One is the driver who allegedly crashed a car into a Sacramento jewelry store in April, striking a 71-year-old employee who later died.
AGS to honor award recipients at Distinction dinner
Lee Berg, Doug Hucker and Joel Schechter are the American Gem Society’s 2014 Circle of Distinction honorees and will be recognized at a dinner at the Plaza Hotel.
Las Vegas--Lee Berg, Doug Hucker and Joel Schechter are the American Gem Society’s 2014 Circle of Distinction honorees and will be recognized at a dinner at the Plaza Hotel.
The AGS is honoring Lee Berg, CEO of Lee Michaels Fine Jewelry, which has stores in Louisiana, Texas and Mississippi, with the Lifetime Achievement Award.
Receiving the Triple Zero Award will be Doug Hucker, CEO of the American Gem Trade Association, and Honora CEO Joel Schechter. Honora is now a division of the Richline Group.
“The contribution (these honorees) have made throughout their career to the jewelry industry is significant,” AGS CEO Ruth Batson said. “Lee is a revered industry leader and a mentor to many. Doug is a good friend to not only the American Gem Society, but he’s a tireless advocate for members of the AGTA. Joel has volunteered with numerous organizations in the industry, and is a shining example of leadership through volunteer service.”
The AGS Circle of Distinction dinner is scheduled for Tuesday, July 29 at the Plaza Hotel in New York City. The event will begin at 6 p.m. with cocktails and the awards presentation is at 7:30.
To order tickets or learn about advertising opportunities, contact Lauren Ruggeroli at 866-805-6500 ext. 1005 or lruggeroli@ags.org.
Editor's note: This story was corrected to reflect the fact that the Circle of Distinction dinner will take place on a Tuesday night (July 29), not Wednesday as previously reported. Also, the Circle of Distinction dinner will take place in July, not next month as previously stated.
The Latest

In a new column, Peter Smith posits that people actually enjoy putting together IKEA furniture, and the same is true for engagement rings.

9lakha Jewelers in Iselin, New Jersey, was the target of a smash-and-grab robbery on Aug. 8.

Retailers are seeking new ways to attract customers, increase traffic, and create revenue – Estate buying events are a popular solution.

The jeweler has partnered with Jenner’s 818 Tequila brand to gift lab-grown diamond studs to a bride-to-be and their bridal party.


The exhibition will feature more than 100 drawings of stained-glass lampshades, windows, and more, many created by women and émigrés.

Marquise-cut diamonds in drop charms are the center of the new collection, reflecting the movement of a dancer in modular styles.

Colored gemstones, artisan finishes, mixed metals, and meaningful details are shaping demand in bridal jewelry.

The inaugural Fort Lauderdale Jewelry, Antique, & Object Show will be held from Jan. 28 through Feb. 1, 2027.

The family-owned jeweler will open a new showroom in Bel Air, Maryland, this fall.

Amanda Ileana Hernandez is married to Carlos Hernandez, one of two men in prison for the 2024 murder of Michigan jeweler Hussein Murray.

The reimagined jewel, our Piece of the Week, trades the diamonds in the original 1998 design for blue, pink, yellow, and green sapphires.

Sponsored by American Gem Trade Association

In the United States, second-quarter sales were flat amid soft consumer sentiment and lower in-store traffic.

The 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.

Lucara Diamond Corp., which recovered the “Motswedi” diamond from the Karowe mine, sold the stone for an undisclosed amount.

The expanded collections now feature hand-cut gemstones like topaz, tanzanite, chrysoprase, chalcedony, smoky quartz, and fire opal.

The lab-grown diamond jewelry brand’s newest boutique is in Westfield Valley Fair in Santa Clara, California.

The gemstone supplier and manufacturer acquired the remarkable 104-gram Zambian emerald at Gemfields’ auction in May.

Two suspects offered to trade the woman a “winning” lottery ticket for her jewelry.

Finsch has been in business rescue since May, and owner Petra Diamonds said it sees no viable path forward for the mine.

Michel Patrick DeSalles was sentenced after pleading guilty to the 2017 murder of Omid Gholian, who owned a jewelry store in Manhattan.

Longtime industry executive Beth Miller has taken on the role.

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.

Jamie Cygielman will take on the role on Aug. 24.

Moore, Polly’s husband, is remembered as a family man with an easygoing spirit and a love for sports and the outdoors.

Duvall O’Steen and Jen Cullen Williams share the best ways to display, present, and explain colored gemstones to younger customers.




















