Gem Awards Celebrate 20 Years With One Big Happy Party
The annual jewelry industry gala took place Friday night in New York, in person for the first time since 2020.

Held Friday night at Cipriani 42nd Street in New York, the 2022 Gem Awards attracted more than 500 guests, including Oscar-winning actress Jennifer Connolly, who is starring in the upcoming “Top Gun” sequel, “Top Gun: Maverick;” British singer Lily Allen, “Queer Eye” star Antoni Porowski; Tina Knowles, a fashion designer and mother of Beyoncé; and Blake Lively, who made a late red carpet entrance to introduce the evening’s first honoree—Lorraine Schwartz.
Schwartz, a third-generation diamond dealer and jewelry designer, received the Gem Award for Jewelry Style for her years of designing show-stopping jewels that are often the most talked about pieces worn on the red carpet.
A video shown prior to Schwartz’s acceptance speech included plenty of celebrities—Heidi Klum, Pharrell, Kim Kardashian and Tina Knowles among them—but also paid homage to her family.
In the video, Schwartz talked about the support and love she her received from her mother—the chicest woman she’s ever known, she said—and her father—who taught her the diamond business—as well as her sister, Ofira, who is also a jewelry designer and attended the Gem Awards.
The video also detailed Schwartz’s efforts to welcome and highlight the work of Black and Brown designers through the Emerging Designers Diamond Initiative, or EDDI, organized in concert with the Natural Diamond Council.
The industry’s ongoing efforts to diversify were evident on Friday night, as the Gem Awards welcomed what was undoubtedly the most diverse crowd in its 20-year history and the most diverse slate of winners, with Black women taking home two of the evening’s three live awards.
“I am really so grateful to the industry,” Schwartz said on stage after accepting her award from Lively. “We really do have a lot to say, and we can do so much for the future generation.”

While Schwartz’s honor was announced prior to the gala, the winners of three other awards—the Gem Award for Media Excellence, Retail Excellence and Jewelry Design—were unveiled live on Friday night.
Melanie Grant won the Media Excellence Award, beating out Daisy Shaw-Ellis and Annabel Davidson.
A journalist with more than two decades of experience, Grant is currently the luxury and photo editor at The Economist’s 1843 Magazine, the author of a book on jewelry as art titled “Coveted: Art and Innovation in High Jewelry,” a frequent guest lecturer, and curator of “Brilliant & Black: A Jewelry Renaissance,” an exhibition and sale highlighting the work of Black jewelry designers held at Sotheby’s in fall 2021.
The Gem Award for Retail Excellence went to Marissa Collections, which topped Muse and Saks Fifth Avenue.
Jay Hartington, who brought fine jewelry into the clothing store parents Marissa and Burt Hartington opened in 1975, accepted the award on behalf of the Palm Beach and Naples, Florida retailer.
The final, and perhaps most anticipated, live award of the night was the Gem Award for Jewelry Design.
The winner was Lauren Harwell Godfrey, of Harwell Godfrey, who beat out fellow For Future Reference-represented designer Brent Neale Winston and Foundrae’s Beth Bugdaycay.
Friday night’s celebration capped off with the presentation of the Gem Award for Lifetime Achievement to longtime De Beers executive Stephen Lussier, who is retiring this spring after a 37-year career marketing diamonds at De Beers.
Welcomed on stage by fellow De Beers executive and friend Charles Stanley, Lussier evoked President John F. Kennedy when he brought up “passing the torch,” meaning, in his case, handing over responsibility for diamond marketing to the next generation at De Beers.
“Consumers want to associate with the categories of products and brands that share their values,” Lussier said on stage. “That to me is the new part of the diamond dream.”
The Latest

The Indian jewelry brand recently opened stores in Atlanta and Seattle.

CEO Beth Gerstein shared its most popular price points, what’s trending in non-bridal fine jewelry, and its holiday performance.

The 15 pieces were crafted from the “Insofu” emerald, discovered in Zambia in 2010.

Supplier Spotlight Sponsored by GIA

Chris Anderson is joining the insurance provider as the new chief financial officer and treasurer.


Jewelers of America is distributing a brochure for retailers to use when discussing the differences between natural and lab-grown diamonds.

The industry is changing as it grapples with new realities around distribution, supply, and the need for consistent, effective marketing.

Natural diamonds mean more than lab-grown, but when every cut is ideal, they all look the same. Customers want more—Facets of Fire delivers.

Bhansali discusses the potential impact of U.S. tariffs, demand for diamonds by market, and the “cautious confidence” in India right now.

As lab-grown diamond brands pop up across India, academics are researching how to grow demand outside of the jewelry industry.

Govind Dholakia and Tanishq will be recognized for their contributions to the industry at the Diamonds Do Good Awards in Las Vegas.

The New York City-based brand has opened its first U.K. location with a permanent shop-in-shop at Liberty in London.

A metal detectorist discovered the ring that is believed to have belonged to a bishop in the late 12th to early 13th century.

The suspect allegedly stole almost $800,000 worth of diamond jewelry from a store in Orlando and then swallowed it during a traffic stop.

Ahead of the Gem Awards on Friday, Jen Cullen Williams and Duvall O’Steen share pro tips for taking the best photos.

Founded in 2000, Marco Bicego is commemorating its milestone anniversary with a “25 Best” collection and campaigns honoring its heritage.

Those attending the company’s upcoming Zoom workshop will receive early access to “The List,” its new resource for finding buyers.

The organization will present an award to Amy-Elise Signeavsky, law enforcement and diamond recovery manager at GIA.

Chandler started his jewelry career at Michelson Jewelers, joining the Diamond Council of America as president and CEO in 2001.

Scottish American designer Maeve Gillies collaborated with Platinum Guild International on jewelry created by direct metal 3D printing.

Ahead of its trade show in May, TJS awarded free registration and accommodations to five up-and-coming jewelry industry professionals.

The 2025 Gem Awards are set to take place Friday at Cipriani 42nd Street in New York City.

The annual star-studded campaign for International Women’s Day encourages collective action against domestic violence.

The statement piece is seen in Yeprem’s new “You Play the Game” campaign, created for International Women’s Day.

Longtime employee Kyle Slosson has been promoted to the role.

First-generation jewelers Dan and Hope Wixon are retiring and will close their Minneapolis-area jewelry store in May.

The limited-edition collection, a nod to the Year of the Snake, is Ukrainian brand Guzema’s first partnership with a U.S. brand.