In This Episode

You’ll hear JCK editor-in-chief Victoria Gomelsky and news director Rob Bates discuss Steven Kaiser’s passing, the Oak collection watch event at London’s Design Museum, De Beers' blockchain platform, recycled gold, and the JCK Las Vegas show.

Show Notes

00:30 Victoria and Rob give their condolences to the family of Steven Kaiser.

05:25 Victoria recounts her visit to London’s Design Museum to see the Oak collection.

13:40 Rob explains De Beers' blockchain technology.

16:22 Rob is concerned with recycled gold and what the term actually means.

21:09 Victoria and Rob are excited for JCK Las Vegas!

Episode Credits

Hosts: Rob Bates and Victoria Gomelsky

Producer and engineer: Natalie Chomet

Plugs: jckonline.com, @jckmagazine

Show Recap

Steven Kaiser

Victoria and Rob give their condolences to the family of Steven Kaiser. The industry titan passed away a week before recording this podcast. He was feted at 24 Karat Weekend in March. He was a "connecter" and, as Rob reports, very good at smoothing things over. The jewelry industry mourns his passing, and he will be deeply missed at JCK Las Vegas this week.

The Oak Collection

Victoria was one of 65 journalists invited to London in late May to attend an event at the Design Museum. There, she saw the Oak (one-of-a-kind) collection. The Oak's owner, Patrick Getreide, has been collecting watches for 40 years. He has more than 600 of them (heavy on Patek Phillipe and Rolex), and 130 of them were on display for just one week. Victoria said the event felt like the gilded age of watches. Rob briefly mentions the Apple Watch and its effect on the watch industry.

De Beers' Blockchain

Rob talks about De Beers and its blockchain technology. Basically, Rob says, it’s a way to track diamonds through the chain in a trade-facing, rather than consumer-facing, manner. De Beers says it can trace all of its diamonds of 1 carat and above and believes it can scale this technology. Rob says this technology has been a long time coming, and De Beers has the most ambitious technology out of everyone trying their hand at it.

What Is Recycled Gold?

Rob recently wrote a story on recycled gold, and Victoria asks what prompted him to write it. Rob says he was recently part of a webinar about recycled gold, and it made him consider what recycled gold really is. As it turns out, there are many definitions if recycled gold—including the one the Federal Trade Commission uses: something that would otherwise go in the trash. The problem is, gold isn’t thrown out. Rob talks about why labeling anything as recycled gold is a problem and why the industry should start being clearer on what recycled gold really is.

JCK Las Vegas

Victoria and Rob’s schedules are packed for JCK Las Vegas. All of the events are back on, there’s tons of excitement, and Victoria is hoping for some good weather (not too hot!). From what Victoria understands, there is a great need to restock, which will make for a great show. JCK will be giving talks from the JCK stage and various educational classrooms. Victoria and Rob both look forward to meeting everyone there and give a little review of what to expect. Rob will also be signing copies of his novels!