Winners of Jewelers of America's CASE Awards

Winners of Jewelers of America's 

National Retailer Design Competition

The CASE Awards Honors Jewelry Design That Exhibits 

Creativity, Artistry, Style and Excellence

Jewelers of America (JA), the national trade association for businesses serving the fine jewelry retail marketplace, held its annual national retailer design competition, The CASE Awards, which recognizes independent jewelers who exhibit creativity, artistry, style and excellence in jewelry design. Many of the winning pieces of the 2013 CASE Awards reflect current trends in jewelry and fashion such as nature-inspired elements, mixed metals and vintage/baroque style.

"Jewelers of America's retail design competition is the only national platform that showcases the craft and creativity of independent jewelers," says JA President & CEO David J. Bonaparte. "The jewelry entered reflects the remarkable jewelry you can find from Jewelers of America-member stores nationwide."

All the winning jewelers are members of Jewelers of America, the largest national association for fine jewelry retail businesses. Jewelers of America-member jewelers are among most reputable jewelers in the United States, backed by a commitment to Jewelers of America's Code of Professional Practices.

There were 63 entries from Jewelers of America Retail Members, the highest level of participation in the competition's history. Winners were selected for six product categories: Women's Jewelry Under $2000, $2000-$5000, Over $5000 (retail values); Men's Jewelry; Silver Jewelry; and Palladium Jewelry.

The 2013 CASE Awards were sponsored by Palladium Alliance International and Platinum Guild International, USA. For more information about the competition and to view the Winner's Photo Gallery, www.jewelers.org/caseawards.

2013 Trends Revealed By JIC At Fine Jewelry Preview

Jewelry Information Center Unveils 2013 Trends  at Fine Jewelry Preview Over 100 Pieces of Jewelry Showcased to Leading Consumer Publications

Jewelry Information Center, the consumer education arm of Jewelers of America (JA), unveiled jewelry trends for 2013, at its Annual Fine Jewelry Preview on Tuesday, July 31, in New York. Over 100 pieces of jewelry were on display to leading fashion and accessories editors from magazines like InStyle, Lucky, Robb Report, Marie Claire, Veranda, W Magazine, Brides and Condé Nast Traveler. The jewelry trends featured included: statement necklaces; shoulder-sweeping colored gemstone earrings; unique colored gemstones, like boulder opals, watermelon tourmaline and rough-cut quartz; sterling silver jewelry; big and bold pearls; beyond-bridal platinum. "The jewelry showcased at the Fine Jewelry Preview gives editors a sneak peek at the must-have jewelry styles for the year to come. Shoppers can find these styles at the reputable jewelry stores of Jewelers of America members and can always get trend inspiration at our website, JIC.org," says Amanda Gizzi, Jewelers of America Director of Communications. The event was held in conjunction with partners American Gem Trade Association, Cultured Pearl Association of America, Jewelers Mutual Insurance Company, Platinum Guild International and the Silver Promotion Service. The Jewelers of America Supplier Members featured at the Fine Jewelry Preview included: Alex Woo, Alexandra Mor, Art Jeweller, Bree Richey Designs, C.J. Recht, Claudia Endler, Gumuchian, Ivanka Trump Fine Jewelry, Jemily, Jewels of Ocean, Just Jules, K. Brunini, Kamari Silver, Mark Patterson, Mattioli, Mijou Jewelry, Orlanda Olsen, Pamela Huizenga, Pancis Gems, Stuller, Suzy Landa, Syna Jewels and ZAIKEN Jewelry.   Jewelers of America (JA) is the national trade association for businesses serving the fine jewelry retail marketplace, with the primary purpose of improving consumer confidence in the jewelry industry. JA's consumer education arm, Jewelry Information Center (JIC), provides public relations and marketing services on behalf of the fine jewelry and watch industry. JIC's website, www.JIC.org, is the online source for fine jewelry and watch information, trends and shopping tips. Visitwww.jewelers.org and www.JIC.org for more information.

Source:   GLOBE NEWSWIRE  Aug. 10, 2012 

JCK Industry Fund Awards Diamond Development Initiative

Diamond Development Initiative, Jewelers of America, Womens Jewelry Association, American Gem Society, Jewelers Vigilance Committee and the Jewelers Security Alliance received part of the $400,000 that is granted every year to individuals, groups, or associations who work towards the betterment of the overall industry.

The JCK Industry Fund aims to address problems and challenges facing the jewelry industry, and to assist organizations and associations in developing training materials for its membership and the industry at large.

"We are thrilled that the JCK Fund has supported the initiative. The positive impact at the source of the diamond pipeline will, in time, be enormous." said DDII Board Chair Ian Smillie following the announcement that they have been awarded a grant from the JCK Industry Fund.

The JCK award will assist DDII in its effort to develop and create ‘Development Diamond Standards’, a verifiable certification system for artisanally mined diamonds. DDS will be a tool for addressing development issues and formalizing the artisanal diamond mining sector, and will be a foundation for enhancing the effectiveness of the Kimberley Process regulatory mechanism.

The standards will enable artisanal diamond miners to play an active role as change agents in their own communities, changing a legacy of chaos and victimization with a proactive tool for positive development. The grant will also help DDII tell the development diamond story to the wider jewelry industry.

Dorothee Gizenga, DDII’s Executive Director, said, "The confidence that the JCK Fund is showing in DDII is an important signal to the people we work with at the grass roots, that the industry is concerned about them. It is also an important signal to the governments and civil society organizations that we work with – and the others we hope to attract to our aims and objectives – that the industry is a valued and necessary player in this joint approach to some of the most basic problems in the alluvial diamond fields of Africa and South America."

There are an estimated 1.3 million artisanal diamond diggers across Africa, serving as the primary breadwinner for families that total as many as 10 million people. These diggers earn, on average, about a dollar a day, and there are tens of thousands like them in South America. Historically, governments have treated them as criminals and have attempted to drive them away. After 75 years, this is clearly not the solution.

Regulation and the rule of law are important, but DDII believes that economic problems and the poverty that lures people to the diamond fields also require economic and development solutions. The creation of verifiable standards for ‘development diamonds’ is one step in this direction.

Diamond Development Initiative International

Mission Statement

To gather all interested parties into a process that will address, in a comprehensive way, the political, social and economic challenges facing the artisanal diamond mining sector in order to optimize the beneficial development impact of artisanal diamond mining to miners and their communities within the countries in which the diamonds are mined.