MajorsNov 10, 2025
Jewelers Focus on Love, Joy In 2025 Holiday Campaigns Tiffany & Co., David Yurman, and Pandora have launched holiday campaigns depicting their jewelry as symbols of affection and happiness.
GradingNov 14, 2017
GIA Announces New Board Members
Three members join as three finish their decade-long terms.
The Board of Governors met in November at the GIA headquarters in Carlsbad. Pictured from left, seated: Barbara A. Sawrey, Lawrence Ma, Barbara Lee Dutrow, Robert Andrew ‘Andy’ Johnson, Thomas T. Yang and Karen Evans; standing: Elliot Tannenbaum, Thomas H. Insley, Lisa A. Locklear, Thomas M. Moses, Board Chair Dione D. Kenyon, Susan M. Jacques, Amit Dhamani, John W. Valley and Stephen F. Kahler. Not pictured: Glenn R. Nord. Photo by Kevin Schumacher/GIA.
Carlsbad Calif.--The Gemological Institute of America announced new and departing board members at its recent board of governors meeting.
The three new board members are Karen Evans, Lawrence Ma and Robert Andrew “Andy” Johnson.
Evans comes from a background in IT implementation and cyber security and worked for the U.S. government for more than 25 years. She currently is the national director of the U.S. Cyber Challenge and a partner at KE&T Partners.
Ma has more than 45 years of experience in the diamond industry and has served in several senior roles in trade organizations. He is the chief executive of Lee Heng Diamond Group and founding president of the Diamond Federation of Hong Kong.
Johnson hails from a retail and commercial real estate background and is the CEO of Diamond Cellar Holdings.
As Evans, Ma and Johnson join the board, three members depart. They are John A. Green, president and CEO of Lux Bond & Green, who was executive chair of the board from 2014 to 2016 and chair of the laboratory and research committee from 2013 to 2017; James P. Shinehouse, managing partner of Atlantic Financial Advisory Partners, who served as executive vice chair from 2015 to 2017 and head of the audit committee from 2010 to 2017; and Ephraim Zion, managing director of Dehres Ltd., who served on the Laboratory and Research and Executive Committees.
Green, Shinehouse and Zion all joined the board in 2007.
GIA President and CEO Susan M. Jacques commented in a press release, “Karen Evans, Lawrence Ma and Andy Johnson bring expertise, insight and deep knowledge in areas that are vital to continued success in today’s dynamic global market. They will undoubtedly make a significant contribution as members of the GIA Board of Governors as we work to further GIA’s public benefit mission. We thank the departing governors for their many years of wise counsel and dedicated service.”
The week prior to the board meeting, the GIA’s global research team held their annual meeting at the Carlsbad headquarters.
Attendees, who included GIA researchers, consulting scientists, fellows from the Richard T. Liddicoat Postdoctoral Research Fellowship program and GIA governors and executives, discussed developments in instrumentation, methods of detecting diamond treatments and synthetics, how to determine the origin of colored gemstones and pearl structures over the three-day gathering.
More on Grading
The Latest
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.
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.
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.
Weekly QuizNov 06, 2025
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
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.
Brought to you by
Jewelers of America Aligns New Mission to Create Meaningful Impact for MembersFrom educational programs, advocacy, and recent MJSA affiliation, Jewelers of America drives progress that elevates businesses of all sizes.
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.
MajorsNov 04, 2025
Danny Clark to Become Stuller CEO, Succeeding Matt StullerStuller COO Belit Myers will take on the additional role of president, with all changes effective at the start of 2026.
ColumnistsNov 04, 2025
Peter Smith: What Do Birds Have to Do With the Price of Gold? Smith cautions retailers against expending too much energy on things they can’t control, like the rising price of gold.
TrendsNov 04, 2025
Amanda’s Style File: Fall Colors for November BirthdaysCitrine and topaz are birthstones fit for fall as the leaves change color and the holiday season approaches.
IndependentsNov 04, 2025
Weston Jewelers Heads to Fort LauderdaleThe family-owned jeweler will open its fourth store in Florida in late 2027.
CrimeNov 03, 2025
Men Dressed as Construction Workers Burglarize Jeweler’s Home The NYPD is looking for three men who stole a safe and jewelry valued at $3.2 million from the home of a jeweler in Jamaica Hills, Queens.
MajorsNov 03, 2025
Matthew Rosenheim Takes Over as JA Board ChairThe trade organization also announced its executive committee and five new directors.
CollectionsNov 03, 2025
Muse’s ‘Have a Heart’ Collab Returns, Now With DDGThe “Have a Heart x Diamonds Do Good” collection is championed by model and humanitarian Flaviana Matata and will benefit her foundation.
AuctionsNov 03, 2025
Kashmir Sapphire Ring Tops Christie's Online AuctionThe ring, set with a nearly 17-carat Kashmir cabochon sapphire, sold for $1 million.
TrendsOct 31, 2025
Piece of the Week: A Spinner Fit for ‘Frankenstein’This “Mother Father” spinner necklace from Heavenly Vices Fine Jewelry draws inspiration from Victorian Era jewelry.
CrimeOct 31, 2025
5 More Arrested in Louvre Heist, Jewelry Still Missing The suspects were rounded up in Paris and its suburbs on Wednesday night, but none of the stolen jewels were recovered with them.
