The Jewelry District
A podcast by JCK magazine and JCKonline about industry news, trends, interviews, and more. Hosted by JCK editor-in-chief Victoria Gomelsky and news director Rob Bates.
Recent Episodes
183
Nov. 4, 2026
Episode 183: Guest Nicole Wegman
Victoria Gomelsky and Rob Bates talk to Nicole Wegman, founder and CEO of Ring Concierge. She shares how she began her career in the world of retail apparel and ended up starting her own jewelry business. Nicole’s foray into the industry began with her own search for an engagement ring. Hear how she grew from taking custom appointments from the offices of her jewelry industry mentors into a retailer with a robust e-commerce site and several physical locations that proudly caters to self-purchasi
182
Oct. 21, 2026
Episode 182: Playful Luxury, De Beers, Diamond Supply
Victoria Gomelsky and Rob Bates talk about what Victoria has been up to in her travels, from an artful Hermès event and JIS Fall in Miami Beach to the NouvelleBox showroom opening in Paris and the Patek Phillippe Grand Exhibition in Milan. Meanwhile, Rob has been steeped in the mixed up world of the diamond industry, attending the recent De Beers and Botswana events in New York, tracking the history behind the key players in the pending De Beers sale, and examining the impact of mine closures an
181
Oct. 7, 2026
Episode 181: Guest Jade Trau
Victoria Gomelsky and Rob Bates talk to Jade Trau, founder of her eponymous brand. She shares her experience growing up as a fifth-generation diamantaire who traveled the world sourcing diamonds for her grandfather’s business, and how her perspective shifted after the birth of her twins. She explains how she formed her own point of view in jewelry design and the moment in her career when she actually started to see herself as a designer. Get her reaction to gold prices, lab-grown diamonds, and s
180
Sept. 23, 2026
Episode 180: CIBJO Synthesis, Jewelry in Culture, Luxury Travel
Rob Bates and Victoria Gomelsky talk about the CIBJO centenary conference in Vicenza, Italy and the organization’s decision to adopt the term synthetic when referring to lab-grown diamonds. They also discuss a trend Victoria has been tracking that’s bigger than the latest styles people are wearing: the growing cultural impact jewelry is having. Experts from renowned museums and other major cultural institutions shared their thoughts with her on this phenomenon. The hosts comment on another burge
179
Sept. 9, 2026
Episode 179: Guest Sara Beth Brown Prendeville
Rob Bates and Victoria Gomelsky talk to Sara Beth Brown Prendeville, president of Brown & Co. Jewelers. Sara Beth shares her experience in the jewelry and watch industry—from childhood afternoons spent in her family’s jewelry store in lieu of daycare to bringing her knowledge from Shreve & Co. in San Francisco and Breitling in New York to her family’s store. Learn how she grew into her current role of president, the mix they keep stocked in both store locations, plus, get her hot take on lab-gro