Episode 7: NYC Jewelry Week, Sustainability, and New De Beers Research

The Jewelry District

In This Episode

In this edition of “The Jewelry District,” you’ll hear JCK editor-in-chief Victoria Gomelsky and news director Rob Bates cover the latest news, including NYC’s Jewelry Week, and growing concerns over sustainability and how it will affect fine jewelry sales. Rob covers a talk by the Yurmans and a fascinating panel on jewelry ecommerce. The weird story of the week features a dream that comes true, but not necessarily in a good way!

Show Notes

00:50 Rob Bates and Victoria Gomelsky recap NYC’s Jewelry Week, including a talk held by David and Sybil Yurman.

5:45 Rob talks about a panel he was on about ecommerce and jewelry sponsored by eBay.

9:00 Victoria shares why she has been preoccupied about sustainability lately.

16:46 Victoria ponders if there is a product out there that’s 100% sustainable.

20:58 Rob covers the new De Beers research and what it says about our society and the jewelry industry

25:25 Weird Story of the Week

Episode Credits

Hosts: Rob Bates and Victoria Gomelsky

Editor: Levi Sharpe

Producer & Engineer: Natalie Chomet

Plugs: jckonline.com, @jckmagazine

Show Recap

NYC Jewelry Week

Rob relates some interesting tidbits that he learns at the talk held by David and Sybil Yurman during Jewelry Week. They shed light on how their life growing up in the 60s and 70s colored their business. Rob also discusses the panel he was on about ecommerce and jewelry, in which designers talked about how to establish themselves on different ecommerce platforms.

The Sustainability Question: Who Passes The Test?

In doing research for a panel she organized, Victoria meets an Instagram influencer who is a proponent of zero-waste and hasn’t bought a piece of jewelry in many years. Victoria finds it fascinating because there are not many jewelers who would meet these high standards of sustainability. She’s interested in seeing how the relationship between fine jewelry and green living evolves over time.

New De Beers Research and a Rapidly Changing Society

The research raises the question: Is the industry keeping up with larger changes in society, such as changing norms about marriage and commitment, and growing concerns over the environment. Rob talks about how proposals have changed over time, and how the bridal industry bases its business on perhaps an outdated standard in our culture.

Weird Story of The Week May Be Hard to Swallow

A woman dreams that she swallows her ring to protect it from a jewelry heist. When she wakes up, she was unable to find the ring, so she went to urgent care, where it was confirmed that she did in fact swallow it in her sleep! Listen to find out if there’s a happy ending to this tale.