Gem Legacy Is Expanding Its Advisory Council
The nonprofit, which works to support and give back to gem mining communities in East Africa, has added seven new members to the council.

The new advisory council members are: Meghan Margewicz, event director of JCK Luxury; designer Lika Behar of Lika Behar Collection; Kate Donovan, executive director of the Accredited Gemologists Association; designer Jennifer Maxwell of Leigh Maxwell Jewelry; Elle Hill, founder and CEO of Hill & Co.; designer Debra Navarro of Debra Navarro Jewelry; and Michelle Graff, editor-in-chief of National Jeweler.
They join the six existing members of the advisory council: Niveet Nagpal of Omi Gems and Omi Privé; Jonathan and Brecken Farnsworth of Parlé Jewelry Designs; American Gem Society CEO Katherine Bodoh; Stuart Robertson, president of Gemworld International; and Sumit Dangi, chief financial officer and treasurer at Jewelers Mutual.
Gem Legacy’s advisory council members serve as ambassadors for the nonprofit and advocates for its initiatives.
The expanded council will endeavor to enroll new partners and collaborate with industry organizations and businesses to form alliances with Gem Legacy.
“The expansion of the Gem Legacy advisory council is an exciting step forward for our industry, for Gem Legacy, and for the communities and businesses the organization supports,” said Ben Smithee, who serves on Gem Legacy’s board of directors, which is responsible for day-to-day decision-making at the nonprofit.
“Our new advocates will lead the charge for a unified movement to support the communities that serve as the foundation of our industry.”
For more information about Gem Legacy, email rachel@gemlegacy.org or visit the organization’s website.
The Latest

The NRF is expecting holiday sales to increase this year, but consumers and retailers alike are facing Grinch-like headwinds.

Our Piece of the Week gathers the planets, represented by a variety of colored gemstones, in a pair of 14-karat yellow gold earrings.

The New York-based jeweler is moving its Amherst flagship store to a larger location in nearby Snyder.

Experience gemstones with greater precision and comfort than ever before.

Chen, who worked at Cartier and Tiffany & Co., will lead retail sales and operations for the luxury jeweler’s 11 U.S. stores.


For 40 years, sisters Amy and Elise Greenberg have helmed their 126-year-old family business, leading with appreciation and integrity.

It’s a term Smith coined and felt compelled to share following a bad experience with an aborted flight and an unfeeling flight attendant.

Submit your pieces for a chance to win in this year's competition.

Movado teamed up with the New York-based fine jewelry designer on a new collection of Movado Museum Velura watches.

The “Some of the Things” box follows the two larger “Everything” box designs with the look and function of antique sewing and toolboxes.

Fourth-generation jewelers Coleman and Mitchell Clark exemplify the best qualities of their predecessors: humility, modesty, and confidence.

Tiffany & Co. continued its full-scale store renovation project while Bulgari’s high jewelry collection generated “record-breaking revenue.”

This year’s sessions feature leading voices from human rights, legal, and conservation organizations.

The high-end jewelry retailer was sold to private investment firm Middle West Partners and a group of longtime clients.

The jewelry designer has partnered with Sofer Jewelry to distribute her 85-piece lab-grown diamond collection.

Dunn, this year’s Single-Store Independent inductee, is passionate about innovation and telling the story of natural diamonds.

The 24-carat fancy intense pink diamond ring could fetch up to $18 million at the November sale.

The “Island Jewel” candle honors New York City and Puerto Rico and raises money for the island’s water relief efforts.
The partnership will give JA members access to preferred pricing, exclusive benefits, technology solutions, education, and resources.

Stores should expect to see the most customers on Nov. 27, and Christmas week is expected to be hectic too, as Dec. 25 falls on a Friday.

The charm, our Piece of the Week, features brown diamond frozen hot chocolate topped with white diamond whipped cream and a ruby straw.

The top lot of Elmwood’s recent fine jewelry sale in London was a 1.84-carat, D color Tiffany & Co. solitaire diamond ring.

The watch company agreed to sell a 95 percent interest to a group comprised of F.P. Journe, Chanel, and Swiss watch exec Pierre Jacques.

This round of tariff refunds is for importers that have sued over IEEPA tariffs in the Court of International Trade and won.

It revisits the brand’s most requested silhouettes, from "Pillow"-set necklaces and bracelets to "Signature"-set rings and earrings.

The trade-only event includes buying opportunities as well as educational sessions on artisanal mining, the new Paraíba source, and more.

Ara Chanakian, a jeweler at Pattons, took home top honors in every category at Jewelers of Louisiana’s annual jewelry design competition.
























