Articles and News

Las Vegas, NV—Two online social groups have planned get-togethers for Monday evening, June 6, following the close of the JCK Show. Gen-Next Jewelers will be gathering from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at Dos Caminos at the Palazzo for drinks and conversation. The bar will be offering a $30 deal for all-you-can-drink beer, wine and margaritas for the two-hour period. The event is open to all. Also be sure to visit the Gen-Next Jewelers bungalow at JCK's Rock The Beach party at Mandalay Bay on Sunday, June 5, from 9-11 p.m., immediately following the Jewelers For Children dinner. Bruno Mars will be headlining and GNJ will have plenty of drink tickets for all! JCK Las Vegas badge is required for admittance. Separately, the Facebook Jewelers Network will have its face-to-face meetup Monday, June 6, from 7:00 to 10:00 at Chandelier Bar at Cosmopolitan Las Vegas, 3708 Las Vegas Boulevard South.

Las Vegas, NV—Jewelers For Children will hold its annual Facets of Hope dinner on Sunday, June 5, in the South Seas Ballroom on the third level of the Mandalay Bay Hotel and Casino. Cocktails begin at 6 p.m., dinner and program at 7:30, and the evening will continue with the JCK Rocks the Beach party at Mandalay Bay. Dinner attendees are reminded to dress casually to segue to the beach party and to bring their JCK Show badge for admittance to the Beach Party.

NEW YORK, NY—Platinum Guild International (PGI-USA) will be announcing a multi-faceted industry program at JCK Las Vegas. The program includes the much-anticipated JCK 2011 Platinum Innovation Awards, for which an impressive 180 entries have been submitted, a new "Entry Platinum Product Showcase," as well as the launch of a new show floor initiative, called the "Platinum Destination Program."

Following the success of last year's competition, the JCK 2011 Platinum Innovation Awards will feature innovative platinum designs in six categories of bridal and fashion jewelry. Contest categories were determined by top US retailers based on what platinum product they would like to see more of in their stores:

• Entry Platinum Engagement Rings (semi-mounts under $2,500 retail)
• Modern Platinum Engagement Rings
• Vintage-Inspired Platinum Engagement Rings
• Platinum Wedding Bands
• Platinum Earrings
• Platinum Fashion Rings

All 180 nominated entries will be on display at exhibitors' booths for voting throughout the show. Retailers and show visitors may cast their vote via text message. Winners will be announced in each of the six categories, as well as two 'Best' categories, including "Best in Show" and "Editors' Choice." Winners will be awarded on the show floor by PGI-USA's official "Prize Patrol" on Sunday, June 5, 2011, followed by a winner's celebration and press conference at 5:30pm in the JCK Press Office, Lagoon H, Shoreline Level, for all competition entrants.

New York, NY—The Women’s Jewelry Association will announce the winners of the Diva Award, its annual design competition, on Saturday, June 4, at the WJA booth, L115, at the JCK Show in Las Vegas. This year’s competition theme was “Green Diva,” focusing on sustainably produced designs using renewable or repurposed materials, as well as design inspiration based on the concept of sustainability and responsible production.

Dallas, TX-- The American Gem Trade Association (AGTA) is now offering its popular GemCards and Guide To Colored Gemstones brochure in Spanish. 

“We have had many requests for Spanish materials from retailers, especially stores in the southern states and Mexico,” said Douglas K. Hucker, AGTA CEO.  “We are pleased to finally be able to offer a few of our key promotional materials and are striving to add more in the future.”

There are twelve different varieties of GemCards available: amethyst, aquamarine, garnet, sapphire, emerald, ruby, opal/tourmaline, tanzanite/turquoise/zircon, citrine/topaz, peridot, alexandrite/moonstone/pearl, and diamond. Each GemCard has professional photography of the gemstone on the front with several paragraphs of information on the back. Content is written with the consumer in mind and discusses the key quality factors of each gemstone, along with history, lore, and advice on proper care.

Contact Adam Graham, AGTA marketing manager, adam@agta.org.

Providence, RI--MJSA's new Custom Jeweler membership is available to new MJSA members who run single-site independent retail operations or work out of a private studio. The affordably priced membership ($95 per year) includes a free subscription to MJSA Custom Jeweler, a quarterly publication with case studies of custom projects, sales and marketing techniques, and updates on the latest technologies for design and small-scale manufacturing. It also includes a free subscription to MJSA Journal, the association's award-winning monthly magazine, which features technical and business insights into the design, making, and sale of jewelry. The subscription also includes the yearly MJSA Events Calendar, the annual Technology Sourcebook, and the annual Thinking Ahead issue that recognizes innovation in jewelry making. A Journal subscription costs $47 a year for non-members. Custom Jeweler membership also includes free back articles from both publications, and usage of the MJSA logo on all promotional materials, including websites. Visit MJSA at JCK Las Vegas, Booth #B6148, call (800) 444-MJSA (6572) or email info@mjsa.org.