Policies & IssuesNov 14, 2025
U.S., Switzerland Reach Deal That Drops Tariff to 15%The Swiss government announced the deal, which cuts the tax on Swiss imports by more than half, on social media Friday morning.
MajorsJun 11, 2015
The 2015 WJA Awards for Excellence nominees are …
The list of nominees for the Women’s Jewelry Association’s 2015 Awards for Excellence are out, but the winners won’t be announced until next month.
New York--The list of nominees for the Women’s Jewelry Association’s 2015 Awards for Excellence are out, but the winners won’t be announced until next month.
Last year, the WJA kept the names of winners a secret until the night of its annual gala, and the organization is continuing that tradition this year.
The WJA’s 2015 Awards for Excellence gala is scheduled for Monday, July 27 at Chelsea Piers in New York. The evening will include the traditional raffle held to raise money for the scholarships and grants the WJA awards to women in the jewelry industry. For more information or tickets, visit WomensJewelryAssociation.com.
As announced in January, at the gala the WJA also will honor J.C. Penney’s Pam Mortensen with its Lifetime Achievement Award and C. Clayton Bromberg of Underwood Jewelers with the Ben Kaiser Award, which goes to a man who has helped women advance in the jewelry industry. In addition, Gumuchian will receive the Corporate Award.
The nominees are:
Category I – Design
Emily Armenta, Emily Armenta
Pamela Froman, Pamela Froman Fine Jewelry
Suzanne Kalandjian, Suzanne Kalan
Monica Rich Kosann, Monica Rich Kosann
Category II – Manufacturer/Dealer/Supplier
Karishma Javeri, SDC Designs LLC
Sylvie Levine, Sylvie Collection
Zina Sherman, Zina Sterling
Laurie Watt, Mayer & Watt
Category IIIa – Retail, 15 doors or more
Lisa Bridge, Ben Bridge Jewelers
Eve Rogers, Graff
Category IIIb – Retail, fewer than 15 doors
Ellen Hertz, Max’s
Veronica Guarino, Louis Anthony Jewelers
Tara Silberberg, The Clay Pot
Melissa Quick, Steve Quick Jeweler
Category IIIc – Non-Traditional Retail
Alexis Clarbour, Portero
Amy Jain/Daniella Yacobovsky, BaubleBar
Beth Gerstein, Brilliant Earth
Deborah Nicodemus, Moda Operandi
Ruth Thuston, Circa
Category IV – Sales
Amy Levine, Gurhan
Tina Bruno, Stephen Webster
Jennifer Shanker, Muse Showroom
Category V – Marketing & Communications
Kirsten Darrow, Fred Meyer
Donna Jolly, American Gem Society
Rebecca Moskal, Communique LA
Colby Shergalis, Forevermark
Category VI – Editorial Media
Sarah Lisitski-Gerrish, Redbook magazine
Eileen McClelland, InStore magazine
Danielle Miele, Gem Gossip
Monica Stephenson, iDazzle
Category VII – Special Services
Donna Borrelli, JCK
Cindy Chandler, Smart Jewelry Show
Becka Johnson Kibby, The Edge Retail Academy
Heather Smith Nunez, Cartier
Category VIII – Watches
Audrey Bogdonoff, Gucci
Agnes Campanile, Swatch Group/ Omega
Jeanine Drtina, Cartier
Michelle Peranteau, Baume & Mercier
More on Majors
The Latest
AuctionsNov 14, 2025
Napoleon’s Diamond Brooch Blows Away Auction Estimates A buyer paid $4.4 million for the piece, which Napoleon wore on his hat for special occasions and left behind when he fled Waterloo.
FinancialsNov 14, 2025
Richemont’s Q2 Jewelry Sales Up 12%Plus, how tariffs and the rising price of gold are affecting its watch and jewelry brands.
Brought to you by
Impacting Tomorrow TodayHow Jewelers of America’s 20 Under 40 are leading to ensure a brighter future for the jewelry industry.
CollectionsNov 14, 2025
Piece of the Week: Silvia Furmanovich’s ‘Butterflies in Flight’ Jewelry BoxFurmanovich designed the box to hold Mellerio’s “Color Queen,” a high jewelry collection consisting of 10 rings.
Weekly QuizNov 13, 2025
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
Events & AwardsNov 14, 2025
JCK Names New Event DirectorJennifer Hopf, who has been with JCK since 2022, will lead the execution of the long-running jewelry trade show.
IndependentsNov 13, 2025
127-Year-Old New Orleans Jeweler to CloseAdler’s Jewelry is set to close its two stores as 82-year-old owner Coleman E. Adler II retires.
Brought to you by
Roseco Releases New Full-Line CatalogRoseco’s 704-page catalog showcases new lab-grown diamonds, findings, tools & more—available in print or interactive digital editions.
IndependentsNov 13, 2025
Green Lake Jewelry Works to Move to New Seattle StudioFounder Jim Tuttle shared how a dedication to craftsmanship and meaningful custom jewelry fueled the retailer’s double-digit growth.
CrimeNov 12, 2025
Father, Son Jewelers in Chicago Victims in Double Homicide JSA and Cook County Crime Stoppers are both offering rewards for information leading to the arrest of the suspect or suspects involved.
AuctionsNov 12, 2025
‘Mellon Blue’ Diamond Sells for $7M Less Than It Did a Decade AgoA buyer paid $25.6 million for the diamond at Christie’s on Tuesday. In 2014, Sotheby’s sold the same stone for $32.6 million.
AuctionsNov 12, 2025
Historic Rolex Oyster Fetches $1.7M at Sotheby’sMercedes Gleitze famously wore the watch in her 1927 swim across the English Channel, a pivotal credibility moment for the watchmaker.
GradingNov 12, 2025
It’s Time: GIA’s Express Holiday Service Is Back GIA is offering next-day services for natural, colorless diamonds submitted to its labs in New York and Carlsbad.
SurveysNov 10, 2025
5 Things Retailers Should Know About Holiday Shoppers This YearThe National Retail Federation is bullish on the holidays, forecasting retail sales to exceed $1 trillion this year.
AuctionsNov 10, 2025
300+ Colored Diamonds Up for Auction at Christie’sLate collector Eddy Elzas assembled “The Rainbow Collection,” which is offered as a single lot and estimated to fetch up to $3 million.
EditorsNov 07, 2025
Piece of the Week: An MVP’s Sapphire Tennis Necklace At the 2025 World Series, the Los Angeles Dodgers’ Yoshinobu Yamamoto sported a custom necklace made by California retailer Happy Jewelers.
IndependentsNov 07, 2025
Foundrae’s New Palm Beach Location Is a ‘Golden Solarium’The brand’s seventh location combines Foundrae’s symbolic vocabulary with motifs from Florida’s natural surroundings.
FinancialsNov 07, 2025
Watches of Switzerland’s H1 Sales Up 8%The retailer also shared an update on the impact of tariffs on watch customers.
SourcingNov 06, 2025
Pink Tourmaline Bracelet, Emerald Suite Take Top Spectrum Honors Pink and purple stones were popular in the AGTA’s design competition this year, as were cameos and ocean themes.
IndependentsNov 06, 2025
Greenwich St. Jewelers Hosts Raffle Supporting Food RescueAll proceeds from the G. St x Jewel Boxing raffle will go to City Harvest, which works to end hunger in New York City.
IndependentsNov 06, 2025
Cornell’s Jewelers Names New PresidentCourtney Cornell is part of the third generation to lead the Rochester, New York-based jeweler.
SourcingNov 06, 2025
De Beers’ Production, Sales Increase in Q3 De Beers also announced more changes in its upper ranks ahead of parent company Anglo American’s pending sale of the company.
WatchesNov 05, 2025
Shinola President Steps Down Just as He Starts Former Signet CEO Mark Light will remain president of Shinola until a replacement for Ulrich Wohn is found.
AuctionsNov 05, 2025
Taylor Swift’s Engagement Ring Designer Makes Her Auction DebutKindred Lubeck of Artifex has three rings she designed with Anup Jogani in Sotheby’s upcoming Gem Drop sale.
FinancialsNov 05, 2025
Pandora Posts Modest Q3 Sales Growth Amid ‘Weak’ Consumer Sentiment The company focused on marketing in the third quarter and introduced two new charm collections, “Pandora Talisman” and “Pandora Minis.”
FinancialsNov 05, 2025
Brilliant Earth’s Q3 Sales Climb 10%The jewelry retailer raised its full-year guidance, with CFO Jeff Kuo describing the company as “very well positioned” for the holidays.
Policies & IssuesNov 04, 2025
Supreme Court to Hear Tariffs Case WednesdayAhead of the hearing, two industry organizations co-signed an amicus brief urging the court to declare Trump’s tariffs unlawful.
