Episodes

JCK editor-in-chief Victoria Gomelsky and news director Rob Bates speak with Jean-Claude Biver, president of JC Biver and a living legend of the watch world. He regales the hosts on his introduction to the industry 50 years ago; his time at Audemars Piguet; how he revived the historic brand Blancpain; his time running Hublot; and how he brought pizazz to Omega with help from Cindy Crawford and James Bond. He also reflects on how all those experiences are shaping what he and his son are doing at ...

Rob Bates and Victoria Gomelsky talk about Russian diamond sanctions, news from Tucson, and a blogger’s mysterious Instagram suspension. Sponsored by De Beers: institute.debeers.com

JCK editor-in-chief Victoria Gomelsky and news director Rob Bates talk with Vanessa Fernández, designer, bench jeweler, and owner of Vanessa Fernández Studio. Sponsored by De Beers: institute.debeers.com

Rob Bates and Victoria Gomelsky talk about a Platinum Guild press trip to Miami, the increasing need for lab-grown diamond detection tools and protocol, and what’s in store at the Tucson gem shows. Sponsored by De Beers: institute.debeers.com

JCK editor-in-chief Victoria Gomelsky and news director Rob Bates talk with Stanley Zale, Principal Consultant at Hill & Company and grandson of Zale Corporation founder M.B. Zale. Sponsored by De Beers: institute.debeers.com

Today, Rob Bates and Victoria Gomelsky talk about 2024 predictions, Russian diamond sanctions, and the year in the watch world. Sponsored by De Beers: institute.debeers.com

JCK editor-in-chief Victoria Gomelsky and news director Rob Bates talk with Tom Chatham, chairman of the board of Chatham Created Gems. Sponsored by De Beers: institute.debeers.com

Victoria Gomelsky and Rob Bates discuss highlights from an event-packed NYC Jewelry Week. These include a jewelry collective working with artisanal gold miners in Peru, a panel of Indigenous designers channeling cultural traditions into their work, and a Stephanie Gottlieb partnership with De Beers spotlighting diamond provenance. Rob weighs in on whether the Black Friday boom will prove a bellwether for holiday sales then turns the conversation to WWF Switzerland’s annual report on sustainabili...

JCK editor-in-chief Victoria Gomelsky and news director Rob Bates speak with Olga Oleksenko, founder of the Strong&Precious Art Foundation, which showcases Ukrainian jewelry art and design. Sponsored by De Beers: institute.debeers.com

Today, Rob Bates and Victoria Gomelsky talk about Victoria’s trip to Istanbul, WD Diamonds, and the history of sustainability in the watch industry. Sponsored by De Beers: institute.debeers.com

JCK editor-in-chief Victoria Gomelsky and news director Rob Bates welcome Edahn Golan, diamond industry analyst as well as owner and manager of Edahn Golan Diamond Research and Data and managing partner of Tenoris. Sponsored by De Beers: institute.debeers.com

JCK editor-in-chief Victoria Gomelsky and news director Rob Bates pay tribute to former JCK editor Hedda Schupak, who passed away this month. An industry icon as well as a mentor to Victoria and Rob, Hedda steered the magazine successfully through major changes in the early 2000s and played a key role in the early days of its annual Las Vegas trade show. Rob updates listeners on the latest news in Russian diamond sanctions, and Victoria shares highlights from her recent trip to Japan to visit Gr...

Victoria Gomelsky and Rob Bates interview Monica Stephenson, founder and president of ANZA Gems. Sponsored by De Beers: institute.debeers.com

JCK editor-in-chief Victoria Gomelsky and news director Rob Bates delve into hot topics from the world of luxury watches, starting with Rolex’s recent acquisition of Bucherer and its potential implications for retailers. Next the conversation turns to Audemars Piguet’s latest AP House. Finally, Rob shares some encouraging news about a flurry of brick-and-mortar retail openings this year and dishes on the newest installment in his Diamond District mystery book series. Sponsored by De Beers: insti...

JCK editor-in-chief Victoria Gomelsky and news director Rob Bates interview acclaimed designer New York designer Lorraine West, whose handcrafted contemporary fine jewelry has earned the admiration of Grammy winners and Hollywood A listers—not to mention Sotheby’s and De Beers. Lorraine recounts the early days of selling her designs on the street in Soho, the bold moves that helped launch her successful career and convinced a music icon to become an early supporter, the unexpected gift she still...

JCK editor-in-chief Victoria Gomelsky and news director Rob Bates dive into the hottest trends ahead, from more Barbie-fueled obsession with pink to nostalgic necklaces. (Think Rubik’s Cubes, robots, and all things ’80s.) Equally newsworthy is the luxury world’s laser focus on bigger, better brick and mortar—a high-end land grab that belies the digital-first future predicted during the pandemic. Finally, some of the world’s most elite watch brands are tuning in to hip-hop, EDM, and both genres’ ...

JCK editor-in-chief Victoria Gomelsky and news director Rob Bates sit down with Jeffrey Post, research associate and curator emeritus, to hear where his love for minerology began. Jeffrey describes a visitor’s experience to the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History as well as some of the stories attached to the gems he has encountered over the course of his 32 years as its curator of gems and minerals (including a once-in-a-lifetime chance to study the famous Hope and Wittelsbach Graf...

JCK editor-in-chief Victoria Gomelsky and news director Rob Bates discuss Victoria’s recent custom ring experience, the State of the Art Jewelry Summit, and commemorate the 100th episode of The Jewelry District.

JCK editor-in-chief Victoria Gomelsky and news director Rob Bates sit down with Jeffery Bolling of Colorado-based Jeffery B. Jewelers about his journey from serving in the U.S. Army to selling diamonds to becoming Colorado’s only African American–owned fine diamond, full-service jeweler.

Just back from JCK Las Vegas, JCK editor-in-chief Victoria Gomelsky and news director Rob Bates recap highlights from the big event, where they were delighted to see a return to the liveliness of pre-COVID shows. Diamond trends were a hot topic among attendees and exhibitors, so Victoria and Rob delve into a range of buzzworthy diamond-related observations from Vegas. Among them: Lightbox’s foray into lab-grown engagement rings and how intensifying focus on the three P’s (provenance, people, and...

JCK editor-in-chief Victoria Gomelsky and news director Rob Bates sit down with Jeffery Fowler, CEO of the influential watch website Hodinkee to learn how the company got its unusual name and to hear about the path that led him to it. Jeff also speculates on the reason mechanical watches inspire such lasting passion (they’re science projects wrapped in history projects wrapped in art projects), offers predictions for the booming pre-owned watch market, and explains why good retailers are the bes...

JCK editor-in-chief Victoria Gomelsky and news director Rob Bates recap highlights from Tiffany & Co.’s star-studded party to mark the reopening of the Fifth Avenue flagship store, where a once homey vibe has been replaced by a sleek temple to luxury. Rob shares an update from AGS Conclave along with insights about the trending topic of ChatGPT and its potential for the industry. Finally, the two compare notes on which events they’re most excited to check out at JCK Las Vegas.

Victoria Gomelsky and Rob Bates catch up with Lawrence Hess, executive director of The Plumb Club, as the organization finalizes plans for JCK Las Vegas.

JCK editor-in-chief Victoria Gomelsky and news director Rob Bates discuss the much-anticipated reopening of Tiffany & Co.’s iconic Fifth Avenue store, now called The Landmark. Victoria also reports on her recent trip to Geneva for Watches and Wonders, where traffic was brisk, the mood was upbeat, and Rolex wowed the crowds with unexpected splashes of color and whimsy. Rob updates listeners on what’s new at Signet Jewelers after attending a recent Investors’ Day at the New York Stock Exchange. S...