Here’s the Winner of the Second Annual Beatrice Shipley Scholarship
Created by AGS and GIA, the award will cover full tuition costs for Ohio jewelry store employee Rachel Burazer.
The two organizations will award the honor to Rachel Burazer, a sales associate and custom designer at AGS member store Argo & Lehne Jewelers in Columbus, Ohio.
Born in Ohio, Burazer moved to Chicago and received a bachelor’s degree in fashion design.
After working in the food and beverage industry and at Bloomingdale’s, she realized she should combine her hospitality experience with a “more refined” retail environment, AGS said.
She first worked at Chicago jewelry retailer Steve Quick Jeweler before moving to Argo & Lehne, where she currently acts as a mentor to her colleagues, a liaison to many vendors, and a trusted employee to customers.
The scholarship will cover all her tuition costs for the GIA Graduate Gemologist on-campus or distance program in Carlsbad, California.
It will also cover costs of the AGS Way Course—the final step in obtaining an AGS title, covering the history, mission, vision, and values of being a member—and entry to the 2021 AGS Conclave event, slated for Sept. 12-14 in Dallas.
AGS and GIA created the Beatrice Shipley Scholarship together and announced it at the 2019 Conclave event in honor of trailblazing businesswoman Beatrice Shipley.
Both organizations were founded in the 1930s when Beatrice and her husband, Robert, cashed in their savings to create them, with the goal of educating jewelers, professionalizing the industry, and creating a guild for these jewelers to join.
“AGS would like to thank GIA for its ongoing commitment to AGS and for partnering on this scholarship. Beatrice Shipley, along with her husband, changed the course of the jewelry industry,” said Katherine Bodoh, CEO of the American Gem Society and AGS Laboratories.
“We are so pleased to award Rachel with this scholarship. She is passionate about the jewelry industry, bettering herself, and serving her customers. I know this opportunity will propel her career forward.”
The Latest
A double-digit drop in the number of in-store crimes was offset by a jump in off-premises attacks, JSA’s 2023 crime report shows.
Inspired by the Roman goddess of love, the designer looked to the sea for her new collection.
The luxury titan posted declining sales, weighed down by Gucci’s poor performance.
With Ho Brothers, you can unlock your brand's true potential and offer customers the personalized jewelry experiences they desire.
The mining company’s Diavik Diamond Mine lost four employees in a plane crash in January.
The crown introduced a dozen timepieces in Geneva, including a heavy metal version of its deep-sea divers’ watch.
Emmanuel Raheb recommends digging into demographic data, customizing your store’s communications, and retargeting ahead of May 12.
For over 30 years, JA has advocated for the industry, fought against harmful legislation and backed measures that help jewelry businesses.
Located in the town of Queensbury, it features a dedicated bridal section and a Gabriel & Co. store-in-store.
A 203-carat diamond from the alluvial mine in Angola achieved the highest price.
Ruser was known for his figural jewelry with freshwater pearls and for his celebrity clientele.
The “Rebel Heart” campaign embodies rebellion, romance, and sensuality, the brand said.
Editor-in-Chief Michelle Graff shares the standout moments from the education sessions she attended in Austin last week.
The overhaul includes a new logo and enhanced digital marketplace.
The money will go toward supporting ongoing research and aftercare programs for childhood cancer survivors.
A new addition to the “Heirloom” collection, this one-of-a-kind piece features 32 custom-cut gemstones.
Last month in Dallas, David Walton pushed another jeweler, David Ettinger, who later died.
The move will allow the manufacturing company to offer a more “diverse and comprehensive” range of products.
From now through mid-May, GIA will be offering the reports at a 50 percent discount.
De Beers’ rough diamond sales were down 18 percent year-over-year in its latest round of sales.
Sponsored by the Las Vegas Antique Jewelry & Watch Show
The Patek Philippe expert will serve as personal curator for the brand-focused company.
The 553-square-foot shop is aboard the Carnival Jubilee cruise ship.
NDC filed a complaint against Skydiamond for use of phrases like “diamonds made entirely from the sky.”
LVMH said the company performed well despite an uncertain geopolitical and economic environment.
B&D Sales and Service held a ribbon-cutting event for its new location in Cranston, Rhode Island.
It’s ultra-feminine and filled with gold, pearls, and soft pastels.