Barabash, Verragio’s client relations representative, was a vital member of the team and is remembered as being warm and full of life.
Designer Stephen Webster to Host 2017 Gem Awards
Jewelers of America has tapped the British jewelry designer to bring his specific brand of humor and flair as the host of its annual event.

New York--Jewelers of America announced that jewelry designer Stephen Webster will be the host of the annual Gem Awards, scheduled for Jan. 13 in New York.
With an eye for detail, flair and a wild imagination, Webster is widely thought to be one of the industry’s most accomplished and exciting designers, JA said. He has a workshop and design studio in London’s Mayfair neighborhood, a salon on the city’s tony Mount Street and a flagship store on Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills.
He draws his inspiration from English eccentricity and American iconography, wildlife, the high life, literature, theater and pop culture, the ocean and the animal kingdom, and combines a love of fine craftsmanship with a passion for music, fashion and art.
“Despite carrying the burden of a funny accent and a warped sense of unfiltered humor, the powers that be have asked me to host this year’s Gem Awards. I’m honored and looking forward to it. My wife is equally dreading it, but wouldn’t miss it,” Webster said. “Accepting that the engagement comes with responsibilities, the values of the awards committee and the nominees will be respected at all times. My name is Stephen Webster, and I endorse this message.”
The 2017 Gem Awards will honor Jim Rosenheim, chairman of Washington, D.C. retailer Tiny Jewel Box, with the Lifetime Achievement Award and present Gem Awards in four other categories, Jewelry Design, Marketing and Communications, Media Excellence, and Watch Excellence. Jewelers of America recently announced the nominees in those categories via Facebook Live.
The 2017 Gem Awards will be held at Cipriani 42nd Street in New York, but parts of the ceremony also will be broadcast via Facebook Live on the event’s Facebook page.
“We are thrilled that Stephen Webster has agreed to host the 15th annual GEM Awards,” Gem Award Chair Norman Miller said. “After Stephen presented the Gem Award for Jewelry Design last year, there was immediate consensus with the Gem Awards committee that (he) would be a terrific host for our milestone event. Trust me, you want to attend this event.”
For more information about the event or to order tickets, reserve a sponsorship, or secure an advertisement in the Gem Awards Journal, visit the Jewelers of America website.
National Jeweler is a for-profit subsidiary of Jewelers of America, though the two organizations act independently of each other.
The Latest

Originally introduced in 1992, the “Dot” collection is back with a capsule featuring five archival designs and three new creations.

The company had a solid second quarter, with sales of non-charm jewelry outpacing sales of pieces in its core collections.

Jewelers of America is leading the charge to protect the industry amidst rising economic threats.

Taylor Swift dons the vibrant pair in new promotional imagery for her upcoming album, “The Life of a Showgirl,” set to release in October.


Its investment in micromechanics expert Inhotec will preserve skills essential to the watchmaking industry as a whole, said the company.

Nicolette Bianchi joins the wholesale provider with more than 15 years of cross-industry experience in marketing and product development.

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

Her new “Ocean” collection was inspired by Myanmar’s traditional articulated fish jewelry, with depictions of flounder, catfish, and more.

Longtime Casio executive Yusuke Suzuki is the new president and CEO of Casio’s U.S. subsidiary.

The full-day sourcing and networking event, slated for Aug. 18, will be followed by the fifth annual Mega Mixer Summer Soirée.

Model Georgina Rodríguez received a rock of an engagement ring, with her diamond estimated to be 35 carats, experts say.

The board elected 9 new directors at its recent ICA Congress in Brazil.

Three winners will receive a custom ring from Honest Hands Ring Co. inlaid with a piece of history from Denver-based distillery Stranahan’s.

JD Sports and Wawa were among the fastest-growing retail companies in the U.S. last year.

The new inventory, all untreated, features vibrant hues and unique bicolor combinations.

Acquired by a tech investor, the historic brand will continue to focus on jewelry, accessories, and timepieces.

President Donald Trump issued an executive order extending the pause on higher tariffs to November as negotiations with China continue.

The “Thunderbird Slab” collection features a thunderbird motif as a symbol of power, protection, and boundless possibility.

Columnists Jen Cullen Williams and Duvall O’Steen share tips on how to elevate your professional image.

Peter Damian Arguello, a jeweler in the Denver suburb of Wheat Ridge, was found dead inside his store in November 2023.

The retailer, owned by Berkshire Hathaway, is becoming part of the Berkshire Hathaway Jewelry Group with Helzberg.

Associate Editor Lauren McLemore recently attended a fabrics trade show where a trend forecaster shared her predictions for summer 2027.

The company raised its full-year sales guidance while noting it has not yet assessed the potential impact of the latest tariff news.

The organization has raised more than $1.3 million for charity since its inception.

The brand’s latest iteration of a bezel-set diamond bangle features clean lines and a timeless design for a new modern silhouette.

The first watch in the series commemorates his participation in the Civil Rights movement, marching from Selma to Montgomery in 1965.