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Industry News: UK Goldsmiths’ Fair Gears Up, GIA Career Fair Set in CA, WJA Night Out, More August 21, 2013 (0 comments)
Diamond Week Opens Monday in Israel
Ramat Gan, Israel—Israel’s US & International Diamond Week opens Monday, August 26 and runs through Thursday, August 29. More than 450 registered buyers are confirmed, and the event is expected to be the largest ever diamond sales festival in Israel. Elliot Tannenbaum, a partner in Leo Schachter Diamonds, said the Diamond Week project is a grand networking opportunity for developing new business and strengthening the local network between the 3,500 members of the exchange. Free accommodation is provided; click here to register online.
Goldsmiths’ Fair Opens September 23 in London
London, United Kingdom—The 31st annual Goldsmiths’ Company Fair will run for two weeks, beginning September 23 through October 6, at Goldsmith’s Hall near London’s famed Hatton Garden jewelry district. The fair is the Goldsmiths’ Company’s annual selling exhibition of contemporary jewelry, silver, and precious objects by designer-makers.
The exhibition—open to both trade and public—will feature a separate exhibitor roster for each week. The first group will show from September 23-29; the fair will be closed Monday, September 30, to change over to the second group of exhibitors, who will show from October 1 through 6. A total of 115 jewelers and 63 silversmiths will participate; approximately 90 exhibitors—all vetted by the Goldsmiths’ Company—will show in each of the two weeks of the fair, presenting a range of jewelry, silverware and watches.
The exhibition is presented by the Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths, which received its first royal charter in 1327 as one of the 12 Great Livery Companies of the City of London. (Its coat of arms is shown at the top of the page). Founded to regulate the craft or trade of goldsmiths, the Company has been responsible for assaying (testing) the quality of gold and silver since 1300 and, since 1975, of platinum articles as well. As of 2010, it also has responsibility for testing palladium. Indeed, the word “hallmark” comes from the 15th century, when London jewelers and craftsmen were first required to bring their articles to Goldsmiths’ Hall for assaying and marking.
As part of the fair, 10 recent jewelry graduates have been granted a stand, a bullion loan and £1,500 ($2,350) cash by the Goldsmiths’ Company and will be exhibiting there.
Prices for goods sold at the fair range from approximately £60 ($94) to £16,000 ($25,000). For information, please contact Amanda Stucklin at the Goldsmiths’ Company. Email: Amanda.stucklin@thegoldsmiths.co.uk
Round tribal neck sculpture and ear sculpture in 18k Fairtrade gold by Ute Decker, left. Necklace: £10,500 ($16,466); earring: £1,800 ($2,822). Right: Elystan California Sunset ring in 18k yellow gold with a central yellow sapphire and grain-set pink, orange, and yellow sapphires and diamonds, by Robinson Pelham. Retail: £8,440 ($13,265).
Women’s Jewelry Association (WJA) Announces First Annual National “Jewelry Night Out”
New York, NY—On September 12, the 13 Women’s Jewelry Association chapters across the country will each host a celebratory event under the flag of “WJA’s Jewelry Night Out.”
The simultaneously held Jewelry Night Out special events will be an opportunity for members and prospective members of WJA chapters to connect and network, to inspire both new and continuing membership to the organization. Through social media and the use of a pre-established hash tag (#WJANightOut), each of the WJA chapters, as well as individual members of the organization, will be virtually connected throughout the evening. This year’s “Jewelry Night Out” will also act as the continuation of the celebration of the organization’s 30th anniversary.
“While WJA offers a myriad of benefits and dynamic services to its members, our rich and incredibly unique networking platform is at the core of what makes WJA so valuable. It is vital for our almost 1,000 members across the country to connect with one another and develop personal and business relationships,” says Fran Pennella, the organization’s vice president of membership. “Jewelry Night Out serves to unite the entire membership as well as prospective new members all on one celebratory evening.”
WJA has established a special incentive for the evening by offering a one-time discounted membership opportunity for new and renewing members of $99, valid only on the night of the event. In addition, special gift bags will be given to all event attendees. For more information about individual events click here or call (212) 268-2722.
GIA’s West Coast Jewelry Career Fair Set For October 11; Study Scholarships Announced
Carlsbad, CA—GIA’s (Gemological Institute of America) Jewelry Career Fair & Open House will return to the Institute’s world headquarters on Oct. 11 from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.. The event will feature hundreds of hiring opportunities in the gem and jewelry industry; panels featuring industry leaders discussing design, creative careers, and job success in today’s market; one-on-one career coaching; and classroom demonstrations.
Representatives from gem and jewelry companies, including marketing, sales, and design and manufacturing, will be looking to hire skilled and motivated professionals at every career stage.
GIA’s Jewelry Career Fair is free and open to the public; the event is the one time each year when GIA’s Carlsbad campus is entirely open to the public.
Attendees will be among the first to see Hollywood design legends Tony Duquette and Hutton Wilkinson’s first-ever all-jewelry exhibit, “More is More: Tony Duquette - Hutton Wilkinson Jewelry,” which debuts the night prior at the GIA museum. Call (800) 421-7250 ext 4100, email careerfair@gia.edu or visit www.gia.edu for information.
GIA’s head of marketing Kathryn Kimmel addresses an audience at last year’s Career Fair.
Separately, GIA announced that 54 students have been awarded scholarships for study beginning this fall. Scholarships are applicable toward the Institute's gemology and jewelry manufacturing arts programs. Scholarships are supported by both private individuals and GIA's endowment fund.
GIA is now accepting scholarship applications for its 2014 Gemology and Jewelry Manufacturing Arts programs, courses and lab classes. U.S. scholarship highlights include:
- The GIA Scholarship for U.S. Veterans will award three scholarships of up to $1,500 each
- GIA will award two full scholarships of up to $17,850 each for the new on-campus Jewelry Design & Technology program
- GIA will award two full scholarships of up to $21,089 each for the on-campus Graduate Gemologist program
- GIA will award one full scholarship of up to $19,260 for the new on-campus Graduate Jeweler program
- Two scholarships will be offered in honor of Richard T. Liddicoat, former GIA president considered the “Father of Modern Gemology.” One full scholarship for the on-campus Graduate Gemologist program (up to $21,089), and another toward the eLearning Graduate Gemologist program (up to $9,000)
Applications will be available through Oct. 31 on the Institute’s website. Additional scholarship details are available here. For more information, call (760) 603-4131 or email scholarship@gia.edu.