Lisa Bridge Takes Over as President of AGS Board
She succeeds Underwood Jewelers’ Michael Richards, who completed his term.

Ben Bridge Jeweler CEO Lisa Bridge, CG, takes over as president, succeeding Underwood Jewelers’ Michael Richards, who completed his term.
Padis Jewelry President Alexis Padis, CGA, is the board’s new president-elect.
Joining Bridge and Padis on AGS’s International Board of Directors are the following.
Secretary and chair, Gemological Sciences Committee: Bryan Moeller, CGA
Senior advisor: William Farmer Jr.
Treasurer and chair, Finance, Audit & Legal Committee: Larry Rickert
Chair, AGS Laboratories Advisory Committee: John Carter, CGA
Chair, Young Titleholders Committee: Maria Brown, RJ
Chair, Membership Committee: Mitchell Clark, CG
Chair, International Guilds Council: Amanda Coleman-Phelps, CGA
Chair, Education Committee: Sarah Person, CG
Chair, Conclave Subcommittee: Denise Richards, CGA
Director-at-Large: Sarin Bachmann
Director-at-Large: Rick Beckett, RJ
Director-at-Large: Ryan Berg, CG
Director-at-Large: Jamie Luce
Director-at-Large: Kevin Mays, CGA
Director-at-Large: Niveet Nagpal, CG
In addition to outgoing board president Richards, Marc Altman, CGA; Scott Murphy; Sarah Nanasi Russell, CG; and Scott Udell completed their terms on the board.
“A tremendous thank you to Michael Richards for his many years of service to the American Gem Society and particularly for his devoted leadership during the last two unprecedented years,” Bridge said.
“I also would like to thank the outgoing board members for their efforts on behalf of the American Gem Society. They each made an impact with their thoughtful participation, strategic insight, and dedication to our society.”
The next AGS Conclave is scheduled for May 1-3, 2023, in Louisville, Kentucky.
The Latest

From Doja Cat to Mikey Madison and Selena Gomez, many of this year’s Academy Awards attendees donned drop necklaces.

Originally slated to take effect in April, official U.S. Customs and Border Protection documents now show the implementation date as “TBD.”

The recent jump in the prices of household staples, like eggs, and the potential impact of tariffs worried consumers.

Emergencies can happen anytime, anywhere , and Jewelers of America has what you need to be prepared for it all.

The work of Indigenous designer Joe Big Mountain, these earrings are similar to the pair Lily Gladstone just wore to the SAG Awards.


A metal detectorist uncovered the ring created in memory of Sir Richard Rainsford, who presided over some of England’s last witch trials.

Fine jewelry consultant and publicist Francesca Simons joins Amanda Gizzi and Natalie Francisco to discuss the trends set to rise this year.

The jewelry industry faces challenges from lab-grown diamonds. A diamond ETF can restore natural diamonds' value and drive investor demand.

Harlow’s partner, NBA player Kyle Kuzma, worked with Vobara to design the ring, which features oval and pear-shaped diamonds.

The Danish jeweler released the next chapter of its “Be Love” campaign, which celebrates love in all its forms.

The 13 lots on offer were comprised of material that previously went unsold at the miner’s November auction.

The EU, like the U.S., also now will require diamond importers to provide information about where exactly the diamonds were mined.

The formal signing of the agreement comes nearly two years after De Beers and Botswana initially announced they had reached a new deal.

The charity will celebrate Pandora CEO Alexander Lacik and Brilliant Earth CEO Beth Gerstein at its annual event in Las Vegas.

Retailers need to have the right merchandise, marketing, and people in place to stay on top in a sea of uncertainty, Peter Smith writes.

Senior Editor Lenore Fedow traveled to Smyth Jewelers in Maryland to see the first of 15 revamped in-store boutiques Tacori is rolling out.

The parent company of HSN and QVC is undergoing a restructuring.

The company’s newest brand ambassador Eiza González will also be featured in the ads for the women’s campaign.

Declining supply and growing demand persist in the colored gemstone market, presenters from Gemworld said at AGTA GemFair Tucson.

The designer’s new patent transforms the everyday clasp into her jumbo “Lobster Clasp,” modeled after the look of a crustacean’s claw.

Kenewendo, Botswana’s minister of minerals and energy, will discuss the future of diamonds.

Sales at the Rio Tinto-owned mine also slid by a double-digit percentage, falling 37 percent in a difficult market for diamonds.

Heidi Gardner, an SNL cast member, wore the smoky quartz earrings on the “SNL50: The Anniversary Special” red carpet on Sunday.

The reversal comes less than two months after the Zambian government reinstated the tax in an effort to bring in more money.

The organization also announced its newly elected officers and directors.

As anticipated, Anglo took another impairment charge on the diamond miner and marketer, which saw revenue sink 23 percent in 2024.

Ronald Winston is giving the 2.33-carat “Winston Red” to the Smithsonian, 67 years after his father donated the Hope Diamond.