IndependentsMay 23, 2022
Luxury Goods Veteran Olivier Stip Joins Chicago Jeweler CD Peacock Policies & IssuesMay 26, 2022
Barbara Wheat Named Executive Director of Ethical Metalsmiths
She has nearly 30 years’ experience in the gem and jewelry industry and a background in nonprofit management.
Ethical Metalsmiths has named industry veteran Barbara Wheat its new executive director.
New York—Ethical Metalsmiths has named industry veteran Barbara Wheat its new executive director.
She succeeds jewelry designer and goldsmith Alexandra Hart in the role, and is based in Fort Myers, Florida.
Founded in 2004, Ethical Metalsmiths comprises buyers, jewelers, designers, and suppliers committed to transparent and responsible practices in all sectors of the industry.
Wheat has been a member since 2015.
Her career in the gem and jewelry industry spans nearly three decades, beginning in Bangkok, Thailand as managing director of the Ho Group, publishing magazines covering the Thai gem and jewelry export market.
While she lived in Thailand, she started her own consulting and public relations company, gaining the Thai Gem & Jewelry Traders Association as her main client.
Wheat also worked with the Thai Department of Export Promotion and the Ministry of Commerce to promote the country as a gem and jewelry hub.
She moved to New York in 2005 when the International Colored Gemstone Association appointed her as its executive director; she held the role for eight years.
Wheat then returned to consulting in 2012, opening Gemalytics LLC.
She also has served as executive vice president of the Natural Color Diamond Association and president of the Asian Institute of Gemological Sciences.
In 2018, she became the vice president of international relations and business development for the Ho Group, where she helped create the website Gem Legends & Luminaries, featuring prominent figures in the gem and jewelry sector.
Wheat currently is a partner with Joseph Menzie in Gemstone Expeditions, a company that organizes gemstone mine tours around the world.
She has also contributed to many international publications, including Trends & Colours, JQ International, The Jewelry Book, Jewelry Showcase, The New Jeweller, and TNJ Colors.
Wheat earned a master’s degree in sustainability management from Columbia University in 2015 and is an accredited gemologist with a diploma from the Asian Institute of Gemological Sciences.
“The appointment as executive director with Ethical Metalsmiths means so much to me as I’m already a member, and it’s wonderful working with an organization that I already support wholeheartedly,” she said.
Editors' Picks
Sponsored by
More on Policies & Issues
The Latest
Weekly QuizOct 03, 2024
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
PodcastsJan 12, 2026
Introducing My Next Question, the PodcastA monthly podcast series for jewelry professionals
Brought to you by
Navigating Cybersecurity: Essential Guidance for JewelersFrom protecting customer data to safeguarding inventory records, it's crucial to learn how to tackle cybersecurity challenges.
PodcastsNov 27, 2025
Test Podcast With VideoTest Podcast With Video. New interview with Ada Lovelace.
PodcastsNov 25, 2025
Test New Podcast PostAbstract for tests. New Podcast interview with John Lennon, Jimi Hendrix and Jim Morison.
ColumnistsOct 09, 2024
Peter Smith: 7 Things to Know When Selling LuxuryAhead of the holiday season, Smith delves into the often subconscious reasons people buy luxury products for themselves or their loved ones.
AuctionsOct 09, 2024
Rolex Worn on Apollo 14 Mission Up for SaleThe GMT-Master “Pepsi” belonging to astronaut Edgar Mitchell is a standout in RR Auction’s online “Space Auction,” going on now.
MajorsOct 09, 2024
New Simon Campaign Invites Gen Z to ‘Meet Me At The Mall’The ads celebrate the mall culture of the ‘80s and ‘90s.
MajorsOct 09, 2024
PGI Launches New Virtual Sales TrainingRetail sales associates can access the video series on mobile to refresh their selling skills.
AuctionsOct 08, 2024
Sotheby’s Selling Jewelry That Belonged to a Bulgarian TsarThe November auction will feature a collection of jewels owned by Ferdinand I, the first king of modern Bulgaria, and his family.
SourcingOct 08, 2024
Rio Tinto Begins New Phase of Production That Will Extend Diavik’s LifeCommercial production has begun underground at the Canadian diamond mine’s A21 pipe.
SurveysOct 08, 2024
What to Know About Online Shopping This Holiday SeasonDeloitte and Adobe Analytics shared their insights on the season, from the retail sales forecast to the role of generative AI.
CollectionsOct 08, 2024
Sylvie Adds New Men’s BandsThe Texas-based jeweler collaborated with luxury clothing brand Uncommon Man on men’s bands designed with European influences.
SourcingOct 08, 2024
Is Current Diamond Industry Turbulence Shaping a ‘New Normal’? Industry players have found ways to cope with market conditions while working to reshape themselves in the face of emerging realities.
SourcingOct 07, 2024
Rio Tinto to Offer 76 Diamonds in 2024 Beyond Rare Tender The sales event, in its second year, features a selection of rare diamonds from the miner’s Argyle and Diavik diamond mines.
CollectionsOct 07, 2024
Olympian Kristi Yamaguchi Partners With Heller Jewelers on New CollectionA portion of the proceeds from the “Always Dream” collection will go to Yamaguchi's foundation, supporting early childhood literacy.
SurveysOct 07, 2024
Hill & Co.’s New ‘Business of Jewelry Report’ Is OutThe first in what is slated to be a series of in-depth reports from the consulting company, it focuses on shortening supply chains.
