Member News

The following individual has recently earned the prestigious title of Registered Jeweler (RJ) by the American Gem Society: Matthew E. Schulz, RJ Schulz & Son Jewelers Fort Mitchell, KY

The following individuals have recently earned the prestigious designation of Certified Sales Associate® (CSA) by the American Gem Society: Carolyn Y. Burrell, CSA Jackson Diamond Jewelers Enid, OK Brandon Clarke, CSA Jeweler’s Touch Brea, CA Gabrielle Coda, CSA Dream Jewelers Oshkosh, WI Bradley Fitzsimmons, CSA Gordons Gold Jewellers London, ON Canada Traci Hauser, CSA Jewelers Mutual Group Neenah, WI Molly Lacey, CSA Schulz & Son Jewelers Fort Mitchell, KY Nicholas G. Lamers, CSA Jewelers Mutual Group Neenah, WI Andrew Lee, CSA Bromberg & Company, Inc. Birmingham, AL Isabella S. Lee, CSA Huntington Fine Jewelers, Inc. Oklahoma City, OK Jim Leeds, CSA

Spotlight On Roland Krainz We’re kicking off a new series in Spectra Update, where we explore the exceptional talents of the AGS community beyond jewelry and gems. Roland Krainz, president and CEO of Krainz Creations, races Porsches when he’s not designing jaw-dropping jewelry. We asked Roland a few questions about his adrenaline-pumping hobby. What inspired you to pursue race car driving alongside your professional career? As a teenager, I loved fast cars but could not afford them. A few years into the business, I started with some track days, then joined a race club in New York, where I got

Discover the world of Julie Romanenko, owner and designer of Just Jules LLC, whose passion for art and fine jewelry has shaped her stunning creations. From playing dress-up with her grandmother’s pearls to her journey as a jewelry designer, Julie’s deep connection to jewelry as a symbol of family, celebration, and history shines through in her sophisticated and whimsical designs. With pieces ranging from everyday casual to extraordinary and lavish, Julie’s designs have captured the attention of peers, editors, and collectors alike. Just Jules has famous fans like Geena Davis, Ashley Judd, and Steven Tyler. She’s been featured in InStyle

By Jewelers Mutual® Group As jewelry professionals, we know practicing safety is a large part of your day-to-day work. For example, you probably have procedures set in place to help eliminate vulnerabilities that come with opening and closing shop. But what about when criminals are hiding as customers in plain sight, lurking around your business for any sign of weakness in your security measures? This kind of activity is called casing and is usually the first indicator that your jewelry store is at risk of being burglarized. Luckily, we’ve got five signs for you and your employees to look for if

The following individuals have recently earned the prestigious designation of Certified Sales Associate® (CSA) by the American Gem Society: Seth Bolinger, CSA Morrison Smith Jewelers Charlotte, NC Kelvin J. Lindh, CSA Chalmers Jewelers LTD Middleton, WI Andrea Lopez-Irlanda, CSA Jae’s Jewelers Coral Gables, FL Susan O’Donnell-Feige, CSA MJ Harrington & Co. Newport, NH May Wahdan-Lloyd, CSA Jewelsmith, Inc. Durham, NC Amy H. Wood, CSA Bromberg & Company, Inc. Mountain Brook, AL

The following individuals have recently earned the prestigious title of Registered Jeweler (RJ) by the American Gem Society: Taylor R. Cook, RJ B.C. Clark, Inc. Oklahoma City, OK Darcy Good, RJ Day’s Jewelers Waterville, ME Carissa Jackson, RJ Josephs Jewelers West Des Moines, IA

Wells Fargo and American Gem Society (AGS) offer a value-added service that will be available to AGS credit card program members through Intellicheck. This program enhancement provides a fast and easy-to-use mobile app for in-store transactions that supports the prevention of fraudulent credit account openings. Intellicheck’s proven, state-of-the-art identity validation app gives participating jewelers a clear competitive advantage. It makes it easy to confidently extend credit to customers with a frictionless experience that validates identity documents like drivers’ licenses and state-issued IDs from every state in under a second. The importance of this new program benefit is already being realized

Wilson Barros, founder of Tabatha Nicolle & Gabriella INC (TNG), is a skilled artisan and entrepreneur who began his journey learning the bench from his grandfather in their native Ecuador. “My grandfather was the number one jeweler in Ecuador, so I had the opportunity to learn the art of jewelry manufacturing from the best.” Barros recalls, “I remember sitting beside him and watching him power the bench using a foot pedal.” Over 30 years ago, Barros came to the U.S. and worked in retail, learning store operations and sales while honing his craftsmanship. He was fortunate to become an apprentice