Jewelers of America Announces 2017 GEM Awards Winners

(IDEX Online) – Jewelers of America (JA), the national trade association for businesses serving the fine jewelry marketplace, held its 15th annual GEM Awards on January 13 in New York.

The winners in the categories of Jewelry Design, Marketing & Communications, Media Excellence and Watch Excellence were revealed live to an audience of 500 of the watch and jewelry industry’s elite, celebrities and press.

Jim Rosenheim, chairman of Tiny Jewel Box in Washington, D.C., was the recipient of the 2017 GEM Award for Lifetime Achievement.

Jewelry designer Stephen Webster (pictured above) hosted the star-studded gala, including celebrity guests: actor Cuba Gooding Jr., models Kim Alexis and Jess Hart, Desi Lydic of the “Daily Show,” former “Bachelor” contestant Olivia Caridi, and Bon Jovi’s David Bryan.

Lucia Silvestri, Jewellery Creative Director of BLVGARI, won the GEM Award for Jewelry Design. The other nominees in the Jewelry Design category were Suzanne Kalan of Suzanne Kalan and Arun Bohra of Arunashi. The award was presented by 2016 GEM Award Winner, Temple St. Clair.

Kay Jewelers took home the GEM Award for Marketing & Communications. The award was accepted by George Murray, Chief Merchandising & Marketing Officer. The other nominees were Hearts On Fire® and Monica Rich Kosann. The award was presented by Danny Seo of “Naturally Danny” on NBC.

The GEM Award for Media Excellence was given to Grace Fuller, Jewelry Editor of W magazine. Rob Bates, News Director of JCK and the 2016 GEM Award for Media Excellence winner, presented the award. The other Media Excellence nominees were Amanda Alagem and Stephen Watson.

Patek Philippe received the GEM Award for Watch Excellence. The award was presented by GEM Award Winner Roberta Naas, founder of atimeleyperspective.com. The other nominees for Watch Design were A. Lange & Söhne and Jaeger-LeCoultre.

Jim Rosenheim, chairman of Tiny Jewel Box in Washington D.C., was honored with the GEM Award for Lifetime Achievement for a career’s worth of contributions to the fine jewelry and watch industry. In his acceptance speech, he stated how his family business was founded on the simple motto: “If it’s not special, it’s not here.”

Sponsors of the GEM Awards included: Cornerstone Sponsor – Synchrony Financial; Red Carpet Sponsor – COUTURE; Cocktail Hour Reception Sponsors – D.B.S. Diamonds and Rio Diamond; Premier Sponsors – Signet Jewelers and Atelier Swarovski; Patron Sponsors – CHANEL, Citizen and David Yurman; Benefactor Sponsors – Hearts On Fire, Mikimoto, Movado Group Inc. and Tiffany & Co.

One of the sponsors, Rio Diamond, displayed (see the image below) a new 400-carat rough diamond from its new diamond mining venture, as well as diamond necklaces.