Beverly Hills was chosen as the location for the brand’s first store, designed as a “private residence for modern monarchs.”
Jeffrey Bilgore named AGTA board president
During its annual elections, the AGTA selected Jeffrey Bilgore of Jeffrey Bilgore LLC as the new president of its board. He succeeds Ruben Bindra.
Dallas--Jeffrey Bilgore of Jeffrey Bilgore LLC was selected as the new president of the American Gem Trade Association’s board of directors during the organization’s annual elections.
Re-elected as directors to the board were Cynthia Renée of Cynthia Renee Inc. and Avi Raz of A&Z Pearls Inc., while Kusam Malhotra of K&K Int. and Jeff Mason of Mason-Kay Inc. were newly elected directors to the board. They will take office in February and serve three-year terms.
Continuing with their positions on the board are Gerry Manning as vice president, Pramod Agrawal as treasurer, and Bruce Bridges, Charles Carmona, William Heher, Gina Latendresse, Niveet Nagpal, Robert Van Wagoner, Simon Watt and Larry Woods as directors.
Ruben Bindra of B&B Fine Gems and Sushil Goyal of Liberty Gems Inc. will complete their board terms as president and director, respectively, by February.
The nominating committee for this year’s elections was chaired by Past President Benjamin Hackman, with committee members Bilgore, Raz, Neal Litman, Douglas Parker and Ray Zajicek.
The AGTA Board of Directors holds elections on a rotating cycle to guarantee coherence of the board’s long-term plans. The new board members will be introduced at the AGTA membership meeting, open to all AGTA members and scheduled for Feb. 5 at the AGTA GemFair in Tucson.
Editor’s note: This story has been updated to clarify the post to which Jeffrey Bilgore has been elected. He will serve as the new president of the AGTA’s board of directors.
The Latest

Kering, Apple, and other retailers have reportedly temporarily closed stores in the Middle East region in light of the recent conflicts.

Beth Gerstein discusses the vibe of the new store, what customers want when fine jewelry shopping today, and the details of “Date Night.”

Every jeweler faces the same challenge: helping customers protect what they love. Here’s the solution designed for today’s jewelry business.

Nearly half of buyers are prioritizing silver and fashion collections this season, organizers said.


The “Live Now. Polish Later.” campaign features equestrians wearing the brand’s jewels while galloping across the icy plains of Kazakhstan.

The precious metals provider has promoted Jennifer Ashworth to the role.

With refreshed branding, a new website, updated courses, and a pathway for growth, DCA is dedicated to supporting retail staff development.

Nelson will be honored as the inaugural grant winner at the Gem Awards gala on March 13.

Experts from India weigh in the politics, policies, and market dynamics for diamantaires to monitor in 2026 and beyond.

The American precious metals refiner’s day-to-day operations remain the same post-acquisition.

These aquamarine jewels channel the calming energy of the March birthstone.

The “Innovative Design” category and award will debut in the Spectrum division of this year’s AGTA Spectrum & Cutting Edge Awards.

Diamond jewelry was the star of the event formerly known as the SAG Awards.

Consumers were somewhat less worried about the future, though concerns about rising prices and politics remained.

Foerster is this year’s Stanley Schechter Award recipient.

Sponsorships and tickets to the annual fundraising event, set for May 31, are available now.

Chicago police and members of the U.S. Marshals Service tracked down the 35-year-old suspect earlier this week in St. Louis.

Owners of the Ekapa Mine reportedly filed for liquidation about a week after a mudslide trapped five workers who have yet to be found.

A 10-year alliance has also begun to address the shortage of bench jewelers through scholarships, enhanced programs, and updated equipment.

The “Splendente” collection has evolved to feature hardstone letter pendants, including our Piece of the Week, the onyx “R.”

The jewelry collection belonged to “one of society's most glamorous and beautiful women of the mid-20th century,” said the auction house.

The update came as Anglo took its third write-down on the diamond miner and marketer, which lost more than $500 million in 2025.

Emmanuel Raheb discusses the rise of “GEO” and the importance of having well-written, quality content on your website.

Each received around four years for burglarizing a jewelry store and a coffee shop in Simi Valley, California, last May.

Catherine Aulick, a GIA graduate, received the ninth and final Gianmaria Buccellati Foundation Award for Excellence in Jewelry Design.

We asked a jewelry historian, designer, bridal director, and wedding expert what’s trending in engagement rings. Here’s what they said.




















