JVC Reveals Recipient of Stanley Schechter Award
Reeds Jewelers CEO Alan Zimmer will be presented with the honor at JVC’s annual luncheon.

Zimmer will be presented with the award at JVC’s annual luncheon on March 14 at the Pierre Hotel in New York City.
The award honors those that embody leadership, integrity, and passion for elevating the jewelry community’s reputation in the U.S. and worldwide, characteristics embodied by the late Stanley Schechter, said JVC.
JVC established the award in 2002 to honor Schechter, founder of Honora Industries, who was known for his work in the pearl sector, as well as his more than 50 years of dedication to maintaining ethics and integrity in the jewelry industry. He was a lifetime member of JVC and a member of the JVC board from the 1960s to 2000.
Stanley’s son Joel Schechter will present the award.
Zimmer is the president and CEO of Reeds Jewelers. Son of Reeds founder Bill Zimmer, he joined his father’s company in 1981 as executive vice president, taking the reins as president and CEO by 1985.
Under his leadership, the jeweler has blended high-touch experiential retail with innovative digital commerce through the Reeds website, said JVC.
He has also embedded his dedication to philanthropy in Reeds’ culture; the company supports the Zimmer Cancer Institute at Novant Health New Hanover Regional Medical Center and other charitable organizations.
Zimmer is a recognized leader in the industry. In 1992, Zimmer was inducted into National Jeweler’s Retail Hall of Fame.
In 2019, he received the American Gem Society’s Lifetime Achievement Award.
He has also served on industry and philanthropic boards, including for JVC, as well as for Jewelers of America, where he was chairman from 2003 to 2005.
Zimmer currently serves on the Jewelers for Children board of directors, and previously, he was treasurer for the organization from 2016 to 2019 and chairman from 2019 to 2021.
He has also served on the Jewelers’ Security Alliance board since 2018 and is currently chairman of the board.
“I could not be more thrilled to recognize Alan Zimmer with this award,” said Sara Yood, JVC’s president, CEO, and general counsel.
“Alan’s dedication to serving on industry boards shows just a hint of his passion for the jewelry industry and for elevating it in the eye of the consumer. He truly embodies the leadership values that were important to Stanley and have been passed down through generations.”
The Latest

David Bonaparte, along with Tim Haake and Ronnie VanderLinden, continue to lobby for tariff exemptions for diamonds, gemstones, and pearls.

Survey respondents were concerned about the rising prices of food and groceries as well as unemployment.

Endiama Commercial Director Elton Escrivão knows people have a lot of misperceptions about Angola. He wants to change that.

Retailers are seeking new ways to attract customers, increase traffic, and create revenue – Estate buying events are a popular solution.

Reilly has been with PGI USA for the last 20 years, leading partnership development and professional education.


Boucheron reached record sales while Pomellato found success in its signature collections.

She was one of more than 120 American designers who created flags for the “United Flags of Fashion” project led by CFDA and Vogue.

Colored gemstones, artisan finishes, mixed metals, and meaningful details are shaping demand in bridal jewelry.

Smith reveals the method The Retail Smiths use to help retailers and vendors write better job postings.

LVMH’s jewelry and watch brands outperformed the company’s other divisions in an environment the company described as “disrupted.”

“Sacred Heart” features symbols like crosses, angel wings, the Star of David, and the evil eye as a representation of coexistence.
The scholarships will go to early-career professionals looking to study gemology, bench work and jewelry design, or store operations.

Bain & Company delved into the trends shaping the luxury market, the impact of AI, and more in its recent study.

The exhibition reveals the gemology, geology, and cultural history of the iconic red gemstone.

The new sweeping slate of tariffs impacts 60 countries, including India, China, Thailand, Hong Kong, and the United Arab Emirates.

From coin pendants to diamond shields, these old world-inspired jewels are the perfect accessory for an epic journey.

Our Piece of the Week pairs a checkerboard-cut amethyst with an ivy green silk cord.

Mildred Marcano Abrams and Yael Reinhold join the podcast to talk community connections, holiday plans, and preserving Reinhold’s legacy.

Production also was up in the first half of 2026 but is expected to “substantially” decrease in H2 as two key mines undergo maintenance.

“Art Deco” fuses ancestral techniques, rare materials, and modern perspectives as a tribute to the optimism and curiosity of the movement.

The jeweler’s newest store is inside Arkansas’ Saracen Casino Resort.

The watch company will design, manufacture, and distribute Kate Spade New York watches.

The higher tax is set to go into effect in August and will apply to loose polished diamonds as well as precious and base metals jewelry.

The “Enchanted Garden” series features a cherry, lemon, and pear that each hold a little secret inside.

It’s located in Tysons Galleria, an upscale shopping center in the Washington, D.C., metro area.

The show, recently acquired by Rockview Management Group, will be held at New York City’s Javits Center from Aug. 2-4.

Smith offers retailers guidance on creating an environment where natural and lab-grown diamonds can both thrive.


























