Women’s Jewelry Association 40th Anniversary Ruby Gala
By Bennet Marcus
The Mission
The Women’s Jewelry Association’s (WJA) mission is to help women in the jewelry and watch industries advance and develop professionally through networking, education, leadership development and mentoring. It has been quietly doing so for many years, having just celebrated its 40th anniversary, marking the milestone by giving its annual Ruby Gala a refresh, with a new venue, The Pool Lounge at the Seagram Building, and captivating entertainment by aerialists, musicians and immersive dance performances.
They also attracted new sponsors. One highlight of the evening’s auction was a ‘priceless’ exclusive VIP invitation for two to Balmain’s Paris Fashion Week show, attendance to the house’s exclusive cocktail reception and private dinner, a tour of the Balmain showroom, and the opportunity to pre-order the new collection.
Monica Elias Chairs Ruby Gala
Longtime board member Monica Elias, CEO and Executive Producer of Elias World Media, was tapped to Chair the 2023 gala. “We were inspired to take a new approach and create one-of-a-kind experiences that would leave a lasting impression and were symbolic of WJA’s momentous milestone achievements over the years,” Elias said. “The evening was meticulously curated to emulate the beauty, creativity, and passion of the jewelry and watch industries. The gala’s new format and venue provided us the opportunity to collaborate with new industries and receive generous support from new partners. The gala garnered media coverage in some of the most prominent outlets, and it was attended by some of the most notable names in jewelry, fashion and philanthropy.
“We are grateful to partner with organizations that help to make our educational moments possible,” said Susan Chandler, WJA President and Chief Merchandising Officer for Citizen Watch America. “I am personally very proud that WJA remains committed to community, inclusion and education at the forefront of all we do,” she added, citing the group’s Diversity Equity and Inclusion programs, Jewelry Loupe Project and Gen-Z research discussion as examples.
Philanthropic Arm of WJA
WJA’s members are comprised of women working in all areas of the jewelry business, from individual designers, manufacturers, business owners to corporate management. It also has a foundation, which issues grants and scholarships for both industry newcomers as well as veterans. “We raise money to be able to send the winning applicants to educational programs, or for an infusion of capital into their business,” said Chandler. WJA programs help young designers gain access to exhibit at the big industry trade shows, which is very expensive, and provide guidance in growing their businesses.
Elias explained that these types of programs are at the heart of the organization. “These programs provide the needed tools and resources to help elevate industry professionals to advance their careers. WJA’s global network includes so many inspiring and influential professionals, too. From a wide range of knowledge to diverse roles, this benefits the organization’s mission to facilitate professional growth through empowerment, education, and leadership development.” The range of skills, she explains, is essential for the organization, so that all can lend their expertise.
Elias’s background is in production and broadcast news, and her company, Elias World Media, is a multi-award-winning video production and broadcast media services company that produces and distributes branded television content for leading brands and Fortune 500 companies spanning luxury, jewelry, beauty, fashion and medical aesthetic markets, to name a few. Elias is the go-to premier partner to the jewelry industry when telling their stories and placing them on television. So, when you see a red-carpet diamond jewelry brand story on national news or the local morning news shows, there’s a good chance that video was produced by her company. Elias has interviewed notable CEOs, celebrities, and dignitaries and has covered international red carpets and UN political and economic affairs.
Breaking Glass Ceilings
The organization’s mission has proven successful; this insular business whose inner workings are often veiled for security reasons, has a healthy percentage of women in positions of power.
Chandler, WJA National Board President, has been in the industry for a long time working for branded national and global companies including Citizen Watch America and David Yurman. “I look around and there are so many women now within our industry leading companies or at C-suite levels, VP levels, director and up,” she said. “I think that we’ve broken the glass ceiling in a lot of ways.”
Today, she notes, the WJA board concentrates on the future, continuing and expanding what they’re already doing. “We don’t talk about what we don’t have because we’ve really broken through a lot of the barriers that, 40 years ago, the women who started this organization were facing.”
Even 15 years ago, she added, it was hard to find women in positions that could really influence and move the market. “Due to my work with WJA, I get to meet and work with many amazing women with vision and drive to build their own businesses. It’s a privilege to learn from them and it makes me very proud of our industry.”
Also notable is that there are many female jewelry designers. “More than ever, women are designing for women,” said Chandler.
Gabrielle Grazi, the president-elect of the WJA Foundation Board of Trustees and Vice President, Head Retail Strategy & Partnerships at Natural Diamond Council, said, “We aim to inspire women who are beginning, advancing or enriching their career in the jewelry industry to join our community. The WJA has strong network of women who are always willing to support the next generation of young designers.”
Most important: relationships
Board member Monica Elias put WJA’s work into concise perspective. “I recently read something that caught my attention, it said ‘The most important currency in business is relationships.’ I thought that was so powerful and thought provoking because it’s true.” Relationships are vital, she believes, because they produce enhanced networking, promote collaboration, build trust and create a dependable path to success if genuinely and regularly nurtured.
womensjewelryassociation.com
