USA Jewelry Shop

Reading Time: 3 minutes Key takeaways • The 2025 Jewels for Children Raffle raised a record $29,750 to support art and music therapy at the Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU. • Nine independent, family-owned Richmond jewelers donated luxury pieces valued between $3,500 and $5,000 each for the collection. • Since its inception in 2009, the annual raffle curated by Cheryl Fornash has raised over $225,000 for local nonprofit organizations. (RICHMOND, VA.)   The Jewels for Children Raffle, a fine jewelry collection curated by Cheryl Fornash on behalf of some of Richmond’s finest jewelers, raised more than $29,750 for the Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU during the Children’s Hospital Foundation Ball in November 2025. Pictured from left are Rose DeRatto of Dransfield Jewelers; Maggie Smith of Dransfield Jewelers; Nathan Johnson of Charles Schwarzschild Jewelers; Jane Sternheimer of Charles Schwarzschild Jewelers; Robin Salzburg of Lustre by Adolf; Cheryl Fo...

Reading Time: 2 minutes What does it take to build a jewelry empire from a modest storefront into one of South Florida’s premier luxury destinations? In this inspiring episode of Pearls of Wisdom, host Guy Pineda sits down with Ed Dikes and Danni Dikes of Weston Jewelers to explore the remarkable story behind their family-owned business and its upcoming 25th anniversary milestone. Founded in 2001, Weston Jewelers began as a small 1,096-square-foot store and has since grown into a thriving luxury jewelry destination with multiple locations and an ambitious flagship project planned for Las Olas in Fort Lauderdale. Ed shares how perseverance, vision, and a willingness to keep moving forward helped the company navigate challenges ranging from launching just before the events of September 11 to the sleepless nights that come with building a growing business. Listeners will also hear from Danni Dikes, who transitioned from a successful career in broadcast journalism to becom...

Reading Time: 2 minutes In this inspiring episode of the Pearls of Wisdom Podcast, hosts Guy Pineda and Elesa Dillon sit down with Mark Loren, the visionary founder of Mark Loren Designs in Fort Myers, Florida. With more than four decades in the jewelry industry, Mark shares how a passion discovered at a watchmaker’s bench evolved into an award-winning career built on artistry, innovation, and meaningful client relationships. Mark reflects on his journey from Chicago to Florida, where he transformed a trade shop into a thriving custom jewelry design gallery recognized with more than a dozen Spectrum Awards. Throughout the conversation, he reveals how inspiration can come from everyday life, from architecture and chandeliers to nature, and how embracing technologies like CAD, laser welding, and engraving has elevated both creativity and craftsmanship without losing the timeless traditions of jewelry making. Beyond beautiful designs, Mark emphasizes the true value of sto...

Reading Time: 3 minutes Key takeaways • GN Diamond reported strong demand for natural diamonds at JCK Las Vegas 2026, with round diamonds leading at 62% of the market and oval shapes following in second place. • Fancy and elongated shapes like pear, marquise, emerald, and radiant cuts are gaining popularity due to their modern aesthetic and visual size advantages. • Retailers are showing renewed confidence in the natural diamond category, driven by consumer interest in heritage, rarity, and long-term value for the second half of 2026. (PHILADELPHIA) – GN Diamond reports strong demand for natural diamonds at JCK Las Vegas 2026, with elongated and fancy shapes emerging as standout performers across the show floor. While round diamonds continue to lead overall sales, accounting for approximately 62% of the market, oval shapes are maintaining a strong second-place position. Pear, marquise, emerald, elongated cushion, and radiant cuts are also seeing notable gai...

Reading Time: 6 minutes Key takeaways • Stratus Estate Buyers has officially launched as a full-service partner for independent jewelry retailers, providing turnkey three-day in-store buying events nationwide. • The program offers retailers a new revenue stream through guaranteed commissions at no cost, with Stratus handling all marketing, staffing, and customer outreach. • Led by veteran Justin VanMatre, the company leverages over 45 years of expertise and extensive specialist training to purchase a wide range of items, including jewelry, coins, and luxury watches. (ST. LOUIS, MO) –  Stratus Estate Buyers, a full-service estate buying partner for independent jewelry retailers, has officially launched with a team representing more than 45 years of hands-on event-based estate buying experience. Founded by Justin VanMatre, a veteran entrepreneur and revenue leader, Stratus enters the market with a highly trained team and a coast-to-coast event calendar already un...

Reading Time: 5 minutes Key takeaways • The second edition of the TREASURES international colloquium will take place at the Royal Treasure Museum in Lisbon, Portugal, on November 13-14, 2026. • Early Bird registration rates for the event are available until June 30, and the post-conference tour is already sold out. • Delegates will receive exclusive access to the Portuguese Royal Collections and hear from a global panel of experts from institutions like the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Rijksmuseum. (LISBON, PORTUGAL) – If you haven’t done so yet, there are still a few days to register with the reduced Early Bird rate and secure your seat for the second edition of TREASURES , an award-winning international colloquium that will take place under the patronage of the President of the Republic of Portugal at the Royal Treasure Museum, Palácio Nacional da Ajuda, in Lisboa, Portugal, November 13-14, 2026. Make sure to secure your seat for the pre-conference...

Reading Time: 5 minutes Key takeaways • Marianna Smirnova has been appointed as the new Executive Director of the Community for Ethical Jewelry (CEJ) to lead its mission in ethical sourcing and sustainability. • Smirnova brings over 18 years of experience in responsible mineral supply chains, having previously held senior leadership roles at the Responsible Minerals Initiative, Global Battery Alliance, and London Bullion Market Association. • CEJ, formerly known as Ethical Metalsmiths, is a nonprofit organization dedicated to fostering transparency and socially responsible practices across the global jewelry industry supply chain. (CINCINNATI, OHIO) – Community for Ethical Jewelry (CEJ) today announced the appointment of Marianna Smirnova as Executive Director, reinforcing the organization’s leadership in ethical sourcing, sustainability, and responsible business practices across the jewelry industry.  With more than 18 years of experience in sustainability...