London-based investment firm Pemberton Asset Management acquired the auction house for an undisclosed amount.
John Henne Elected Chair of JA Board
The Pittsburgh jeweler succeeds Ryan Berg of Lee Michaels Fine Jewelry.

New York--Jewelers of America has elected Pittsburgh jeweler John Henne as its next board chairman, succeeding Ryan Berg, market president of Lee Michaels Fine Jewelry.
Henne has managed Henne Jewelers, which his great-grandfather opened in 1887, since 1998. He oversees all aspects of the business, including diamond procurement, accounting, sales and marketing.
Under his leadership, the Pittsburgh store has grown and won numerous local business and retail jewelry awards.
In addition, he was inducted into National Jeweler’s Retailer Hall of Fame this year in the Single-Store Independent category.
JA President and CEO David J. Bonaparte called Henne a “natural leader,” and said: “Under John’s leadership, I know that Jewelers of America is poised to grow, better serve our members in this ever-changing retail environment and enhance our customer outreach to benefit the jewelry industry as a whole.”
In his new role as JA board chairman, he will lead an executive committee of the following elected officers: Chair-Elect Holly Wesche of Wesche Jewelers; Vice Chair Cathy Tivol of Tivol Inc.; Vice Chair Marc Bridge of Ben Bridge Jeweler; Treasurer Robert F. Moeller II, R.F. Moeller Jeweler; and Secretary Coleman Clark, B.C. Clark Jewelers.
Henne was elected to the post Monday, at the JA board meeting that also welcomed a slate of new directors and the re-election of two directors for a three-year term: Mercedes Abramo of Cartier and Karen Goracke of Borsheims.
The new directors are:
Peter Engel, president of Fred Meyer Jewelers;
Elise Greenberg, CEO of Greenberg’s Jewelers in Sioux City, Iowa;
Chuck Kuba, president and owner of Iowa Diamond in Des Moines;
Steve Padis of Padis Jewelry in San Francisco; and
Steve Velasquez, CEO of Bailey, Banks & Biddle.
In addition to Berg, the outgoing directors are Larry Pelzel, who heads fine jewelry at Neiman Marcus, and Michael Pollak of Hyde Park Jewelers.
A complete list of JA’s 2017-2018 board of directors is available on the JA website.
The Latest

The workshop will give attendees the chance to try out and ask questions about three different diamond verification instruments.

The footage shows two of the jewelry heist suspects descending from the second floor of the museum and then escaping via scooter.

As the holiday season quickly approaches, consider stocking one category that sometimes gets overlooked: earrings.

Founder and designer Rosanna Fiedler looked to a vintage Cartier clutch when designing the sunlight-inspired drop earrings.


The luxury conglomerates faced a challenging Q3 amid geopolitical and economic tensions.

The struggling diamond mining company, which owns the historic Cullinan mine, has launched a rights issue to raise about $25 million.

You deserve to know what you are selling–to protect your customers as well as your business and your reputation.

The book details the journey of watches as symbols of hard-earned success in hip-hop for artists like 2Pac, Jay-Z, and more.

Alexis Vourvoulis, who most recently worked at Tiffany & Co., brings more than two decades of jewelry experience to her new role.

The superstar’s August engagement put the stamp of approval on an already hot engagement ring trend.

Retailers should offer classic styles with a twist that are a perfect fit for layered looks, experts say.

The nearly 7-carat fancy vivid purplish pink diamond could sell for around $9 million.

The retailer’s new collection of engagement rings and fashion jewelry is set with natural diamonds that are traceable via blockchain.

Chief Artistic Officer Nathalie Verdeille has reimagined the iconic design in both figurative and abstract creations.

Five dollars buys one vote toward an industry professional you want to see dressed up as a hero, or a villain, this Halloween.

Recently acquired by KIL Promotions, the November edition of the public show in San Mateo, California, will be held Nov. 7-9.

The stone’s two zones, one pink and one colorless, may have formed at two different times, the lab said.

Hollywood glamour meets Milanese sophistication in the design of Pomellato’s new store in Beverly Hills, California.

The New York City store showcases a chandelier with 1,500 carats of lab-grown diamonds designed by an FIT student.

The Museum of Arts and Design's new exhibition features 75 pieces by the designer, best known for her work in the “Black Panther” films.

Making its auction debut, "The Glowing Rose" is expected to fetch $20 million at the November jewelry sale in Geneva.

They were attacked on Oct. 15, as approximately 40 miners without licenses marched on the mine’s gate.

It took the masked thieves less than 10 minutes to steal eight irreplaceable jewels from two display cases in the museum’s Apollo Gallery.

Gemologist Lauren Gayda has previously worked at The Clear Cut, Taylor & Hart, and Effy Jewelry.

The new showcase dedicated to Italian jewelry design is set for Oct. 29-30.

Take a gaze at the sky with this pair of platinum diamond-set star earrings with blue lace agate drops.



















