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Brand News: Stuller’s 2018 Bench Workshop And Competition; Paul Vopat To Head Marika In USA January 03, 2018 (0 comments)
Stuller Announces 2018 Annual Bench Jeweler Workshop
Lafayette, LA—Bench Jeweler Workshop, Stuller’s premier event for bench jewelers, is slated to be held March 23-25 at Stuller’s global headquarters in Lafayette, LA. The three-day event will feature more than a dozen educational classes, hands-on product demonstrations, and the third annual Battle of the Benches Competition.
“This year we’ve added more hands-on classes like Lab-Grown Diamond Screening and Basic Gemstone Identification,” says Jason LeMaire, Stuller director of tools. “This industry is always changing in one way or another, so we really want the jewelers that come to Workshop to leave with knowledge they can take back home and apply to their business.”
Some of the new classes include:
- Digital Technology & Grown Assets
- Social Media Photography
- Screening: Lab Grown Diamond, Synthetic Gemstones and Moissanite
- Fine Jewelry Industry Consumer and Retail Market Report with Jewelers of America
There will also be several industry experts on Stuller’s demo floor. Workshop attendees will be able to meet and learn from master engraver Sam Alfano, master goldsmiths Kelly Williams and Jason Chandler, and jeweler Dana Fawbush.
The third annual Battle of the Benches competition will also take place on the demo floor. “Four exceptional bench jewelers will compete in what we like to call a real-time design contest,” says Tammy Lail, Stuller vice president of tools and metals. “The contestants will compete in three different challenges: design, parts and pieces, and prep and polish.”
For more information on the Battle of the Benches competition visit www.stuller.com/battleofthebenches. For more information on Bench Jeweler Workshop visit www.stuller.com/workshop. To see interviews with the past contestants and video from the demo floor visit www.benchjeweler.com.
Marika Desert Gold Opens U.S. Office
Broadview Heights, OH—The Marika Desert Gold brand announces the opening of its new U.S. office, headed by Paul Vopat, an industry veteran with 35 years of experience. The U.S. office will handle all inquiries, special orders, and customer service stateside, for the Israeli gold brand.
“We look forward to providing all our clients, a unique branded designer gold product, excellent client service, and attractive factory direct pricing. Visit us at all the upcoming trade shows,” says Volpat. Contact information for the U.S. office is as follows: paul@mijbymarika.com, office@mijbymarika.com, (216) 759-7569.