGTA Tucson GemFair and the Tucso...

Reading Time: 3 minutes Key takeaways • One-third of all U.S. engagements occur between Thanksgiving and Valentine’s Day, making the holiday season a key opportunity for engagement ring sales. • Ryan Hakimi of C.H. Hakimi shared insights on The Plumb Club’s November podcast about guiding engagement ring buyers with knowledge and patience. • Effectively servicing engagement ring customers helps retailers build long-term relationships and drive lifetime sales beyond one-time holiday purchases. (NEW YORK) – As the holidays approach, it’s easy to forget that there are some key jewelry merchandise categories beyond “holiday gifts” that not only drive revenue for a store but will help springboard a relationship that can turn a one-time buyer into a customer for life!  The Plumb Club’s November Podcast focuses on the fact that the holiday season is also the kickoff to the key engagement ring time of year. As such, retailers need to be ready to leverage the ho...

Reading Time: 5 minutes Key takeaways • The Qatar Diamond Exchange welcomed diplomatic representatives from 13 African diamond-producing nations to strengthen trade cooperation. • High-level attendees included Lesotho Prime Minister Samuel Matekane and diplomats representing key producers across Africa. • The initiative aims to connect African diamond producers with global markets while advancing Qatar’s economic diversification goals under National Vision 2030. (DOHA, QATAR) – The Qatar Diamond Exchange welcomed ambassadors and diplomatic representatives from Africa to Ras Bufontas Free Zone, as part of its efforts to strengthen international relationships and explore new opportunities for diamond trade cooperation. Co-hosted in collaboration with the Embassy of the Democratic Republic of the Congo in Qatar, the visit marks an important step in the Exchange’s engagement with Africa, home to some of the world’s leading diamond-producing countries...

Reading Time: 4 minutes Key takeaways • Franck Muller unveiled the Vanguard “Ram Lalla” Limited Edition in India, created in partnership with Kapoor Watch Co. and limited to 108 individually numbered pieces. • The timepiece features a solid 18-carat rose gold three-dimensional dual-curved case and an intricate dial appliqué depicting Lord Ram, requiring 30 hours of laser processing. • Powered by a Swiss automatic mechanical movement, the watch features an integrated strap combining rubber with grape-based vegan leather. (INDIA / GENEVA) – Franck Muller Genève, Master of Complications, presents a timepiece created especially for India: The Vanguard “Ram Lalla” Limited Edition in partnership with Kapoor Watch Co. Rishab Rikiram Sharma, acclaimed Indian sitarist and neo-classical musician, joined as a special guest. A tribute to Lord Ram, this creation brings together the Vanguard collection’s distinctive design and the brand’s watchmaking expertise. ...

Reading Time: 5 minutes Key Takeaways: • Jewelers of America elected three new members to its Board of Directors: Lawrence Bock, Caryl Capeci, and Amanda Coleman-Phelps. • The new directors were officially elected on October 26, 2026, during the annual general meeting and introduced at the board meeting on October 27, 2026. • Robert Marks rotated off the Board, and Julie Keeney left following her retirement from Fred Meyer. (NEW YORK) – Jewelers of America, the national trade association for businesses supporting every facet of the jewelry industry, has elected three new Directors to its Board of Directors. The Directors were officially elected on October 26, 2026, at the Jewelers of America annual general meeting and introduced at the Jewelers of America Board meeting on October 27, 2026. The three Directors are Lawrence Bock of Bachendorf’s, Caryl Capeci of Starboard, and Amanda Coleman Phelps of Nelson Coleman Jewelers. “We are delighted to welcome Amand...

Reading Time: 10 minutes Key takeaways • Section 301 tariffs of 10% to 12.5% currently apply to jewelry imports from 60 countries, with an additional 50% tariff on selected Canadian goods. • U.S. Customs and Border Protection is processing IEEPA tariff refunds for eligible importers of record, though July Section 301 tariffs remain non-refundable. • Election results will not immediately change trade rules or tariffs, as the newly elected Congress will not take office until January 2027. Americans vote today, Tuesday, Nov. 3, in midterm elections that will decide control of Congress and a long list of state ballot measures. As of this morning, no results are in, and Southern Jewelry News makes no predictions about them. What we can do is lay out where the rules that hit a jeweler’s bottom line stand right now, so you know what to watch in the weeks ahead. Tariffs in effect today The tariff picture has changed more than once this year. On Feb. 20, the U.S. The ...