Sponsored by the Gemological Institute of America
Plumb Club Picks a New President
Michael Lerche of Goldstar Jewellery is the group’s new leader, succeeding Jonathan Cohen of IB Goodman Company.

New York—The Plumb Club has announced the results of its annual election.
Michael Lerche of Goldstar Jewellery has been elected president, as Jonathan Cohen of IB Goodman Company steps down after serving his three-year term.
“I look forward to continuing and building on the strategic vision and leadership that Jonathan Cohen has provided for the past three years,” Lerche said in a press release. “With new strategic initiatives that we will be implementing and the building of our new state-of-the-art pavilion for JCK Las Vegas 2019 at the Sands, the next year will be an exciting one for The Plumb Club members and our retail clients.”
Lerche was formerly vice president of the group. Now, A.J. Tosyali of Benchmark will fill that role.
Pranav Shah of KGS Jewels was elected to the board, replacing Sam Sandberg of A. Jaffe, who reached his term limit after serving seven years.
The following Plumb Club board members will continue their roles as directors: Michael Langhammer of Quality Gold, treasurer, executive committee; Roger Forman of Marathon Company, secretary, executive committee; Victor Weinman of Original Designs/ODI, pavilion chairman, executive committee; Corina Bhasin of F.D. Worldwide; Jeffrey Cohen of Citizen Watch America; Jonathan Cohen of IB Goodman; and Roopam Jain of Jewelmark/Simply Diamonds.
The Latest

The 2025 Australian Open champion is the jewelry brand’s first athlete ambassador.

The West Village jewelry boutique’s new shop-in-shop is the cornerstone of Nordstrom’s revamped jewelry hall.

The Seymour & Evelyn Holtzman Bench Scholarship from Jewelers of America returns for a second year.

This past year, the manufacturer said it recorded below-zero emissions per carat of natural diamond.


The brand’s “Golden Strada” statement necklace features round, marquise, and pear diamonds that sparkle like Fourth of July fireworks.

JSA’s Scott Guginsky provided a list of nine security measures jewelers should observe while locking up for the long weekend.

The countdown is on for the JCK Las Vegas Show and JA is pulling out all the stops.

Located on Rodeo Drive, the store’s design was inspired by Hollywood and Los Angeles culture.

The new location continues the brand’s celebration of its 25th anniversary.

The online watch marketplace’s “Time Is Our Thing” campaign highlights the importance of time.

She will oversee strategic planning, fundraising, industry partnerships, and the launch of the Gem Legacy Campus in Tanzania.

Working with Amazon’s Counterfeit Crimes Unit and law enforcement, Pandora helped to shut down a large-scale counterfeit network in China.

The jewelry company has closed its three California brick-and-mortar stores, as well as its online shop, for now.

The company is providing the opportunity for an FIT student to work alongside master diamond cutter Willie Lopez in its workshop.

The jewelry store chain has reportedly been struggling with costs related to tariffs as well as tough retail competition.

Welcome warm summer days with red hot rubies perfectly chosen as July’s birthstone.

Co-founders Afzal Imram and Lin Ruiyin brought their son’s story of a cosmic egg, toadstool, and railroad to life in their new collection.

The best time to prepare for the holiday season is right now, according to columnist Emmanuel Raheb.

This year’s winner is Morgan Keefe, who is currently studying at GIA to be a gemologist.

The company is focused on modernizing the custom jewelry buying experience with e-commerce tools like product visualization and 3D styling.

Following its recent acquisition, the storied brand has updated its leadership team and regional managers.

AGS also named the recipient of its “Women in Leadership” scholarship.

The 20-karat yellow gold and diamond wrap ring is modeled after the Monstera plants in the garden of the brand’s Miami villa.

Rocksbox President Allison Vigil shared the retailer’s expansion plans, and her thoughts on opening stores in malls.

The creator of the WJA Chicago chapter is remembered as a champion for women in the jewelry industry and a loving grandmother.

The decline was consistent across age groups and almost all income groups, with tariffs and inflation still top of mind.