It is located in Marin County, California.
3 Consumers Share their Jewelry Shopping Habits
A trio of consumers took center stage Thursday afternoon at the WJA In the Know conference, answering questions about lab-grown diamonds and where, when, why and how they shop for jewelry.
New York--A trio of consumers took center stage Thursday afternoon in New York, answering questions about lab-grown diamonds as well as where, when, why and how they shop for jewelry.
The panel discussion, “What Do Consumers Want?”, took place at the Women Jewelry Association’s In the Know conference. Ben Smithee, of the Smithee Group, was the moderator and the panelists, Elizabeth, Kia and Holly, were all New York City residents.
Clad in a sharp cobalt blue suit, Smithee guided the discussion with wit and warmth, taking the three women through a variety of topics, including where they shop for jewelry, what their favorite brands are and how brands and retailers can reach them.
The discussion also veered into the territory of lab-grown diamonds, which none of the three panelists seemed completely sold on despite two of them, Holly and Kia, reiterating numerous times how much they “loved” diamonds.
Kia, a Los Angeles native who is 30, single and works on Wall Street, said while she definitely doesn’t want to buy “blood” diamonds, she doesn’t feel that lab-grown diamonds have the same value as mined diamonds.
Holly, who also works on Wall Street and lives in Manhattan’s Tribeca neighborhood with her husband and child, concurred, noting that “When I hear the word lab-created, it sounds (like) less quality.”
The third panelist, Elizabeth, who is married with no children and lives in Brooklyn, brought up the emotion factor. “Scientifically it’s the same but I don’t know if it has that same sentimental feeling,” she said.
During the Q&A portion of the discussion, one audience member asked the panelists if calling the stones something else--cultured--would change their opinion of man-made diamonds.
They did not seem swayed by a simple change in nomenclature.
The trade has argued against the use of the word “cultured” in connection with lab-grown diamonds, contending that that word should be used in connection with organic processes only, such as the one for pearls.
In its proposed revisions to its jewelry guides, however, the Federal Trade Commission has proposed incorporating the word cultured into the guides for lab-grown diamonds, but only if it is immediately accompanied by the terms lab-grown or lab-created. Those revisions remain a work in progress and are open for comment until June 3.
Kia said she would still have to “do her homework” on a lab-grown diamond’s value, even if it was called cultured. When it comes
Holly also mentioned Mimi So, Temple St. Clair and Ivanka Trump.
Holly and Kia seemed to stick to department stores such as Saks Fifth Avenue and Bloomingdale’s when it came to shopping for fine jewelry. Elizabeth mentioned she would frequent smaller neighborhood shops where she lives in Brooklyn, though she noted, “I really don’t have one specific place I go to.”
In a bright spot for brick-and-mortar retailers, the panelists did express a bit of reservation about buying fine jewelry online. Elizabeth said she would not buy fine jewelry if she could not see it first, and Kia said she would only purchase from the websites of brick-and-mortar retailers because she likes to have a place to visit in person if there’s a problem.
Also not surprisingly, the two younger panelists, Kia and Holly, said social media was the best way to reach them, Pinterest in particular.
In an interview following the panel, the two also shared some of the hashtags they used to find jewelry on social media, and they were pretty simple: #diamonds, #jewelry, #gemstones and, from Kia, #bling.
“Every company and brand needs to leverage that (social media) because that’s the best way to communicate with a lot of people,” Kia said on stage.
The Latest
Concerns about rising prices, politics, and global conflicts continue to dampen consumer outlook.
May’s birthstone is beloved for its rich green hue and its versatility.
Meet Ben Claus—grand prize winner of For the Love of Jewelers 2023 Fall Design Challenge.
Jacqui Larsson joins Opsydia with nearly two decades of experience in the industry.
Last month in Dallas, David Walton pushed another jeweler, David Ettinger, who later died.
The “Tiffany Céleste” collection reimagines designer Jean Schlumberger’s interpretations of the universe.
With Ho Brothers, you can unlock your brand's true potential and offer customers the personalized jewelry experiences they desire.
The brand also created a 100-carat lab-grown diamond necklace in honor of its centennial.
Tim Schlick has been promoted from his previous position as COO.
Supplier Spotlight Sponsored by GIA
Sales will be paused while the relocation takes place over the next few months.
“SIS x MISA Denim and Diamonds” is a collaboration between the designer and celebrity stylist Misa Hylton.
The retailer is moving to a newly designed space in the same shopping center.
Gifts that are unique and thoughtful are top of mind this year, according to the annual survey.
The necklace is featured in the brand’s “Rebel Heart” campaign starring Adam Levine and Behati Prinsloo.
Big changes appear to be on the horizon for the diamond miner and its parent company, Anglo American.
Padis succeeds Lisa Bridge, marking the first time the organization has had two women board presidents in a row.
Jesse Cole, founder of Fans First Entertainment, shared the “five Es” of building a fan base during his AGS Conclave keynote.
The Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar "John Mayer" was celebrated at a star-studded party in LA last week.
The announcement came as the company reported a 23 percent drop in production in Q1.
The three-time Pro Bowler continues to partner with the retailer, donating to a Detroit nonprofit and giving watches to fans.
A double-digit drop in the number of in-store crimes was offset by a jump in off-premises attacks, JSA’s 2023 crime report shows.
Inspired by the Roman goddess of love, the designer looked to the sea for her new collection.
The luxury titan posted declining sales, weighed down by Gucci’s poor performance.
The selected nine organizations have outlined their plans for the funds.
The mining company’s Diavik Diamond Mine lost four employees in a plane crash in January.