What the MJSA Has On Tap for Tucson

a.m. to 1 p.m.
“Red Flags for Repairs”
Arthur Skuratowicz, bench jeweler at Georgetown Jewelers in Wood Dale, Illinois

Some repair jobs are simple, and some only seem simple. In this session, Skuratowicz will talk about the common red flags to help jewelers uncover all of the problem areas in a piece of jewelry and handy tips to ensure those repairs turn out well.

3:30 to 5 p.m.
“Hold It! Creating Your Own Fixtures for Holding and Positioning”
Arthur Skuratowicz

Skuratowicz will demonstrate how jewelers can make their own positioning fixtures for complex fabrication or repetitive assembly to ensure all shapes remain still for greater accuracy and ease.

Wednesday, Feb. 1
11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
“Digital Design Tricks for Gemstones”
Gary Dawson, designer/goldsmith and the owner of Gary Dawson Jewelry Design

With all of the latest digital technologies, from high-end design software to smartphones, incorporating gemstones into a design is easier than ever before. Dawson will use this session to demonstrate how to use the latest technology to create gemstone arrays easily, adjust settings more accurately and incorporate all shapes of gemstones into unique designs.

3:30 to 5 p.m.
“Techniques for Small-Scale Production”
 Gary Dawson

In his second session, Dawson will show how to apply small-scale production strategies and techniques in a shop, using both live demonstrations and video to help jewelers increase production while also maintaining a high quality and finish.

Thursday, Feb. 2
11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
“The Art of Communication 1: The Basics”
Lisa Krikawa, founder, designer, and CEO of Krikawa Jewelry Designs

For almost everyone involved in the jewelry process--from bench jeweler, designer or salesperson--success can depend on listening well and communicating ideas. In this session, Krikawa will share some strategies to ensure that communication flows smoothly, outline basic personality traits and how to identify them and then get a message across.

3:30 to 5 p.m.
“The Art of Communication 2: Practical Sketching”
Lisa Krikawa

In this interactive demonstration, Krikawa will present an easy-to-master sketching method that not only communicates design concepts but does it accurately enough that it can be used to calculate gemstone weights.

Friday, Feb. 3
11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
“Photographing Gem-Set Jewelry, Part 1: DIY Basics”
Matthew Perosi, certified business coach, president of Sapphire Collaborative

Whether developing an ad campaign or preparing an e-commerce storefront, quality images are necessary to command attention and drive sales. In this session, Perosi will provide a tutorial on how to choose the best camera and lens and use proper lighting to create the right backgrounds for great shots, all without spending much.

3:30 to 5 p.m.
“Photographing Gem-Set Jewelry, Part 2: DIY Demos”
Matthew Perosi

This live demonstration will ask participants to bring their own cameras to learn how to take compelling photos. Perosi will show various camera techniques and illustrate how proper lighting and backgrounds can make images memorable. He also will offer a few post-processing tips to help enhance and perfect images.

For more information about the sessions, visit MJSA.org.

Meanwhile, MJSA also has partnered with JCK Tucson to introduce a new pavilion at the 2017 show to offer retailers an exclusive opportunity to work and interact with MJSA members on custom work.