The wholesale collection features material from the Rock Creek mine in a variety of colors.
George Holmes, Longtime Head Editor of JCK Magazine, Dies at 93
He first took a job at then Philadelphia-based Jewelers’ Circular-Keystone in 1963 and retired in 1996.

He was 93.
Holmes was born in Dublin, Ireland in 1928.
The youngest of three boys, Holmes lost his father, a captain in the British Army during World War I who was exposed to chemical warfare, to pneumonia before he was born.
He and his brothers were granted the right to be educated at a school for children of families with limited means, and the headmaster worked to ensure Holmes got into Trinity College Dublin.
He majored in modern languages there, graduating in 1950.
He was committed to becoming a journalist, and finally got his break when he landed a job as a reporter covering a quiet Sunday beat at The Irish Times.
In 1954, Holmes was one of only two overseas journalists to win a fellowship in journalism from the University of Michigan and spent the second year of his fellowship writing for three Michigan newspapers.
He eventually returned to Europe to work at The Manchester Guardian before returning to North America and working for the Detroit Times, The Globe and Mail in Toronto, and The Wall Street Journal.
Feeling like a “cog in the wheel” at these large newspapers, Holmes took a job with a smaller publication in 1963—a trade magazine covering the jewelry industry that was then based in Philadelphia and called Jewelers’ Circular-Keystone.
He rose to the rank of managing editor but left in 1968 to start a Philadelphia-focused business weekly.
In 1974, the publication lured back Holmes and his friend Charles Bond as editor and publisher, respectively. His wife, Deborah Holmes, whom he married in 1971, was already working as the magazine’s masthead editor; she eventually became its managing editor.
Holmes remained at JCK until his retirement in 1996, tackling the important issues facing jewelers, including soaring gold and diamond prices in the late 1970s and early ‘80s and sky-high crime rates, while also making a significant contribution to service journalism by providing useful advice for working jewelers.
During his tenure, the magazine won 16 Neal Awards from the American Business Press, and Holmes won a Crain Award for distinguished editorial achievement.
He also was a member of the group that launched the JCK show in Las Vegas in 1991.
Outside of work, Holmes and his wife loved to read, garden, and hike. They visited their favorite national parks, including Banff and Yoho in Canada, Acadia in Maine, and Saguaro and Chiricahua in Arizona, many times.
Holmes is survived by his wife, Deborah.
There will not be a public funeral, but a memorial gathering is planned.
Those wishing to make a contribution in his memory can do so to the Brandywine Valley SPCA, Habitat for Humanity of Chester County, or the Chester County Food Bank.
The Latest

The “Divinely Guided” collection, created in collaboration with Theresa Caputo, features symbols that celebrate the power of connection.

Show some love on Valentine’s Day with this 14-karat yellow gold ring that features pavé diamonds.

Colored stones are stepping into a jewelry spotlight typically reserved for diamonds—are you ready to sell color?

The employee confronted the thief, causing the suspect to flee and leave behind the suitcases full of jewelry.


Namib Desert Diamonds also put its security manager on leave following last month’s robbery that left one employee dead.

AGTA recently concluded its 2025 GemFair event in Tucson and is already gearing up for next year’s show, set for Feb. 2-6, 2026.

The new year feels like a clean slate, inspiring reflection, hope, and the motivation to become better versions of ourselves.

More than 400 new pieces are featured in the supplier’s latest catalog.

This curation celebrates love with heart-shaped jewelry of all shapes and sizes.

The fund is collecting money for jewelry businesses damaged by the wildfires in Los Angeles County.

From chunky bands to vintage diamond cuts and bezel settings, these are the trends experts are seeing take over the bridal market.

Fasel discusses researching her new book, the most enduring engagement ring styles, and the diamond shape Taylor Swift will pick.

The “Essence of Nature, Chapter One” collection echoes trees and roots, literally and figuratively, through three sets of high jewelry.

Late last year, the India-based diamond manufacturer recorded emissions per carat that are 34 percent lower than the industry average.

Smith details the types of store managers he’s encountered, with the goal of helping retailers find a person who’s a fit for their store.

The secondhand reseller stocks pre-owned designer jewelry and watches, along with other luxury goods.

The limited-edition “Chocolocket” fits a mini square of Ghirardelli chocolate inside.

The program has been expanded to include a “20 Under 40” list for jewelry suppliers and is accepting nominations through Feb. 19.

One of the men is said to be connected to the South American crew charged with burglarizing Cincinnati Bengals QB Joe Burrow’s home.

The brands immersed one of Bulgari’s most famous historical icons in MB&F’s ultra-mechanical universe of haute horlogerie.

The luxury titan’s full-year performance was weighed down by struggling sales at its star brand Gucci.

Bain & Co.’s latest report on the luxury market examines why the market’s customer base is shrinking and how to appeal to consumers in 2025.

Officers in Louisville seized 28 shipments of fake jewelry and watches that would have been worth more than $27 million if genuine.

The collection centers on the art of tailoring, inspired by designs that feature folded fabrics, such as a tuxedo lapel.

The trade show has added a new location to its fall line-up.

From the brand’s latest collection of lucky charms, the ladybird is seen as a bearer of good fortune and a ward against negative energy.