Events & AwardsAug 12, 2024
24 Karat Club of Southern California Announces 2024 HonoreesEvents & AwardsAug 15, 2024
Heather Ingraham Awarded WJA Helene Fortunoff Scholarship
Ingraham said she’ll use the scholarship funds to attend the Women’s Leadership Program at the Yale School of Management.
Heather Ingraham, divisional merchandise director for jewelry, bridal and diamonds for The 1916 Company (WatchBox), is the 2024 recipient of the Helene Fortunoff Women in Retail scholarship.
New York—Heather Ingraham, a buyer with over two decades of experience in the industry, is the second recipient of the Women’s Jewelry Association Foundation’s Helene Fortunoff Women in Retail scholarship.
Ingraham, a GIA G.G., spent nearly 19 years at Borsheims, working as a sales associate, assistant diamond buyer, and diamond buyer.
In 2021, she joined Hyde Park Jewelers in Denver as its diamond and bridal buyer.
Since April of this year, she has worked as the divisional merchandise director for jewelry, bridal, and diamonds for WatchBox. WatchBox is part of newly formed The 1916 Company, which also includes Hyde Park Jewelers, as well as Govberg Jewelers and Radcliffe Jewelers.
Ingraham, who announced she had received the scholarship via LinkedIn, said she is honored to be part of Fortunoff’s legacy and grateful to the panel of judges—Esther Fortunoff-Greene, Ruth Fortunoff-Cooper, Gabrielle Grazi, and Danielle Gaudio-Lalehzar—for the award.
Ingraham, a GIA G.G., spent nearly 19 years at Borsheims, working as a sales associate, assistant diamond buyer, and diamond buyer.
In 2021, she joined Hyde Park Jewelers in Denver as its diamond and bridal buyer.
Since April of this year, she has worked as the divisional merchandise director for jewelry, bridal, and diamonds for WatchBox. WatchBox is part of newly formed The 1916 Company, which also includes Hyde Park Jewelers, as well as Govberg Jewelers and Radcliffe Jewelers.
Ingraham, who announced she had received the scholarship via LinkedIn, said she is honored to be part of Fortunoff’s legacy and grateful to the panel of judges—Esther Fortunoff-Greene, Ruth Fortunoff-Cooper, Gabrielle Grazi, and Danielle Gaudio-Lalehzar—for the award.
“I understand that the greatest gift you can give someone is to believe in them,” Ingraham wrote.
“Thank you for believing in me and I intend to make you proud. Education and generosity are key components of my life, and I will use this opportunity to teach others what I have learned.”
She said will use the money to the attend the Women’s Leadership program at the Yale School of Management.
The WJA Foundation, the nonprofit arm of WJA, created the Helene Fortunoff Women in Retail Scholarship in 2023 to honor Fortunoff, an industry legend, trailblazer, and WJA founding member who died in 2021.
The $7,500 scholarship was designed to support leaders in retail by helping them fund education and management training opportunities.
Ashley Kets, store manager at Springer’s Jewelers in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, was the award’s inaugural recipient.
Editors' Picks
Sponsored by
More on Events & Awards
The Latest
FinancialsAug 15, 2025
In Q2 Results, Pandora Talks Tariffs, Q4 Plans The company had a solid second quarter, with sales of non-charm jewelry outpacing sales of pieces in its core collections.
EditorsAug 15, 2025
Piece of the Week: Etho Maria’s Showgirl-Approved Ruby Drop Earrings Taylor Swift dons the vibrant pair in new promotional imagery for her upcoming album, “The Life of a Showgirl,” set to release in October.
WatchesAug 15, 2025
Audemars Piguet Acquires Majority Stake in ManufacturerIts investment in micromechanics expert Inhotec will preserve skills essential to the watchmaking industry as a whole, said the company.
Brought to you by
Taking the Moment Head On: How Rio Grande Champions the Present & Future of Fine JewelryAs a leading global jewelry supplier, Rio Grande is rapidly expanding and developing new solutions to meet the needs of jewelers worldwide.
MajorsAug 15, 2025
Rio Grande Names New Marketing DirectorNicolette Bianchi joins the wholesale provider with more than 15 years of cross-industry experience in marketing and product development.
Weekly QuizAug 15, 2025
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
CollectionsAug 14, 2025
In Midst of ‘Sardine Girl Summer,’ Pippa Small Looks to ‘Flounder Fall’Her new “Ocean” collection was inspired by Myanmar’s traditional articulated fish jewelry, with depictions of flounder, catfish, and more.
MajorsAug 14, 2025
Casio America Names New CEOLongtime Casio executive Yusuke Suzuki is the new president and CEO of Casio’s U.S. subsidiary.
Brought to you by
Investing in the Next Generation of Bench JewelersThe Seymour & Evelyn Holtzman Bench Scholarship from Jewelers of America returns for a second year.
SourcingAug 14, 2025
West Coast Orgs to Host Trading Event, Mixer in LAThe full-day sourcing and networking event, slated for Aug. 18, will be followed by the fifth annual Mega Mixer Summer Soirée.
TrendsAug 13, 2025
Cristiano Ronaldo Proposes With Gigantic Oval-Cut DiamondModel Georgina Rodríguez received a rock of an engagement ring, with her diamond estimated to be 35 carats, experts say.
SourcingAug 13, 2025
ICA Names 2025 Board of DirectorsThe board elected 9 new directors at its recent ICA Congress in Brazil.
TrendsAug 13, 2025
Colorado Jeweler, Whiskey Maker Collab on Ring GiveawayThree winners will receive a custom ring from Honest Hands Ring Co. inlaid with a piece of history from Denver-based distillery Stranahan’s.
SurveysAug 13, 2025
These Are The 25 Hottest Retailers, Says NRFJD Sports and Wawa were among the fastest-growing retail companies in the U.S. last year.
SourcingAug 13, 2025
Columbia Gem House Launches Winza Sapphires, RubiesThe new inventory, all untreated, features vibrant hues and unique bicolor combinations.
SourcingAug 12, 2025
Gemfields Sells Fabergé for $50MAcquired by a tech investor, the historic brand will continue to focus on jewelry, accessories, and timepieces.
Policies & IssuesAug 12, 2025
Higher Tariff on Chinese Imports Paused for 90 Days, Trump SaysPresident Donald Trump issued an executive order extending the pause on higher tariffs to November as negotiations with China continue.
CollectionsAug 12, 2025
Jacquie Aiche’s New Collection Harnesses the Energy of the ThunderbirdThe “Thunderbird Slab” collection features a thunderbird motif as a symbol of power, protection, and boundless possibility.
ColumnistsAug 12, 2025
Creative Connecting: How to Take a Better HeadshotColumnists Jen Cullen Williams and Duvall O’Steen share tips on how to elevate your professional image.
CrimeAug 11, 2025
Man Convicted of First-Degree Murder in Death of Colorado JewelerPeter Damian Arguello, a jeweler in the Denver suburb of Wheat Ridge, was found dead inside his store in November 2023.
IndependentsAug 11, 2025
Lisa Bridge to Depart Ben Bridge JewelerThe retailer, owned by Berkshire Hathaway, is becoming part of the Berkshire Hathaway Jewelry Group with Helzberg.
EditorsAug 11, 2025
The Colors Expected to Be On-Trend in a Couple YearsAssociate Editor Lauren McLemore recently attended a fabrics trade show where a trend forecaster shared her predictions for summer 2027.
FinancialsAug 08, 2025
Brilliant Earth’s Q2 Sales Up 3% as Engagement Ring Sales RiseThe company raised its full-year sales guidance while noting it has not yet assessed the potential impact of the latest tariff news.
TrendsAug 08, 2025
Piece of the Week: Rahaminov Diamonds’ Bezel BangleThe brand’s latest iteration of a bezel-set diamond bangle features clean lines and a timeless design for a new modern silhouette.
WatchesAug 07, 2025
Bulova’s New Collection Honors Tony BennettThe first watch in the series commemorates his participation in the Civil Rights movement, marching from Selma to Montgomery in 1965.
Lab-GrownAug 07, 2025
Chatham Releases Catalog for Loose Lab-Grown GemstonesThe catalog contains a complete listing of all the loose gemstones in stock, as well as information about the properties of each stone.
TechnologyAug 07, 2025
Rembrandt Charms Debuts New Website, Bird CharmsThe company added a retailer dashboard to its site and three new birds to its charm collection, the cardinal, blue jay, and hummingbird.
Policies & IssuesAug 06, 2025
Tariff on India to Rise to 50%, Trump Says An additional 25 percent tariff has been added to the previously announced 25 percent.
