(PRESS RELEASE) NEW YORK, NY — Jewelers of America (JA), the national trade association for businesses serving the fine jewelry marketplace, has announced the recipients of the 2026 GEM Award for Lifetime Achievement Award. Mark and Candy Udell of London Jewelers will receive the top honor at the 24th annual GEM Awards on Friday, March 13, 2026, at Cipriani 42nd Street in New York.
“We are thrilled to present the GEM Award for Lifetime Achievement to Mark and Candy Udell. Together they have built an incredible business that relies on heavily on family values and a commitment to excellence in everything they do,” says Amanda Gizzi, Jewelers of America’s Senior Vice President of Corporate Affairs. “As London Jewelers prepares to celebrate their 100th anniversary, we are honored to recognize Mark and Candy and their lifetime of success that has inspired the jewelry industry as well as their next generation.”
Mark and Candy Udell are the dynamic husband-and-wife duo at the helm of London Jewelers, one of America’s most iconic and enduring family-owned luxury jewelry retailers. Together, they have transformed a single-store operation, founded in 1926, into a multi-store luxury powerhouse known for innovation, craftsmanship, and unparalleled customer service. The Udells’ shared leadership has driven major milestones for London Jewelers, including the 2025 opening of the world’s first Rolex Boutique in East Hampton, the continued expansion of their flagship store in Manhasset, and the opening of their fifth store in The Mall at Short Hills in New Jersey. Today, Candy and Mark are proudly mentoring the fourth generation—their daughter Randi, son Scott, and nephew Zachary—to carry forward the values that have defined London Jewelers for nearly a century: integrity, innovation, excellence, and treating every customer like family.
GEM Awards is the industry’s most prestigious gala event, honoring individuals and companies whose work elevates the visibility and artistry of fine jewelry and timepieces. The GEM Award for Lifetime Achievement will be one of the awards given at GEM Awards. Nominations are currently being accepted for the GEM Award for Jewelry Design, GEM Award for Media Excellence and GEM Award for Retail Innovation.
Tickets, sponsorship opportunities, and journal advertisements for the 2026 GEM Awards are now available. For nomination guidelines, tickets, sponsorship packages, and advertising opportunities, visit: https://gemawards.jewelers.org/.
