I will be on panels at two jewelry-related events in the next few weeks. First up is a New York Jewelers Group event on Tuesday, Sept. 26. I’ll be on a panel about how the jewelry industry and jewelry customers are changing.
If you’re on the West Coast, you can catch me at the Portland Jewelry Symposium on Monday, October 2. The Portland panel is about promoting custom design on social networks, something you longtime blog readers know all about! Register right now to get the early-bird rate of $195. The price goes up to $245 starting this Wednesday, Sept. 13.
Click to register.
Thanks to jewelry guru Peggy Jo Donahue for getting me involved in both of these discussions! I’m also excited that other industry friends will be there, including designer Marla Aaron in New York and Monica Stephenson of ANZA Gems in Portland. I’ve written a lot about Monica, and how she is collaborating with miners, gem cutters, and jewelry designers to produce ethical and sustainable jewelry. She’ll be giving a session called “The Future is Responsible: Taking the First Step” in Portland.
It will be fun to see Monica again so soon! She was in New York last week and we had a great time day-drinking and looking at her new gems.
I made off with a beautifully cut ANZA garnet for a special project, as well as some tiny bits of gemstone rough. Look at this neon-pink spinel!
These green garnets are pretty juicy-looking too.
Monica was kind enough to model my two big ANZA Gems rings — this is the first time I’ve seen them together. (I had nothing to do with that eye-popping diamond engagement ring, unfortunately!)
The three-stone ANZA ring on the left is my InDesign Awards prize winner. My new toi et moi ring is the two-stone ring on the right side of the photo; some people call the style a “bypass” ring. Both of these are one-of-a-kind designs — trust me, you will feel special wearing either one of them! Plus, 10% of the retail price goes back to schools in East Africa. That’s next-level special. To inquire about these rings, contact ANZA Gems.