Jewelers Mutual, GIA Launch Scholarship for Aspiring Gemologists
The “Ron Harder Gemological Scholarship” application window is open until April 30.

Jewelers Mutual has provided $50,000 to fund the new Ron Harder Gemological Scholarship. It will award $10,000 annually, over the next five years.
The scholarship is named in honor of Ron Harder, who served as the CEO of Jewelers Mutual from 1982 to 2007 and whose legacy in the jewelry industry is marked by a commitment to excellence, innovation, and education, said Jewelers Mutual.
"I am delighted to see Jewelers Mutual and GIA investing in future gemologists,” said Harder.
“This scholarship reflects our shared dedication to nurturing talent and ensuring the industry's continued growth and success."
Applicants must be enrolled in GIA’s gemology program.
Along with their application, applicants are required to submit an essay between 500 and 1,000 words explaining how the scholarship will assist with their completion of the program and prepare them for a career in the jewelry industry.
“Education is at the heart of our mission, and we are grateful for Jewelers Mutual’s support to empower students with the knowledge and skills to launch successful gem and jewelry careers,” said Susan Jacques, GIA president and CEO.
The deadline for applications is April 30. To apply, visit GIA’s application portal.
The Latest

Everett covers colored stones’ surging popularity, the mellow return of the “Mellon Blue,” and his “The Devil Wears Prada” doppelgänger.

The NYPD is warning elderly New Yorkers to keep their jewelry hidden when walking outside to avoid being a target.

Designer Viviana Langhoff has realized her dream of owning a space for her Chicago jewelry store that looks and feels like her brand.

As gold prices rise, today’s retailers are looking for alternatives at prices that will appeal to wider audiences.

The sessions will run from Friday, May 29, to Sunday, May 31, with one being a live taping of an episode of Couture’s podcast.


Former Stephanie Gottlieb Fine Jewelry executive Morgan P. Richardson is joining the lab-grown diamond jewelry brand.

The $400 pocket watch is a blend of Audemars Piguet’s iconic eight-sided Royal Oak and Swatch’s unserious Pop watches from the ‘80s.

With the trade and customer trust in mind, GIA® developed NextGem™ – on-demand training designed specifically for retail.

With gold prices on the rise, the “Modern Electrum” collection uses an alternative, non-tarnishing metal alloy composed of gold and silver.

Fruchtman Marketing has new owners, Erin Moyer-Carballea and Manuel Carballea, and will relocate to Miami.

In a column for the 2026 State of the Majors issue, Smith lists 10 time-tested principles about sales that still ring true.

In a column for the 2026 State of the Majors issue, Golan spells out how the growing economic divide in the U.S. is reshaping the market.

The “Limitless Expansion of Joy and Hope” collection evokes summer through colored gemstones and motifs of butterflies and florals.

The jewel, circa 1890, is from the late Victorian era and was owned by descendants of the last high king of Ireland.

This is what the nine recipients plan to do with the funds.

The Western star’s 14-karat gold signet ring sold for six times its low estimate following a bidding war at U.K. auction house Elmwood’s.

The discussion, "Rebuilding the Jewelry Workforce," will take place on Saturday, May 16, in Troy, Michigan.

The jewelry industry is reassessing its positioning as Gen Z reshapes the retail landscape and lab grown continues to gain market share.

A matching pair of 18.38-carat, D-color diamonds from Botswana’s Jwaneng mine sold for $3.3 million, the top lot of the jewelry auction.

Sponsored by A Diamond Is Forever

The next generation of lapidarists are entrepreneurial, engaged online, and see the craft as a means for artistic expression.

It was the second auction appearance for the fancy vivid blue-green diamond, which sold for $7.8 million at Christie’s Geneva 12 years ago.

Members of the U.S. Marshals Task Force took a 22-year-old man into custody. He was charged with tampering with evidence.

While the overall number of crimes was down, there were more incidences in which robbers pulled out guns, mace, or rammed cars into stores.

Jack Sutton Fine Jewelry is closing its store inside the downtown shopping center after 40 years in business.

Reena Ahluwalia’s painting of the rare red diamond is the first contemporary painting to join the National Gem Collection.

The price of gold has risen, affecting the number of pieces designers make, the materials they use, and how they position themselves.



























