This year’s honorees include a Midwest retailer and two multi-store independents, one in New York and the other in New England.
Irving Korwin, WWII Vet and Founder of Wideband, Dies at 99
He was known for his integrity, passion and knowledge, and was the oldest living member of the 24 Karat Club of the City of New York.

New York—Irving Korwin, a World War II veteran and founder of Wideband Coin Jewelry, died earlier this month of natural causes at his home in Paradise Valley, Arizona.
He was 99 years old.
Korwin was born on Aug. 18, 1920 in the Bronx, New York City, the son of Eastern Europeans who immigrated to the United States through Ellis Island.
He was raised during the Great Depression and entered World War II as an enlisted soldier right after the bombing of Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941.
He served with top-secret clearance, training pilots and military VIPs on the use of radar and radar countermeasures at a base in Florida. Radar was credited with serving a pivotal role in the eventual victory of the Allied forces in both the European and Pacific theaters.
His role in the war effort earned him the nickname “Radar Irv.”
In 1951, Korwin started Wideband Coin Jewelry in New York, a company known for its creative charms that sometimes incorporated coins and, later, specialized in fine karat gold jewelry.
Clients included Bergdorf Goodman in New York and B.C. Clark Jewelers in Oklahoma City.
He worked alongside his son and daughter-in-law, Richard and Sharyn Korwin, for years, and together they created jewelry for a number of famous Americans, including Elvis Presley and former President Dwight D. Eisenhower.
He was a longtime American Gem Society supplier member, a member of the American Numismatic Association—the nonprofit dedicated to the study and collecting of coins—and a 40-year member of the 24 Karat Club of the City of New York.
He was the club’s oldest member at the time of his passing.
Korwin retired from the jewelry industry in 1994 and moved to Boynton Beach, Florida with his wife, Shirley, who passed away in 2009.
He moved to Arizona in 2016 to be near his other son, Alan Korwin.
In 2017, he penned his first book, “The Autobiography of Irving Korwin.” All proceeds from the sale of the book benefit the USO.
As so many do in the industry, Korwin made a lot of friends along the way, and two of his closest were former National Jeweler publisher Milt Gralla, who died in 2012, and Morris Adwar, who passed away in 2018.
In a note to 24 Karat Club members,
“Each of you, in your own way, were special to him,” he wrote. “He will be missed.”
Korwin is survived by two sons and daughters-in-law, Richard and Sharyn, and Alan and Cheryl; four grandchildren, Arielle, Mariel, Spencer and Tyler; and four great-grandchildren, Calvin, Julius, Russell and Sloane.
Anyone wishing to express condolences to the family, or who wants to obtain a copy of Korwin’s book, can contact Richard at R.Korwin@verizon.net or Alan at Alan@gunlaws.com.
The Latest

As an homage to iconic crochet blankets, the necklace features the nostalgic motif through a kaleidoscope of cabochon-cut stones.

Discover the dozen up-and-coming brands exhibiting in the Design Atelier for the first time.

When investing in your jewelry business, it's important not to overlook the most crucial element of success: the sales associates.

The “Royal Ruby” Collection is a quintet of untreated rubies curated by collector Jack Abraham.


The entrepreneur and “Shark Tank” star will share his top tips for success.

Two existing executives have been given new roles.

More shoppers are walking out without buying. Here’s how smart jewelers can bring them back—and the tool they need to do it right.

Meredith Tiderington, an electrical engineering student, was selected for the award.

It will quit assigning the stones specific color and clarity grades in favor of applying “new descriptive terminology.”

From design trends to sustainability, here’s a roundup of can’t-miss education sessions at JCK Las Vegas.

The Jewelers’ Security Alliance offers advice for those attending the annual trade shows.

Her new role is director of strategic initiatives.

The designer is embracing bold pieces with weight to them in “AU79,” a collection she celebrated with a creative launch party.

On an earnings call, CEO J.K. Symancyk discussed what’s working for the company and how it’s preparing for the potential impact of tariffs.

The index partially rebounded after months of decline, due in part to the U.S.-China deal to temporarily reduce import tariffs.

The actress stars in the latest campaign set in Venice, Italy, and is set to participate in other creative initiatives for the jeweler.

The company has joined other labs, including GIA and Lotus Gemology, in adopting the Chinese term for "jadeite jade."

The large stone will be offered at its June sale along with a selection of secondary-type rubies from a new area of the Montepuez mine.

Located in Bangkok, the laboratory is Gemological Science International’s 14th location worldwide.

Those born in June have a myriad of options for their birthstone jewelry.

The diamond industry veteran has been named its senior sales executive.

The company plans to raise the prices of select watches to offset the impact of tariffs.

Between tariffs and the sky-high cost of gold, designers enter this year’s Las Vegas shows with a lot of questions and few answers.

Designed by founder Renato and his daughter Serena Cipullo, it showcases a flame motif representing unity and the power of gathering.

However, the tariffs remain in effect in the short term, as an appeals court has stayed the U.S. Court of International Trade’s decision.

The pop icon is one step closer to launching her “B Tiny” jewelry collection, a collection she first began posting about last fall.