2003 – 1st Annual GEM Awards In 2001, Jewelry Information Center unveiled a new awards program paying tribute to journalists and media professionals. Initially planned to be held on November 13, 2001, the inaugural GEM Awards gala was rescheduled to January 10, 2003 after the tragic events of September 11th. The event, held at Cipriani 42nd St., honored Marion Fasel and Penny Proddow, InStyle magazine; Sibby Christensten, Associated Press; Vivienne Becker, Harpers & Queen; Gedalio Grinberg; and Tiffany & Co.
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2004 - 2nd Annual GEM Awards Arguably the most famous jewelry-duo of all time, President and Chief Executive Officer, respectively, Sybil & David Yurman, receive the GEM Award for Lifetime Achievement at the second annual GEM Awards.
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2005 – 3rd Annual GEM Awards InStyle magazine’s Fashion Director Hal Rubenstein unbuttons his shirt to reveal necklaces and show his love of jewelry while receiving his GEM Award. The third annual event also honored the Diamond Trading Company's marketing campaign “A Diamond is Forever.”
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2006 – 4th Annual GEM Awards Lauren Bacall introduces Helene Fortunoff, who received the Lifetime Achievement Award. Michael Kowalksi introduces Katie Couric who receives the GEM Award for Broadcast Excellence.
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2007 – 5th Annual GEM Awards Twenty-one members of the Kwiat family take the stage to accept the GEM Award for Enduring Excellence.
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2008 – 6th Annual GEM Awards Dan Marino, is the first-ever sports hero to take the GEM Awards stage to present Bulgari with the GEM Award for Corporate Communications. Deborah Norville hosts and Terry Burman accepts the Lifetime Achievement.
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2009 – 7th Annual GEM Awards The GEM Awards audience is captivated by music legend L.L. Cool J, who introduces Russell Simmons and presents him with the GEM Award for Jewelry Style.
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2010 - 8th Annual GEM Awards GEM Awards moves to Gotham Hall where Former Secretary of State Madeleine K. Albright accepts the GEM Award for Jewelry Style. She references her book “Read My Pins” saying, “I found that jewelry had become part of my personal diplomatic arsenal. Former President George H. W. Bush has been known for saying ‘Read my lips.’ I began urging my colleagues to ‘Read my pins!'”
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2011 - 9th Annual GEM Awards Academy Award and Grammy winner Jennifer Hudson presents the GEM Award for Jewelry Style to Neil Lane at the ninth annual GEM Awards.
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2012 – 10th Annual GEM Awards Padma Lakshmi hosts the 10th annual GEM Awards and industry legend Ralph Destino receives the GEM Award for Lifetime Achievement.
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2013 – 11th Annual GEM Awards Brooke Shields presents Ippolita with the inaugural GEM Award for Design and Matthew Runci receives the GEM Award for Lifetime Achievement.
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2014 – 12th Annual GEM Awards GEM Awards moves to a “live reveal” format with the winners announced live at GEM Awards. Kara Ross, Victoria Gomelsky and Tiffany & Co. all take home GEM Awards. David Yurman presents the GEM Award for Lifetime Achievement to Marie Helene Morrow.
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2015 – 13th Annual GEM Awards GEM Awards is officially presented by Jewelers of America. Carolyn Murphy, Jane Seymour and NY Giant Rashad Jennings created a star-studded red carpet which was broadcast via live-stream.
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2016 – 14th Annual GEM Awards The GEM Awards for Watch Design is the first specialty watch award given at the event. Cartier takes home the inaugural award.
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2017 – 15th Annual GEM Awards Jim Rosenheim accepts the GEM Award for Lifetime Achievement and Stephen Webster hosts the 15th Annual Gem Awards.
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2018 – 16th Annual GEM Awards Debra Messing won the hearts of the attendees with a heartwarming speech as she accepts the GEM Award for Jewelry Style.
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2019 – 17th Annual GEM Awards A$AP Ferg presents the GEM Award for Marketing Excellence to Tiffany & Co and Stewart Wicht accepts the GEM Award for Lifetime Achievement.
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2020 – 18th Annual GEM Awards GEM Award Chair Olivier Stip hosts the GEM Awards with Ed Bridge accepting the GEM Award for Lifetime Achievement.
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2021 – 19th Annual GEM Awards GEM Awards is held in July as a virtual event due to the Global Pandemic. Image Architect Law Roach accepts the GEM Award for Jewelry Style and John Kennedy is presented with the GEM Award for Lifetime Achievement.
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2022 – 20th Annual GEM Awards The jewelry industry reunites in person at Cipriani 42nd Street with Blake Lively presenting the GEM Award for Jewelry Style to jewelry designer-to-the-stars Lorraine Schwartz.
GEM Awards, hosted by Jewelers of America, is the fine jewelry and watch industry’s premier awards gala that recognizes the outstanding achievements of individuals and companies whose work raises the visibility and status of fine jewelry and watches. For 20 years the ceremony has attracted celebrities, media and jewelry professionals from across the country to come together and celebrate the champions of our industry.
Take a walk down memory lane and relive highlights from the last 20 years of The GEM Awards.
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