Press Releases

American Gem Society Circle of Distinction Dinner Honors Jewelry Industry Leaders

Honorees told personal stories about their careers and inspiration In their acceptance speeches.

Published

4 years ago

August 14, 2019

INSTORE Staff

(PRESS RELEASE) LAS VEGAS, NV — A tradition in the American Gem Society (AGS) took place last night as the Society once again honored the outstanding accomplishments of the jewelry industry’s best and brightest at the annual Circle of Distinction Dinner. The prestigious event was held at New York City’s historic Plaza Hotel and celebrated the work of three well-known and highly-respected industry professionals.

Alan M. Zimmer, president and CEO of REEDS Jewelers, Inc., received the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award for his significant contributions to the industry throughout his career. Elliot Tannenbaum, senior principal of Leo Schachter Diamond Group, and Caryl Capeci, CEO, of Chow Tai Fook (CTF) North America, were both awarded the distinctive AGS Triple Zero(r) Award for their many accomplishments and their dedication to the fine jewelry industry.

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In their acceptance speeches, the honorees told personal stories about their careers and inspiration, and expressed their appreciation for the American Gem Society and the jewelry industry.

“I am honored and humbled to receive the lifetime achievement award from the American Gem Society,” said Mr. Zimmer during his acceptance speech. “AGS is a steward of this industry. They are an organization dedicated to making us all better by creating industry standards to protect not only the jewelry consumer, but our industry as a whole.”

“I have always felt that the AGS was a reliable partner in our efforts by promoting the highest standards of professionalism in the laboratory and in the jewelry retail arena. All of us in the industry have benefitted from this incredible organization,” said Mr. Tannenbaum, who also noted, “Education of the sort developed and promoted by the AGS has been a key factor in the success of our company and of the industry at large in our generation.”

“I am incredibly proud to receive the AGS Triple Zero Award,” said Ms. Capeci. “At CTF, we are deeply committed to the long-term success of the jewelry industry in North America. A key element of this will be investing in and developing the talent of the future. No industry organization sets a better example for this than the AGS with their impressive Young Titleholders Group and effective mentoring program. The industry as a whole should pay attention to these efforts and follow their lead.”

The American Gem Society would like to thank the following sponsors for their generous support in making the event both memorable and a success: JCK Events, Chow Tai Fook North America, Wells Fargo, GIA, Jewelers Mutual Insurance Group, and Signet Jewelers.

To learn more about American Gem Society, please visit https://www.americangemsociety.org/.

When There’s No Succession Plan, Call Wilkerson

Bob Wesley, owner of Robert C. Wesley Jewelers in Scottsdale, Ariz., was a third-generation jeweler. When it was time to enjoy life on the other side of the counter, he weighed his options. His lease was nearing renewal time and with no succession plan, he decided it was time to call Wilkerson. There was plenty of inventory to sell and at first, says Wesley, he thought he might try to manage a sale himself. But he’s glad he didn’t. “There’s no way I could have done this as well as Wilkerson,” he says. Wilkerson took responsibility for the entire event, with every detail — from advertising to accounting — done, dusted and managed by the Wilkerson team. “It’s the complete package,” he says of the Wilkerson method of helping jewelers to easily go on to the next phase of their lives. “There’s no way any retailer can duplicate what they’ve done.”