0:35 Melissa Rose Bernardo shares a 140-year-old article from the archives of JCK Magazine on lab-grown gems.4:25 Rob Bates and Emili Vesilind discuss holiday jewelry sales.9:10 Rob and Emili discuss lab-grown diamond sales and the future of lab-grown.22:06 Emili’s Golden Globe jewelry fashion report.25:40 Emili covers the new year fashion trend “maximalism.”34:05 Rob tells the "Weird Jewelry Story of the Week39:37 Rob interviews diamond analyst Paul Zimnisky about lab-grown diamonds and the future of the industry.

Hosted by: Rob BatesJCK Staff: Melissa Rose Bernardo, Emili VesilindGuest: Paul Zimnisky, Diamond AnalystEngineers: Levi Sharpe, Ed PatenaudeEditor: Jamie BergerProducer: Natalie ChometPlugs: jckonline.com, @jckmagazine, paulzimnisky.com

Show Summary

From the Archives

In honor of JCK magazine’s 150th anniversary, Managing Editor Melissa Bernardo dug up an article from the February 1878 issue of The Jewelers Circular and Horological Review, which is what JCK magazine was called at the time. This over 140-year-old news item concerns something we think of as the latest technical innovation: lab-grown gems. This vintage article documents a “highly successful” attempt at producing artificial rubies and sapphires in France that “might perhaps lead to the manufacture of diamonds.” A century ago, JCK covered the prediction that lab-grown diamonds could be on the horizon.

Holiday Sales and Trends

Emili Vesilind reports that jewelry retailers had a solid, strong season, though she reads that traffic was slightly lower in stores, along with a more dramatic rise in online traffic. Rob says that sales went up, but not as much as it did the year before. Hopes were high, and the trends stayed fairly standard rather than having a dramatic rise. Rob and Emili also discuss lab-grown diamonds, and whether their attractive prices or their eco-friendly pitches mark a trend that has staying power.

Golden Globe Trends

Emili observes that the trend that emerged at the Golden Globes was a parade of glamor and maximalism. The Golden Globes marked a break from the past, when simple everyday pieces and “daily gold” had been the most prevalent trends. Now, chunky pieces are entering the scene. Emili also marks a return to ‘70s and ‘80s-style layering, as opposed to the single statement pieces of the more recent past.

Weird Story of the Week

Rob tells the story of a British Reddit user who gets swept up into the trend of New Years’ Eve proposals. The confused fellow who lives with his long-term girlfriend purchases an engagement ring with the intent to propose to a love interest he’s started seeing at work. On New Year’s Eve, he spontaneously proposes to his girlfriend, giving her the ring, and turns to Reddit for legal advice: is it possible to call the whole thing off and return the engagement ring? Tune in for the exciting conclusion!

Interview with Diamond Analyst Paul Zimnisky

Rob interviews Paul Zimnisky about how he got into the business of diamond analysis. They delve into the supply and demand of the diamond business, and their effect on pricing.

Paul has observed demand for diamonds grow for the last four to five years, despite talk of fewer millennials getting married. He sees the incremental increase in supply in 2017 as a contributing factor to the pressure on diamond pricing in the recent past.

Rob gets Paul’s take on how lab-grown diamonds fit into the supply/demand equation for the rest of the diamond market. Paul raises the concern about accurate sourcing of diamonds, and small lab-created diamonds making their way into the natural supply chain. They share their opinions on the future of lab-grown diamonds, and whether the end consumer will differentiate between lab-created and natural. Will they prefer one over the other and why?

Though opinions may differ about the future of the natural and lab-grown diamond industry, Paul reminds listeners that diamonds are luxury items, ones that are often purchased for emotional reasons, and this makes their future harder to predict than items purchased for practical reasons.

March Edition on the Jewelry District, Episode One

In This Episode

In the March installment of JCK‘s new podcast, “The Jewelry District,” you’ll hear JCK senior editor Emili Vesilind talk about major jewelry moments at the Oscars and trends on the Fashion Week runways. News director Rob Bates covers the recent financial and legal troubles of retail-veteran Samuels Jewelers.

You’ll also hear a Weird Story of the Week about a dental assistant-turned-jewel thief! Rob interviews diamond analyst Ben Janowski, who shares an industry insider’s perspective on mined and lab-created diamonds.

Show Notes

1:10 Emili Vesilind discusses big jewelry moments at the Oscars with Rob Bates.

11:05 Emili rounds up the trends she observed during Fashion Week.

17:35 Rob Bates covers the latest news on Samuels Jewelers.

22:55 Rob tells the “Weird Jewelry Story of the Week.”

25:45 Rob interviews Ben Janowski, diamond analyst and president of Janos Consultants, about new trends in diamonds and jewelry

Episode Credits

Host: Rob Bates

JCK Staff: Emili Vesilind

Guest: Ben Janowski, President, Janos Consultants

Engineer and Editor: Levi Sharpe

Producer: Natalie Chomet

Plugs: jckonline.com, @jckmagazine, janosconsultants.com

Show Recap

Oscar-Winning Jewelry Moments

Emili Vesilind reacts to the big jewelry moments at the Oscars––the SuperBowl for fine jewelry brands. This year, she was dazzled by Lady Gaga who wore the historic Tiffany diamond, which has not been worn since Audrey Hepburn sported it at a Breakfast at Tiffany’s publicity event.

Emili rounds up the JCK editorial team’s Oscar jewelry favorites including Julia Roberts in Cindy Chao; Charlize Theron in Bulgari; and Spike Lee sporting the LOVE/HATE knuckle rings from Do the Right Thing.

Trendspotting at Fashion Week

Emili has seen some key trends emerge in 2019 that carried through to Fashion Week. These include big chains from Oscar de la Renta, IDM, and Tom Ford who created dresses that featured curb chain elements. Large hoop earrings were another recurring theme—some traditional, and others more crumpled in shape. Rob asks Emili how Oscar and Fashion Week looks influence each other and inform jewelry retailer trends. Which trends will fizzle and which will soar?

Reports of Samuels Jewelers and Bank Fraud

Listen for Rob’s coverage of the latest report on Samuels Jewelers. Rob recounts the saga of the 112-store retail chain, which filed for bankruptcy last year, and announced the closing of all its stores just six months after its parent company Gitanjali Gems was charged with bank fraud.

Weird Story of the Week

Rob reveals the weird and unsettling story of a dental hygienist who may have relieved several patients of their jewelry while they were under sedation. The local police chief asserts that, “Although she was using laughing gas, this is no laughing matter.”

Interview with Diamond Analyst Ben Janowski

Rob gets Ben’s insights into lab-grown diamonds. Mr. Janowski was an early adopter who told Rob that manmade diamonds would be the next big thing before Rob heard anyone else talking about it. Ben shares his thoughts on the history of lab-grown and where it’s going. He talks about what the marketing gets wrong and what it gets right in both the new lab-created and traditional diamond market.

In This Episode

In the latest installment of “The Jewelry District,” you’ll hear JCK editor-in-chief Victoria Gomelsky and news director Rob Bates discuss the gender discrimination and harassment allegations at Signet Jewelers. Victoria covers how watch retailers are embracing the secondhand market.

You’ll also hear a Weird Story of the Week about a jeweler/fan of Elon Musk who has a surprising issue with his Tesla! Rob and Victoria interview gem dealer Joe Menzie about his history in the industry, and gemstone expeditions around the globe.

Show Notes

01:10 Victoria Gomelsky talks about JCK’s history and what she’s found in the 150 years-worth of archives.

02:40 Victoria and Rob Bates talk about the bombshell report on Signet’s treatment of female employees over the years.

07:40 Rob covers the other struggles Signet is having with their retail stores and new marketing strategy.

09:20 Victoria covers watch retailers and their recent embrace of the secondhand market

12:40 Rob tells the “Weird Story of the Week”.

15:55 Victoria and Rob interview Joe Menzie, gem dealer and former president of ICA, about his career in the jewelry industry and the gemstone expeditions he leads

Episode Credits:

Hosts: Rob Bates and Victoria Gomelsky

Guest: Joe Menzie, gemstone dealer

Engineer and Editor: Levi Sharpe

Producer: Natalie Chomet

Plugs: jckonline.com, @jckmagazine, menzie.com

Show Recap:

Signet’s Alleged History of Gender Discrimination

Victoria and Rob react to the exhaustive New York Times Magazine cover story that details the many alleged incidents of gender discrimination and sexual harassment that took place in Signet Jewelers’ Sterling division over the years. Rob voices his opinion on how the company has responded since the article came out. Victoria underlines the overarching issue of when a company culture breeds this kind of behavior.

Retailers Embrace Secondhand Watch Market

Victoria interviewed Hamilton Powell, founder and CEO of Crown & Caliber about the pre-owned watch market’s increase in popularity. She sees it as a way to hedge against other issues in the marketplace. She also discusses Les Ambassadeurs’ recent partnership with WatchBox – a secondhand watch powerhouse.

Weird Story of the Week

Rob tells the story of Ben Baller who created a $400,000 diamond and ruby ring for Elon Musk. He then gets locked in his own Tesla for 40 minutes. Baller posts a video of the incident to his Instagram feed. Conflict and conspiracy theories ensue.

Interview with Gemstone Dealer Joe Menzie

Victoria and Rob discuss Joe’s storied career and how he ended up in the gemstone industry. Victoria reminisces about the first time she met Joe in Tucson, and his dependable insight into this unique niche of the jewelry world over the years. Joe talks about his trajectory, beginning in social work, to accounting, then finally finding his way to his grandfather’s gemstone dealing trade. He describes how he ended up as the president of the ICA. Joe also details some of his exciting gemstone expeditions, and Victoria recalls her experience at a tanzanite mine.