Supplier BulletinAug 13, 2026
Your Piece Could Be the One Editors Talk AboutSponsored by American Gem Trade Association
MajorsJan 14, 2020
At Gem Awards, the West Coast Comes Up Big
Twist took home the award for Retail Innovation, while Ed Bridge, of Seattle-based Ben Bridge Jeweler, was the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award.
Ed Bridge, center, was the recipient of the 2020 Gem Award for Lifetime Achievement. The awards were presented Friday night at Cipriani 42nd Street in New York. (Photo credit: Benjamin Lozovsky/BFA.com)
New York—Gem Awards Committee Chair Olivier Stip made an astute observation from the stage as the awards were wrapping up Friday night in New York.
“It would appear that, at least for tonight, the new capital … of jewelry is the Pacific Northwest,” he said, a reference to both the Lifetime Achievement Award winner and the store that took home the innovation award.
Gem Awards Committee Chair Olivier Stip on stage Friday night. Stip is the general manager of watches and fine jewelry for Chanel. (Photo credit: Benjamin Lozovsky/BFA.com)
The Gem Awards, an event produced by Jewelers of America, took place Friday night at Cipriani 42nd Street in New York.
It was the 18th year for the black-tie event that’s come to be known as the Oscars of the jewelry industry, and it was as glamorous and collegial as ever.
Moda Operandi’s Will Kahn, the former fashion market and accessories director at Town & Country and a winner last year, took the stage to present the first award, the 2020 Gem Award for Media Excellence, which went to Rachel Garrahan.
London-based journalist Rachel Garrahan, the jewelry and watch director at British Vogue, won the 2020 Gem Award for Media Excellence. (Photo credit: Bart Gorin)
Garrahan, who beat out Anthony DeMarco and Tanya Dukes, is the current jewelry and watch director at British Vogue, and was a longtime contributor to publications like The Financial Times and International New York Times when she lived in New York City.
In her speech, the London-based writer thanked the New York-based editors who helped her learn about the industry, the designers who inspire her writing, and British Vogue Editor-in-Chief Edward Enninful, her “inspirational, agenda-setting editor.”
“He loves jewelry and watches as much as I do, and I’m so grateful the support he has given me in making the category as integral to Vogue as fashion and beauty are.”
The Retail Innovation award went to Twist, a forward-thinking, designer-focused independent jeweler with stores in Portland, Oregon and Seattle.
Twist topped Foundrae designer Beth Bugdaycay’s TriBeCa flagship and the Hodinkee Shop to take home the Gem Award.
Twist co-owner Paul Schneider came on stage to accept the Gem Award for Retail Innovation for his store, which has locations in Portland, Oregon and Seattle. (Photo credit: Bart Gorin)
Paul Schneider, who owns and operates Twist alongside wife Lauren Eulau, accepted the award.
He and Eulau, who are both artists, started Twist 40 years ago.
“If I’m going to thank anybody, it always has to start with her,” he said, drawing applause from the audience. “She’s the buyer, she’s the visionary, she’s the one who sets the tone.
“It’s really made the whole thing 42 years of joy and creativity and I couldn’t ask for anything better.”
The Gem Award for Jewelry Design, the last of the three awards announced live at the event, went to Nikos Koulis, who edged out Ana Khouri and Carlo Traglio, who heads Italian brand Vhernier.
“I am grateful for this community. You have embraced me warmly, you have supported me so much over these years and now you are giving me this wonderful Gem [Award] that I will keep forever,” he said. “Thank you all.”
The last award presented Friday night was the Lifetime Achievement Award, which, as previously announced, was given this year to Ed Bridge, chairman emeritus of Seattle-based chain Ben Bridge Jeweler.
He became the third member of the Bridge family to receive this award, after his father, Bob Bridge, and uncle, Herb Bridge, who were honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award the same year, in 2005.
So, it seemed fitting his two children—daughter Lisa Bridge, the current CEO of Ben Bridge Jeweler, and son Marc Bridge—introduced him and that he delivered a speech that was all about family and relationships.
The Bridge family on the red carpet at the 18th annual Gem Awards, from left to right: son-in-law Gilad Berenstein, daughter Lisa Bridge, son Marc Bridge and parents Pam and Ed Bridge.
“One of my mentors, Warren Buffett, said, ‘True success in life is when you get to be my age and the people who are supposed to love you actually love you. Then you’re a success.’ I feel very successful tonight,” Ed said.
And he wrapped up his speech by thanking his wife of 40 years, Pam Bridge.
“Pam has supported me, traveled with me, raised our family—which you see she did a good job of—been my sounding board and is the most important person in my life. Pam, I love you.”
Also over the weekend in New York:
— The Jewelers Vigilance Committee held its annual luncheon Friday afternoon and honored Gemological Institute of America President and CEO Susan Jacques with the 2020 Stanley Schechter Award;
— The Jewelers’ Security Alliance held its annual luncheon Saturday, honoring Signet Jewelers Vice President of Asset Protection Christina Hackler with its Industry Service Award and presenting the James B. White Award to three special agents with the Detroit office of the FBI: Michael Baumgartner, Matthew C. Schuff and Bryan Toltzis; and
— The 24 Karat Club of New York City had its gala Saturday night, where English singer-songwriter Calum Scott performed.
Editors' Picks
Sponsored by
More on Majors
The Latest
FinancialsAug 13, 2026
Pandora’s ‘Talisman’ Collection Shines, Lab-Grown Diamond Sales FallIn the United States, second-quarter sales were flat amid soft consumer sentiment and lower in-store traffic.
AuctionsAug 13, 2026
This Gold Cadbury ‘Conundrum’ Egg Set a World Auction RecordThe 22-karat gold egg, sold at Batemans Auctioneers in the U.K., was part of a 1980s treasure hunt ad campaign for Cadbury Creme Eggs.
Brought to you by
Why More Jewelry Retailers Are Hosting Turnkey Estate Buying EventsRetailers are seeking new ways to attract customers, increase traffic, and create revenue – Estate buying events are a popular solution.
SourcingAug 13, 2026
2,488-Carat Diamond, Largest Found in Botswana, Has a New Owner Lucara Diamond Corp., which recovered the “Motswedi” diamond from the Karowe mine, sold the stone for an undisclosed amount.
Weekly QuizAug 13, 2026
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
CollectionsAug 13, 2026
John Hardy Infuses ‘Icon,’ ‘Heishi’ Collections with ColorThe expanded collections now feature hand-cut gemstones like topaz, tanzanite, chrysoprase, chalcedony, smoky quartz, and fire opal.
Lab-GrownAug 13, 2026
Jean Dousset Opens Third StoreThe lab-grown diamond jewelry brand’s newest boutique is in Westfield Valley Fair in Santa Clara, California.
Brought to you by
Wedding Band Trends 2026: Personalization Takes Center StageColored gemstones, artisan finishes, mixed metals, and meaningful details are shaping demand in bridal jewelry.
SourcingAug 12, 2026
Eshed-Gemstar on the Painstaking Process of Cutting ‘The Legacy Emerald’The gemstone supplier and manufacturer acquired the remarkable 104-gram Zambian emerald at Gemfields’ auction in May.
CrimeAug 12, 2026
Elderly NYC Woman Targeted in Jewelry Swap SchemeTwo suspects offered to trade the woman a “winning” lottery ticket for her jewelry.
SourcingAug 12, 2026
Another Diamond Mine Poised to CloseFinsch has been in business rescue since May, and owner Petra Diamonds said it sees no viable path forward for the mine.
CrimeAug 12, 2026
Jewelry Store Employee Gets 20 Years to Life in Choking Death of BossMichel Patrick DeSalles was sentenced after pleading guilty to the 2017 murder of Omid Gholian, who owned a jewelry store in Manhattan.
AuctionsAug 11, 2026
Verdura Unicorn Brooch With Royal Connection Up for Auction The brooch was owned by Virginia Fortune Ryan Ogilvy, who served as a lady of the bedchamber to Queen Elizabeth II for nearly 50 years.
IndependentsAug 11, 2026
Polly’s Fine Jewelry Co-Owner Richard Moore Dies at 69Moore, Polly’s husband, is remembered as a family man with an easygoing spirit and a love for sports and the outdoors.
ColumnistsAug 11, 2026
Creative Connecting: How to Sell Colored Gemstones to Gen ZDuvall O’Steen and Jen Cullen Williams share the best ways to display, present, and explain colored gemstones to younger customers.
Events & AwardsAug 11, 2026
NAJA Announces Lineup For 2026 Fall Virtual ConferenceThe mid-year conference for jewelry and watch appraisers will take place Sept. 5-6 on Zoom.
TechnologyAug 10, 2026
Colorado Jeweler Launches Customization Tool He Built HimselfHonest Hands Ring Co. Founder Benjamin Bosworth shared his thoughts on jewelry technology and why AI can never replace the human element.
MajorsAug 10, 2026
QVC Exits Chapter 11 Bankruptcy, Names New Interim CEOQVC Group President and CEO David Rawlinson is temporarily being replaced by a familiar face, former QVC CEO Mike George.
CollectionsAug 10, 2026
State Property Puts a Ripple in the ‘The Voyager’ CollectionThe brand also added two one-of-a-kind brown diamond pieces to the “Sanssouci” series of its “Gardens” collection.
MajorsAug 10, 2026
And IJO’s 2026 Vendor of the Year Is … Ostbye took home top vendor honors at the Independent Jewelers Organization’s show, held last month in Kentucky.
Supplier BulletinAug 07, 2026
Why More Jewelry Retailers Are Hosting Turnkey Estate Buying EventsSponsored by Stratus Estate Buyers
MajorsAug 07, 2026
Retail Veteran Pam Cloud Appointed President of Blue NileCloud, who will officially join Blue Nile on Monday, spent 26 years at Tiffany & Co. and founded jewelry brand Roseate.
MajorsAug 07, 2026
Pandora Appoints Paulo Garcia as New CFO Garcia will take over from the company’s current CFO, Anders Boyer, who is retiring at the end of November.
MajorsAug 07, 2026
Etsy to Lay Off 12% of WorkforceEtsy CEO Kruti Patel Goyal explained why the company is letting go more than 200 employees as its performance improves.
TrendsAug 07, 2026
Look Ahead with Syna’s Binoculars PendantThe “Star Gazer” pendant, our Piece of the Week, is Syna’s tribute to curiosity and the discovery of something new.
CrimeAug 06, 2026
Lalique Museum to Remain Closed Following $5M HeistMuseum officials are looking to the public to help cover the “exceptional” costs involved in recovering from the July 5 smash-and-grab.
MajorsAug 06, 2026
Claire’s Revamps Piercing Services for Second Time in Three Years The overhaul includes enhanced employee safety training and trendy earring styles, including lab-grown diamond studs.
