Tag Archives: anniversary

100 years of CJA: Making history

The Canadian Jewellers Association (CJA) was born on September 25, 1918, from the co-operative combination of retailers, manufacturers, and wholesalers. As the association turns 100, it is important to look back at the steps that brought it to the present day.

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Profile: Myles Mindham celebrating 25 years

Walking up the shrub-lined path towards the entrance of his three-story Hazelton Avenue townhouse located in Toronto’s prestigious Yorkville neighbourhood, visitors are greeted by an enchanting garden strewn with magical metal creatures beckoning them into the beguiling showroom oasis where Myles Mindham awaits.

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Designer Shelly Purdy celebrates 25 years in business

Twenty-five years ago, Shelly Purdy opened her boutique jewellery studio in the heart of Toronto’s fashion district. Today, she is a successful jewellery designer, creating locally-made, ethically-sourced engagement rings and wedding bands. “I’m making 25-year anniversary bands for couples whose wedding and engagement rings I designed when I first started my business,” says Purdy. “In an industry like this, establishing trust and maintaining it over 25 years is pretty special. I’m lucky to have such loyal clients.”

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AGS marks two milestones

American Gem Society (AGS) is raising a glass to the 50th anniversary of its diamond grading standards. In 1966, the group launched the AGS Diamond Grading Standards Manual, which it says was the first published manual that included a grading system for all 4 Cs, including cut.

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Umicore Precious Metals Canada: A celebration 100 years in the making

Umicore may be a multinational company with more than 14,000 employees worldwide, but when its Canadian operation calls, clients still know it by its previous name—Imperial Smelting and Refining.

That’s because Imperial has been a staple in the Canadian jewellery industry for the past 100 years, 2014 being its centennial year.

“Even now, when we speak with a customer and identify ourselves as Umicore, people ask, ‘Who?’ because we only changed our name two years … Continue reading Umicore Precious Metals Canada: A celebration 100 years in the making

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Happy anniversary, CJA: Here’s looking at the first 95 years

“Who will buy ‘old gold’? Is the legitimate jeweller going to get this business?” It’s a question many jewellers today might ask as they consider whether to get into the cash-for-gold game. It’s also the headline of a 1933 article in the Canadian Jewellers Association’s (CJA’s) publication at the time, warning Toronto’s jewellers of an influx of ‘old gold’ operations infringing on their would-be territory and encouraging them to get in on the action.

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A hard-fought battle: CJA’s victory over the jewellery excise tax

At the end of the First World War, the Canadian government imposed taxes on a number of items to defray its substantial costs. Among them were so-called luxury (inelegantly defined as ‘non-essential goods’) taxes that were applied to products such as automobiles, radios, fishing rods (a sport of the privileged?), and all items the government broadly defined as jewellery. This latter tax was referred to as the jewellery excise tax (JET).

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