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Jewelers of America Announces Recipients of 2025 GEM Awards

Five brands and individuals received GEM Awards at the 23rd annual event.

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Jewelers of America Announces Recipients of 2025 GEM Awards

(PRESS RELEASE) NEW YORK, NY — Jewelers of America (JA), the national trade association for businesses serving the fine jewelry marketplace, and the GEM Awards Committee proudly announce the winners of the 23rd annual GEM Awards that took place Friday, March 14, 2025 at Cipriani 42nd Street in New York City. John A. Green, President and CEO of Lux Bond & Green, was the recipient of the GEM Award for Lifetime Achievement. Chanel was presented with the GEM Award for High Jewelry Excellence. The winners in the categories of Jewelry Design, Media Excellence and Retail Innovation were revealed live during the event.

Beth Hutchens of FoundRae won the GEM Award for Jewelry Design. The award was presented by the 2024 GEM Award for Jewelry Design winner, Marla Aaron. The other nominees in the category were Sophie Bille Brahe and Selim Mouzannar.

The GEM Award for Media Excellence went to Sam Broekema. The award was presented by the 2024 winner in the category, Tanya Dukes. The other nominees were Paige Reddinger and Trace Shelton.

Reinhold Jewelers won the GEM Award for Retail Innovation, and the award was accepted on stage by Yael Reinhold and Mildred Marcano. The other nominees were Bernard James and CD Peacock. The award was presented by 2024 GEM Award for Retail Excellence winner Lisa Bridge of Ben Bridge.

The evening concluded with the presentation of the GEM Award for Lifetime Achievement to John A. Green, president & CEO of Lux Bond & Green. John took the stage to a standing ovation following a heartfelt and engaging introduction from Jeff Feero of Alex Sepkus. John’s speech did more than thank his colleagues and family, he also called for the industry to keep moving forward by saying, “My aspiration tonight is more for us in this room to become educators and mentors, to keep elevation our luxury industry to compete with other luxury businesses. The jewelry and watch stage is amazing, but we can’t rest on our success.”

The 2025 GEM Awards was chaired and emceed by Marion Fasel, The Adventurine. The GEM Awards Committee was comprised of Randi Udell Alper, London Jewelers; Sarin Bachmann, JCK & LUXURY; David Bonaparte, Jewelers of America; Gannon Brousseau, COUTURE; Annie Doresca, Black in Jewelry Coalition; Tanya Dukes; Jennifer Gandia, Greenwich St. Jewelers; Michelle Graff, National Jeweler; Lauren Harwell Godfrey, Harwell Godfrey; Sally Morrison, De Beers Group; Jill Newman; Rebecca Moskal, and Matthew Rosenheim, Tiny Jewel Box.

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For more information on GEM Awards or to view photos from the 2025 GEM Awards visit www.jewelers.org/gemawards.

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SPONSORED VIDEO

Family Legacy, New Chapter: How Wilkerson Turns 89 Years of History Into Future Success

After 89 years of serving the Albany community, Harold Finkle Your Jeweler faced a pivotal decision. For third-generation owner Justin Finkle, the demanding hours of running a small business were taking precious time away from his young family. "After 23 years, I decided this was the time for me," Finkle explains. But closing a business with nearly nine decades of inventory and customer relationships isn't something easily managed alone. Wilkerson's comprehensive approach transformed this challenging transition into a remarkable success story. Their strategic planning handled everything from advertising and social media to inventory management and staffing — elements that would overwhelm most jewelers attempting to navigate a closing sale independently. The results speak volumes. "Wilkerson gave us three different tiers of potential goals," Finkle notes. "We've reached that third tier, that highest goal already, and we still have two weeks left of the sale." The partnership didn't just meet financial objectives—it exceeded them ahead of schedule.

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