AGS Announces First Recipient of ‘Women in Leadership’ Scholarship
Amber Rank of Exclusively Diamonds will receive mentorship, registration to AGS’s 2024 Conclave, and $500.

AGS will match Rank with an industry leader who aligns with her goals and interests to mentor her by providing personalized advice, insights, and guidance tailored to advancing her career in the jewelry industry.
The award includes complimentary registration to AGS Conclave 2024, held in Austin, Texas, from April 15 to 17. She will also receive a $500 gift card.
The Women in Leadership scholarship continues AGS’s commitment to nurturing future women leaders in the jewelry industry, said the society.
“Amber exemplifies the drive and spirit the Women in Leadership scholarship seeks to promote,” said Katherine Bodoh, CEO of AGS.
“We are proud to support her progress and are excited to see where her journey takes her.”
Rank is a sales lead and Tudor experience liaison at Exclusively Diamonds in Mankato, Minnesota.
Previously, she earned the AGS Certified Sales Associate designation.
Rank began her professional career in the jewelry industry when she joined Exclusively Diamonds in 2020. She holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration and communication from Bethany Lutheran College.
“This award affirms my dedication to excellence and continued growth,” said Rank.
“It empowers me to elevate my leadership skills further, build significant connections, and gain invaluable insights from a mentor, enhancing not only my professional journey but also contributing to the advancement of women in the dynamic world of jewelry.”
For more information about AGS and the Women in Leadership scholarship, visit AGS’s website.
The Latest

The company had a solid second quarter, with sales of non-charm jewelry outpacing sales of pieces in its core collections.

Taylor Swift dons the vibrant pair in new promotional imagery for her upcoming album, “The Life of a Showgirl,” set to release in October.

Its investment in micromechanics expert Inhotec will preserve skills essential to the watchmaking industry as a whole, said the company.

As a leading global jewelry supplier, Rio Grande is rapidly expanding and developing new solutions to meet the needs of jewelers worldwide.

Nicolette Bianchi joins the wholesale provider with more than 15 years of cross-industry experience in marketing and product development.


Her new “Ocean” collection was inspired by Myanmar’s traditional articulated fish jewelry, with depictions of flounder, catfish, and more.

Longtime Casio executive Yusuke Suzuki is the new president and CEO of Casio’s U.S. subsidiary.

The Seymour & Evelyn Holtzman Bench Scholarship from Jewelers of America returns for a second year.

The full-day sourcing and networking event, slated for Aug. 18, will be followed by the fifth annual Mega Mixer Summer Soirée.

Model Georgina Rodríguez received a rock of an engagement ring, with her diamond estimated to be 35 carats, experts say.

The board elected 9 new directors at its recent ICA Congress in Brazil.

Three winners will receive a custom ring from Honest Hands Ring Co. inlaid with a piece of history from Denver-based distillery Stranahan’s.

JD Sports and Wawa were among the fastest-growing retail companies in the U.S. last year.

The new inventory, all untreated, features vibrant hues and unique bicolor combinations.

Acquired by a tech investor, the historic brand will continue to focus on jewelry, accessories, and timepieces.

President Donald Trump issued an executive order extending the pause on higher tariffs to November as negotiations with China continue.

The “Thunderbird Slab” collection features a thunderbird motif as a symbol of power, protection, and boundless possibility.

Columnists Jen Cullen Williams and Duvall O’Steen share tips on how to elevate your professional image.

Peter Damian Arguello, a jeweler in the Denver suburb of Wheat Ridge, was found dead inside his store in November 2023.

The retailer, owned by Berkshire Hathaway, is becoming part of the Berkshire Hathaway Jewelry Group with Helzberg.

Associate Editor Lauren McLemore recently attended a fabrics trade show where a trend forecaster shared her predictions for summer 2027.

The company raised its full-year sales guidance while noting it has not yet assessed the potential impact of the latest tariff news.

The brand’s latest iteration of a bezel-set diamond bangle features clean lines and a timeless design for a new modern silhouette.

The first watch in the series commemorates his participation in the Civil Rights movement, marching from Selma to Montgomery in 1965.

The catalog contains a complete listing of all the loose gemstones in stock, as well as information about the properties of each stone.

The company added a retailer dashboard to its site and three new birds to its charm collection, the cardinal, blue jay, and hummingbird.

An additional 25 percent tariff has been added to the previously announced 25 percent.