Mark and Candy Udell of London Jewelers will receive the honor at the 24th annual Gem Awards next March.
Judi Powers Takes Over As President of CJDG
She succeeds Julie Bergstein Romanenko, who just completed her three-year term as head of the Contemporary Jewelry Design Group.

New York—The Contemporary Jewelry Design Group announced via Facebook that it has a new president of the executive board, jewelry designer Judi Powers.
Powers was appointed to the post this month, taking over for Julie Bergstein Romanenko of Just Jules Jewelry.
Powers handcrafts her eponymous line in Hudson, New York, drawing inspiration from nature and architecture. She began studying jewelry-making in 2002 and earned her AAS in jewelry design from the Fashion Institute of Technology in 2013.
As president, she said she wants to deepen communication, provide even greater service to members and build relevant partnerships.
“What I love most about CJDG is our community. Our members are dynamic, engaged, generous and fiercely committed to outstanding jewelry design,” she said. “When I became a member, I felt like I’d found my people, and it’s that feeling that I hope to engender among our membership during my term as president of the CJDG executive board.”
Romanenko served a three-year term that ended June 1.
“When I became president,” she said, “I wanted to do more than self-promote the group’s talents. [I wanted to] figure out a way to also give back to the industry I have loved for many years.”
During her term, she oversaw the launch of the Cindy Edelstein Memorial Auction, the event organized in memory of the late designer advocate and held at Couture in 2017 and 2018.
Romanenko said she hopes the event continues after this year’s hiatus.
The Contemporary Jewelry Design Group is a nonprofit dedicated to promoting the craft of creative jewelry design and maintaining the highest standards of integrity and ethics in business and in design.
As president, Powers will work alongside Executive Director Marylouise Sirignano Lugosch, Erika Winters, Dana Bronfman, and Elizabeth and Jack Gualtieri of Zaffiro Jewelry, as well as past executive board members.
The Latest

While struggles continue at the mining and trading end of the pipeline, consumer demand for diamond jewelry is holding steady.

The “Fantasia” jewelry collection turns the intaglio animals from her “Close Encounters” collection into 3D characters.

As a leading global jewelry supplier, Rio Grande is rapidly expanding and developing new solutions to meet the needs of jewelers worldwide.

The special Classic Avi Chronograph 42 with an Eagles-green dial is limited to 59 pieces, a nod to the Super Bowl Philadelphia just won.


JSA has received reports of mobs swarming jewelry stores, driving cars into the storefront or smashing through the windows.

The “Kashmir” collection features centuries-old craft techniques made in collaboration with the region’s master papier-mâché artisans.

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

Creative Director Erica Bianchini shared why the jeweler is looking to expand into the U.S. and how it’s putting Canadian craftsmanship on the map.

Two Los Angeles Fire Department stations plan to use the donations to upgrade their equipment and tools.

Next week, the auction house will kick off a selling exhibition of jewelry by British artist Hannah Martin and Coldplay’s Guy Berryman.

“Stolen: Heist of the Century” is based on “Flawless,” the book about the middle-of-the-night theft, and will debut on Netflix in August.

Emmanuel Raheb shares the top five gifting moments outside of major holidays that jewelers should build marketing campaigns around.

The wholesale trade show’s Luxury Lifestyle section will showcase established and emerging jewelry designers.

As demand for custom jewelry grows, the company is expanding its services to support retailers.

The mid-year conference for jewelry and watch appraisers is slated for Aug. 9 to 10 on Zoom.

Nominations in the categories of Jewelry Design, Media Excellence, and Retail Innovation will be accepted through July 30.

He retired last month after 28 years traveling the world to source the very best gemstones for his family’s jewelry business, Oscar Heyman.

The organization elected its youngest vice president as it looks to draw in fresh talent.

Campbell joins the company as vice president of business development while Liebler is the new vice president of operations.

The medals feature a split-texture design highlighting the Games’ first time being hosted by two cities and the athletes’ journeys.

Sponsored by The INSTORE Jewelry Show 2025

Globally, travel and transportation brands reigned, while in the U.S., alcoholic beverage companies and a lingerie brand took the top spots.

The Brooklyn-based jewelry designer is remembered as a true artist and a rare talent.

Production at the mine in Canada’s Northwest Territories topped 1 million carats in Q2, the third consecutive quarter of growth.

A new slate of Learning Workshops will take place in Oklahoma, Mississippi, and Georgia.

The middle class is changing its approach to buying jewelry and affordable luxury goods, the NRF said.