The Plumb Club was thrilled to present ‘Gemstone Security – It’s a Metal Matter’, a comprehensive learning opportunity from Platinum Guild International USA for retail jewelers with a bridal category as part of their merchandising mix. The virtual presentation was held in Jewelers Resource Center Auditorium on Wednesday, May 11 at 1pm (EDT) and was open to the entire jewelry industry.

Watch the Recording of this Webinar Below

Presenters, Kevin Reilly, senior vice president, Platinum Guild International USA and Teresa Frye, president TechForm Advanced Casting Technology, reviewed research findings from a study conducted with FEM, a world-renowned research laboratory in Germany, on the wear resistance, hence the durability and long-term security, of the most common platinum and white gold jewelry alloys.

In addition, the presentation covered:

• Historical beliefs and assumptions about platinum’s wear resistance
• Summary of research results confirming platinum wear resistance
• A discussion about the importance of platinum alloy usage and its impact on gemstone security
• What a retailer can do to ensure they are providing customers with the most secure setting for their diamonds and gemstones

Presenters:

Teresa Frye – TechForm Advanced Casting Technology: Teresa Frye is the President of TechForm Advanced Casting Technology. In the early 90’s her firm introduced high-temperature casting methods from the aerospace industry to platinum manufacturing. A leading expert on shell casting methods and a prolific researcher, she has published technical papers and articles worldwide. Her publications have appeared in the Johnson Matthey Technology Review, The Santa Fe Symposium on Jewelry Manufacturing Technology, The Jewelry Technology Forum, MJSA Journal, and JCK Magazine, among others. She has also presented her research at numerous venues across the globe.

Kevin Reilly – Platinum Guild International: Kevin Reilly is a jewelry industry veteran with over 30 years of experience in brand building, marketing, sales & customer relationship management.  In his role as Senior Vice President of Platinum Guild International USA, he is responsible for developing strategic partnerships with companies at all levels of the supply chain, formulating programs to help them build their platinum jewelry business.  He also leads the organization’s education initiatives, including live, virtual and online sales training for retail sales professionals, technical education for bench jewelers and, more recently – establishing relationships with academic institutions to add platinum education to their jewelry studies curricula.  Programs currently active at Pratt Institute, Miami Jewelry School, 92Y and in development at Rhode Island School of Design (RISD)