The Women's Jewelry Association (WJA) will be holding educational events on both coasts this week, including a social networking seminar in Los Angles and the annual Women in the Know Conference in New York City.

The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) recently extended its educational services in the Middle East, with the recent wrap-up a series of gem identification and colored stone grading lab classes for students in the Kingdom of Bahrain.

Jewelry marketing firm Fruchtman Marketing and concept marketing firm United Brands both recently announced a number of key appointments.

Same-store monthly watch sales rose 18 percent in January to $261 million, compared with January 2009, according to the LGI Network January Time Tracker Newsletter, which noted that the increase excludes the thousands of retailers who exited the business over the past year.

Steven Singer, who has made a name for himself with his offbeat "I Hate Steven Singer" advertising campaign, has taken the concept of irreverent marketing to a whole new level.

As a growing chorus of jewelry consumers inquires at the counter about environmental impact and fair trade issues, jewelers are increasingly making marketing claims that address those consumer concerns.