JA Announces Three Bench Scholarship Winners
The Seymour & Evelyn Holtzman Bench Scholarship provides tuition help to aspiring bench jewelers.

The scholarship aims to encourage new talent to become bench jewelers. It provides tuition help to students enrolled in an accredited bench jeweler or metalsmith education program.
The three recipients are Amy Conder, who studies at the Gemological Institute of America; Leah Walshak, who attends the New Approach School for Jewelers; and Teresa Wergedal, who takes courses at Stuller.
The scholarship is the result of a partnership that began this past year between JA and the Holtzmans of Chicago jeweler C.D. Peacock.
"My parents, Seymour and Evelyn Holtzman, have always believed that service and bench jewelers are the foundation of the jewelry industry,” said Steven Holtzman, vice chairman of C.D. Peacock.
“By providing this scholarship, we honor my late father's legacy and hope to help launch many brilliant careers."
JA President and CEO David Bonaparte said, “Bench jewelers are a critical part of our jewelry community, and we are passionate about finding ways to encourage talented individuals to enter and positively impact the field. We know the three recipients will continue to flourish.”
The recipients are all employees at a JA member store and are at least 18 years of age.
They have at least one year of experience working in a JA member store and are not already enrolled in another home study course from any of the educational providers.
For more information, visit the JA website or contact JA’s Member Services at 1-800-223-0673.
The Latest

Five of the 10 fastest-appreciating Rolex models on Bob’s Watches were Datejust 31 or Lady Datejust watches.

The Sherwood family and AJS Creations CEO Tejas Shah purchased the jewelry chain back from Palladium Equity Partners.

“The Elizabeth Taylor Collection” uses lab-grown diamonds and gemstones in contemporary designs inspired by the icon.

Experience gemstones with greater precision and comfort than ever before.

The artist wore Dana Rebecca Designs’ marquise diamond-set gold hoops at the Chiefs game last Sunday. Now they’re our Piece of the Week.


JSA and Jewelers Mutual shared advice on spotting suspicious behavior, combatting cell phone jammers, and staying safe at home.

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

The fancy light blue diamond is estimated to fetch up to $2.6 million at Elmwood’s next week.

“Secret Language of Victorian Jewelry” unveils the meaning behind the symbols, motifs, and gemstones used in Victorian-era jewelry.

KIRAJewels.one gives retailers access to more than 500 SKUs of lab-grown diamond rings, earrings, necklaces, and bracelets.

This holiday season, look to pieces that will help to fill out customers’ everyday diamond jewelry wardrobe, experts say.

The Natural Diamond Council is now The Diamond Collective and has announced a new strategy under CEO Amber Pepper.

Paul’s Jewelers sells coffee, chocolate, and cookies from a custom gold-wrapped trailer parked outside the store starting at 7 a.m.

Part of its brand relaunch, the marketing around the campaign includes a contest involving a jacket set with 550 diamonds.

The jewelry giant has partnered with the famed makeup artist to create a colorful new collection of charms and rings.

The association will mark the milestone at its convention next month.

The jeweler donated school supplies to Memphis, Tennessee, students during the event combining basketball and mentorship.

A federal judge denied Pandora’s motion to dismiss Foundrae’s claim for copyright infringement of its medallions.

People aren’t thinking rationally when they are buying luxury products, and we shouldn’t be selling them that way, Peter Smith writes.

The Baltimore Business Journal recognized the entrepreneur for her leadership in business and the jewelry industry.

The facility is located within SEEPZ and is GCAL by Sarine’s second location in India, joining its existing grading lab in Surat.

Offered at Sotheby’s Hong Kong, the one-of-a-kind white gold watch now holds the title of most valuable Cartier wristwatch sold at auction.

Bernstein-Gulla has been working in the jewelry industry for 40 years, most recently as chief engagement officer for Hill & Co.

The relocated Glendale store, now at The Americana at Brand, was designed to be a contemporary “timepiece haven” inspired by luxury resorts.

The top lot of the auction house’s Hong Kong jewelry sale was an Art Deco Mauboussin necklace with ruby beads, which sold for $2 million.

Retailers and manufacturers headed to the Capitol this week to discuss tariff exemptions for diamonds and gemstones, among other issues.
























