From hands-on watchmaking workshops to expert-led panels on diamond sales and Gen Z marketing, Converge 2025 is your gateway to timely, tactical learning. Join us September 7–10 in Carlsbad, CA, to sharpen your team’s skills, get fresh insights, and leave with actionable strategies that drive success.
Visit ConvergeEvent.com to view the full listing of breakout sessions and events.
Essential Watch Industry Insights and Practical Training
The American Watchmakers-Clockmakers Institute (AWCI) is offering three breakout sessions in standard meeting rooms, plus six hands-on sessions in their mobile watchmaking classroom, onsite at the Omni La Costa.
Take a look at AWCI’s three breakout sessions:
How to Train Your Front-of-Store Staff to Take in Watch Repairs
Speakers: Jason Champion and Jason Ziegenbein, American Watchmakers-Clockmakers Institute; Justin Shiver, RJ, Underwood Jewelers
- Monday, September 8, 12:00 p.m.-1:00 p.m. PT
Successful watch repair begins at the front counter. Join AWCI for an in-depth discussion on best practices for watch take-in at the retail counter. Learn how to effectively communicate with customers, gather critical information, and serve as a knowledgeable liaison between the client and the watchmaker. In this workshop, we’ll share the practical strategies we’ve developed for communicating clearly with watch customers, asking the right questions, and translating customer concerns into meaningful details for the watchmaker or technician.
We’ll also talk about how to build rapport with even the most particular clients and how to avoid common misunderstandings that can lead to frustration or delays. This workshop will help set you up for success with even the most selective watch customer.
A Needle in a Haystack: How to Find a Watchmaker
Speakers: Jason Champion and Jason Ziegenbein, American Watchmakers-Clockmakers Institute; Justin Shiver, RJ, Underwood Jewelers
- Wednesday, September 10, 10:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m. PT
Finding a qualified watchmaker in today’s market can feel like searching for a needle in a haystack—but it doesn’t have to be. In this session, we’ll share successful strategies for locating and attracting skilled watchmakers to support your store’s repair department. From recruitment tactics to workplace culture, we’ll talk about what draws talent in—and what drives it away.
Whether you’re running a single location or managing a multi-store operation, we’ll explore how to position your business as a place where top-level watchmakers want to work. If you’re looking to build or grow your watch repair team, this workshop is a must.
The Status of the Global and U.S. Watch Industry: A Discussion
Speakers: Jason Champion and Jason Ziegenbein, American Watchmakers-Clockmakers Institute; Justin Shiver, RJ, Underwood Jewelers
- Wednesday, September 10, 2:30 p.m.-3:30 p.m. PT
The watch industry is always shifting — from changing consumer habits to evolving dynamics in both the new and pre-owned markets. In this panel, we’ll take a step back and look at where the watch industry stands today, both in the U.S. and globally. We’ll talk trends, challenges, and opportunities that are shaping the future of watch retail, service, and collecting.
This conversation will help you better understand the forces at play—and how to navigate them in your own business. Bring your questions—this one’s meant to be interactive.
Equipping Sales Teams for an Evolving Jewelry Market
The sales and marketing tracks at Converge bring together some of the brightest minds in the industry to discuss selling strategies, market trends, and how to connect with today’s increasingly diverse and discerning customers.
Below are four sessions you won’t want to miss:
The Diamond Dilemma: Selling With Confidence in the Natural and Lab-Grown Diamond World
Speaker: Jeffery Bolling, Jeffery B Jewelers
- Monday, September 8, 4:00 p.m.–5:00 p.m. PT
As consumer interest in lab-grown versus natural diamonds grows, jewelry professionals must be equipped to guide clients through this complex and emotional decision. This session provides a combination of dialog and interactive sessions to help sales leaders, trainers, and high-performing associates navigate conversations addressing common myths and objections with credibility and clarity. The concerns covered range from resale value and ethical sourcing to quality and investment concerns.
Selling Bigger Better
Speakers: Adam Graham, CSA, Joshua J Fine Jewelry; Jessica Harmison-Olson, RJ, Maxon Fine Jewelry; Briana Gartin, RJ, Ben Bridge Jeweler; Bradon Heller, Heller Jewelers
- Tuesday, September 9, 12:00 p.m.–1:00 p.m. PT
With the proliferation of lab-grown diamonds affecting the lower price point categories, why not expand your horizons by becoming more proficient in selling higher ticket items? This panel of AGS retailers will share how their focus on bigger, better-quality jewelry has been a key part of their growth and success. This is a great opportunity to learn from the best of the best in how they make it happen, from merchandising to marketing to events to their personal approach to selling.
Our Changing Jewelry Industry
Speaker: Harold Dupuy, Stuller, Inc.
- Tuesday, September 9, 4:00 p.m.–5:00 p.m.
Do you want a comprehensive insight into today’s jewelry industry, which is navigating through challenging economic and geopolitical conditions? This session will provide a macro view of the headwinds and tailwinds influencing our jewelry industry, covering market size and growth, industry health, and competitive influences.
With a focus on the jewelry store market, topics include sales trends, custom jewelry, pricing trends, natural and lab-grown diamond markets, diamond screening technology, bridal market changes, color gemstone market, and an overview of the U.S. manufacturing market. Benchmark your own company relative to the current market changes.
Capturing Gen Z: The Engagement Ring Trends & Marketing Strategies Jewelers Need to Know
Speakers: Jen Cullen Williams, Jen Cullen Williams Communications; Olivia Gonzalez, CSA, Blue Marlin Jewelry; Tyler Hyde Underwood, Underwoods Fine Jewelers
- Wednesday, September 10, 12:00 p.m.–1:00 p.m. PT
Join millennial communications consultant Jen Cullen Williams as she guides a lively conversation with Gen Z jewelry professionals about the rapidly changing engagement ring market. This panel will explore Gen Z’s distinctive purchasing and design preferences and communication expectations when shopping for engagement rings. Discover actionable insights on digital marketing strategies, shopping priorities, customization trends, and authentic storytelling that resonate with this influential next generation of jewelry consumers.