24 Karat Club of Southern California Recognizes 3 Honorees
They will be celebrated at the annual dinner dance and gala in the fall.

The Lifetime Achievement Award recipient is Georgie Gleim of Palo Alto’s Gleim the Jeweler.
Gleim is president of the store, which was founded in 1931. She is also heavily involved in the industry, having been a past president of the American Gem Society, past board chair of Jewelers of America, and past president of the Jewelers Education Foundation.
She’s received many accolades over her career, including being inducted into National Jeweler’s Retailer Hall of Fame. She is a Robert M. Shipley Award recipient and has a WJA Award for Excellence in Retailing.
The 2023 Excellence in Service honoree is Shelly Sergent, curator of the Somewhere in the Rainbow Collection in Phoenix, Arizona.
Somewhere in the Rainbow aims to provide education and an appreciation of colored gemstones and artisan-crafted jewelry to museums, stores, and educational facilities.
Sergent received the 2022 AGS Sallie Morton Award. She has exhibited and presented the Somewhere in the Rainbow Collection at the Smithsonian Natural History Affiliate Museum, Harvard, and the University of Arizona.
Internationally, she has presented the collection at Gem-A in London, Germany, and Scotland.
Sergent is on the University of Arizona Board of Directors for Geo Sciences and is a founding member of the Tucson Gem and Mineral Museum, which opened in 2020.
Finally, the Rising Star Award recipient is Molly Peterson of Seattle’s Ben Bridge Jeweler.
The Ben Bridge bridal buyer joined the merchandising team in 2021. Prior to that, she was a top sales associate and manager, taking home honors like “Store of the Year,” “Highest Store Sales Increase,” and “Buyer’s Choice,” from the company.
Her role as bridal buyer sees her in charge of the Ben Bridge’s proprietary bridal brand, Bella Ponte, which specializes in custom design and state of the art technology.
The three honorees will be officially honored at the 79th Annual Dinner Dance and Gala this fall.
“We are really excited about this year’s slate of honorees,” said Adam Graham, president of the Jewelers 24 Karat Club of Southern California.
“We invite everyone out to celebrate with us on Oct. 7 at the beautiful Ritz Carlton on the water in Marina Del Rey.”
Information on the 79th Annual Dinner Dance and Gala, including tickets and sponsorship, is available online.
The Latest

Western wear continues to trend in the Year of the Fire Horse and along with it, horse and horseshoe motifs in jewelry.
![A peridot [left] and sapphires from Tanzania from Anza Gems, a wholesaler that partners with artisanal mining communities in East Africa Anza gems](https://uploads.nationaljeweler.com/uploads/cdd3962e9427ff45f69b31e06baf830d.jpg)
Although the market is robust, tariffs and precious metal prices are impacting the industry, Stuart Robertson and Brecken Branstrator said.

Rossman, who advised GIA for more than 50 years, is remembered for his passion and dedication to the field of gemology.

Launched in 2023, the program will help the passing of knowledge between generations and alleviate the shortage of bench jewelers.

Guthrie, the mother of “Today” show host Savannah Guthrie, was abducted just as the Tucson gem shows were starting.


Butterfield Jewelers in Albuquerque, New Mexico, is preparing to close as members of the Butterfield family head into retirement.

Paul Morelli’s “Rosebud” necklace, our Piece of the Week, uses 18-karat rose, green, and white gold to turn the symbol of love into jewelry.

Criminals are using cell jammers to disable alarms, but new technology like JamAlert™ can stop them.

The nonprofit has welcomed four new grantees for 2026.

Parent company Saks Global is also closing nearly all Saks Off 5th locations, a Neiman Marcus store, and 14 personal styling suites.

It is believed the 24-karat heart-shaped enameled pendant was made for an event marking the betrothal of Princess Mary in 1518.

The AGTA Spectrum and Cutting Edge “Buyer’s Choice” award winners were announced at the Spectrum Awards Gala last week.

Sourced by For Future Reference Vintage, the yellow gold ring has a round center stone surrounded by step-cut sapphires.

The clothing and accessories chain announced last month it would be closing all of its stores.

The “Zales x Sweethearts” collection features three mystery heart charms engraved with classic sayings seen on the Valentine’s Day candies.

The event will include panel discussions, hands-on demonstrations of new digital manufacturing tools, and a jewelry design contest.

Namibia has formally signed the Luanda Accord, while two key industry organizations pledged to join the Natural Diamond Council.

Lady Gaga, Cardi B, and Karol G also went with diamond jewelry for Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl halftime show honoring Puerto Rico.

Jewelry is expected to be the No. 1 gift this year in terms of dollars spent.

As star brand Gucci continues to struggle, the luxury titan plans to announce a new roadmap to return to growth.

The new category asks entrants for “exceptional” interpretations of the supplier’s 2026 color of the year, which is “Signature Red.”

The White House issued an official statement on the deal, which will eliminate tariffs on loose natural diamonds and gemstones from India.

Entries for the jewelry design competition will be accepted through March 20.

The Ohio jeweler’s new layout features a curated collection of brand boutiques to promote storytelling and host in-store events.

From heart motifs to pink pearls, Valentine’s Day is filled with jewelry imbued with love.

Prosecutors say the man attended arts and craft fairs claiming he was a third-generation jeweler who was a member of the Pueblo tribe.

New CEO Berta de Pablos-Barbier shared her priorities for the Danish jewelry company this year as part of its fourth-quarter results.























