CollectionsOct 02, 2025
Boucheron Debuts Cuffs Crafted With 3D-Printed SandIts “Quantre Sand” capsule was made using a 3D sand printing technique borrowed from the automotive and aeronautics industries.
IndependentsNov 03, 2017
Sallie Morton, First Female President of AGS, Dies at 91
Morton died Oct. 24 of mesothelioma, a cancer caused by asbestos.
Sallie Morton
Los Gatos, Calif.--Sallie Morton, the American Gem Society’s first female president and a vital part of the growth of its guilds, died Oct. 24. She was 91.
She was diagnosed with mesothelioma, a cancer caused by asbestos, in June 2013, according to an online obituary.
Morton was born Nov. 8, 1925, in Reno, Nevada, to Meredith Raines Miller and Sadie Phillips Miller.
After graduating from Reno High School, she went on to the University of Oregon, where she graduated with a degree in accounting and then worked for Skinner & Hammond in San Francisco.
In September 1949, she married MacDonald G. Morton from Riverside, California and moved to San Jose, where he was a senior in the watchmaking program at San Jose State University. The two opened a watch repair shop inside Bettencourt’s Market.
They moved to Cambrian Park Plaza in 1955, at which time Sallie became a gemologist.
Morton Jewelers was established in 1964 and remained in Town & Country Village through 1988. (When it was torn down to build Santana Row years later, asbestos was found in its roof.)
In 1988, they moved the store to Los Gatos. Six years later, Morton sold it and retired.
She was named the first female president of the American Gem Society in 1977 and served in the role until 1979. Morton also was instrumental in developing the AGS Guilds, driving around the country and going from store to store to spark interest.
In 1982, she became the first woman to receive the Robert M. Shipley Award.
In 2014, the American Gem Society starting giving out the annual Sallie Morton Award, recognizing the contribution of individuals who have gone over and above in their service to the AGS Guilds each year.
She also was involved in plenty of activities outside of the industry, including the Rotary Club of San Jose and the National Lymphedema Society, as well as affiliations with the Good Samaritan Hospital’s H2U trips and Tours Travel Program.
“(She was) a true trailblazer not just for women, but men as well who wanted to succeed in the jewelry industry. She was a great example of someone who, like many, was not born into this industry, but could soar to new heights,” said Cathy Calhoun of Calhoun Jewelers, the first recipient of the AGS Sallie Morton Guild Award.
Calhoun added that once, when she asked her how she achieved so much, Morton told
her that she never wasted time.
“I will be forever inspired by the passion of Sallie Morton and her passion for the American Gem Society,” she said, “R.I.P. my friend! You did good.”
AGS CEO Katherine Bodoh posted on the organization’s Facebook page: “Ms. Morton’s contribution to the American Gem Society will never be forgotten. We are forever grateful for all she has done for our association.”
A memorial service will be held at The Terraces of Los Gatos from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday.
In lieu of flowers, her family is asking that donations be made to Compassion & Choices, P.O. Box 485, Etna, New Hampshire, 03750, or to a favorite charity.
“I will be forever inspired by the passion of Sallie Morton and her passion for the American Gem Society,” she said, “R.I.P. my friend! You did good.”
AGS CEO Katherine Bodoh posted on the organization’s Facebook page: “Ms. Morton’s contribution to the American Gem Society will never be forgotten. We are forever grateful for all she has done for our association.”
A memorial service will be held at The Terraces of Los Gatos from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday.
In lieu of flowers, her family is asking that donations be made to Compassion & Choices, P.O. Box 485, Etna, New Hampshire, 03750, or to a favorite charity.
More on Independents
The Latest
CrimeOct 02, 2025
$1M in Jewelry Stolen in Northern California Smash and Grab Four individuals have been charged in the “takeover-style” robbery of Heller Jewelers last month, and additional charges are expected.
MajorsOct 02, 2025
Neil Lane Jewelry Exhibition Coming to Toledo Museum of Art“Radiance and Reverie” will showcase more than 150 jewels from Lane’s personal collection by Tiffany & Co., Cartier, and more.
TrendsOct 02, 2025
Amanda’s Style File: October’s Colorful ShowThe month’s birthstones, tourmaline and opal, complement the palette of autumn.
Weekly QuizOct 02, 2025
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
ColumnistsOct 01, 2025
Peter Smith: Why Vendor Success Starts With Self-ReflectionSmith shares the importance of looking at your company with openness and honesty to identify opportunities you may be missing.
EditorsOct 01, 2025
Playing Favorites: The Best Jewelry From VicenzaoroAssociate Editor Natalie Francisco visited Italy to spot jewelry trends at the September Vicenzaoro show and share her top finds.
Brought to you by
reDollar.com Is Rolling Out the Next Level Jewelry, Diamond & Watch Consignment ProgramWith their unmatched services and low fees, reDollar.com is challenging some big names in the online consignment world.
SurveysOct 01, 2025
Consumer Confidence Hits 5-Month Low in September Respondents were concerned about job availability and rising prices.
SourcingOct 01, 2025
Gemfields’ H1 Revenue Falls 47%Its latest interim financials revealed a challenging first half due in part to production troubles at its mines.
MajorsSep 30, 2025
Pandora CEO to Retire in 2026, Hand Reins to CMO Alexander Lacik has led Pandora since 2019. Berta de Pablos-Barbier will succeed him, the first woman to head the company.
CrimeSep 30, 2025
2 Suspects Charged in $300K Sleight-of-Hand Jewelry Store ScamTwo men allegedly used counterfeit bills to purchase luxury watches and jewelry from a North Carolina jeweler.
CollectionsSep 30, 2025
Billie Eilish, Finneas Partner with John HardyThe “Lovestruck” collection, designed with the Academy and Grammy award-winning siblings, is the brand’s first lab-grown diamond offering.
TrendsSep 29, 2025
Amanda’s Style File: Ear FocusMove over neck mess, the ear story is the way to make a layering statement today.
IndependentsSep 29, 2025
Mark Henry Jewelry to Debut in CanadaThe New York-based brand is set to launch a limited-time offering for the holiday season at Holt Renfrew in Toronto.
MajorsSep 29, 2025
Overnight Releases New Bridal CatalogThe “Volume 7” bridal catalog features best-selling engagement rings, trending styles, and a new section highlighting anniversary bands.
SurveysSep 26, 2025
Online Shopping, Influencers to Drive Holiday Spending, Mastercard SaysHoliday sales growth is expected to slow as consumers grapple with inflation and tariff-related uncertainty.
Events & AwardsSep 26, 2025
Winners of Austin Jewelry Design Contest Announced Jamie Turner Designs is among the winners of the local “Austin Shines” contest, hosted by Eliza Page, a jewelry store in Austin, Texas.
TrendsSep 26, 2025
Piece of the Week: Kwit Jewelry’s Square Signet Pinky RingThe red and azure colorway is one of many fun enamel pairings offered, bringing whimsy to the classic style of a monogramed signet ring.
Policies & IssuesSep 25, 2025
JA CEO Provides Tariff Update Following Annual Fly-InA trade deal with Switzerland seems probable, but reaching an agreement with India remains a challenge, David Bonaparte said.
SourcingSep 25, 2025
2 African Countries Aim to Take Stake in De Beers Botswana’s president said his country wants a controlling share, while Angola envisions multiple countries holding minority stakes.
Lab-GrownSep 25, 2025
Kira Jewels Expands Lab-Grown Diamond ProductionThe manufacturer is adding 1,400 chemical vapor deposition (CVD) reactors to its growing facility in India.
IndependentsSep 25, 2025
Alex Moss’ New Flagship Brings Bold Jewels to SoHoThe jeweler to the stars has worked with Drake, A$AP Rocky, Tyler the Creator, and other celebrities.
WatchesSep 25, 2025
Wilson & Son Jewelers Donates to the Horological Society of New YorkThe Scarsdale, New York-based jeweler donated a professional-grade watch cleaning machine.
Policies & IssuesSep 24, 2025
Tariffs Throw Diamond Trade Into DisarrayThe 50 percent tariffs on diamonds shipped from India to the U.S. have pushed midstream manufacturers to the edge.
SourcingSep 24, 2025
De Beers Adopts New Strategies to Drive Natural Diamond Demand in IndiaDe Beers’ refreshed, multipronged approach, which includes generic promotions and retail partnerships, is delivering positive dividends.
Policies & IssuesSep 24, 2025
For Jewelry Manufacturers, Higher Tariffs Create Long-Term WorriesThey are trying to balance the need to sustain well-established relationships with the pressure higher tariffs have put on margins.
