ColumnistsMay 26, 2026
The Key Mindset for Better Trade Show BuyingBuying discipline at trade shows starts with clarity about your inventory levels, Smith writes.
OtherJan 13, 2014
Morrow, Ross among Gem Award winners
Marie-Helene Morrow won the 2014 Gem Award for Lifetime Achievement while Kara Ross took home the Gem Award for Design, Tiffany & Co. won for Communications and Victoria Gomelsky was the winner for Media Excellence at the annual ceremony dubbed the “Academy Awards of the jewelry industry.”
Jeweler Marie-Helene Morrow gives her acceptance speech at Cipriani 42nd Street on Friday night. (Photo credit: David X Prutting/BFAnyc.com)
New York--She’s spent three decades in the industry and is known for helping to discover and nuture some of the biggest names in jewelry today, including David Yurman.
So it was fitting on Friday night that it was Yurman who welcomed Puerto Rico retailer Marie-Helene Morrow to the stage to present her with the Jewelry Information Center’s Lifetime Achievement Award, which recognizes an individual for a career’s worth of contributions to the industry and for inspiring their colleagues.
After weaving her way to the stage amid a standing crowd, however, it was Morrow who said she was the one who was inspired, by the talented individuals she’s come into contact with during her decades in the jewelry industry.
"I don't know what to say. I am so overwhelmed by tonight," an emotional Morrow said on stage against a backdrop of work by Puerto Rican-born artist Sofia Maldonado, whose murals decorate Reinhold Jewelers stores.
Morrow is the owner of Reinhold Jewelers in Puerto Rico, which operates a total of 12 locations on the island, a mix of Reinhold Jewelers stores plus Tous and David Yurman boutiques.
In addition to Morrow, the Gem Awards, which are the equivalent of the Oscars for the jewelry industry, recognized excellence in the Communications, Design and Media Excellence categories on Friday night.
For the first time in the ceremony’s history, the winners were kept under wraps until the event.
The first award of the evening was for Media Excellence and it went to JCK Editor-in-Chief Victoria Gomelsky. The former editor of Couture International Jeweler and a former senior editor at National Jeweler, Gomelsky beat author Beth Bernste
in and Benjamin Clymer, founder of watch website Hodinkee, to nab the award.
In Communications, Tiffany & Co. topped the World Gold Council’s LoveGold campaign and Tacori to take home the Gem Award while the award for Design went to Kara Ross, who recognized the work of fellow nominees Monica Rich Kosann and Irene Neuwirth in her acceptance speech.
As is tradition, Friday night’s Gem Awards led into Saturday’s 24 Karat Club of New York City banquet, held at the Waldorf-Astoria hotel.
Singer Michael Bolton was the main entertainment for the evening, singing hits including How Am I Supposed to Live Without You--a song he wrote that was made famous by the late Laura Branigan in the 1980s--When a Man Loves a Woman and Ain’t No Mountain High Enough in a duet with The Voice alumna and New York City native Amanda Brown.
In Communications, Tiffany & Co. topped the World Gold Council’s LoveGold campaign and Tacori to take home the Gem Award while the award for Design went to Kara Ross, who recognized the work of fellow nominees Monica Rich Kosann and Irene Neuwirth in her acceptance speech.
As is tradition, Friday night’s Gem Awards led into Saturday’s 24 Karat Club of New York City banquet, held at the Waldorf-Astoria hotel.
Singer Michael Bolton was the main entertainment for the evening, singing hits including How Am I Supposed to Live Without You--a song he wrote that was made famous by the late Laura Branigan in the 1980s--When a Man Loves a Woman and Ain’t No Mountain High Enough in a duet with The Voice alumna and New York City native Amanda Brown.
More on Other
The Latest
Events & AwardsMay 26, 2026
12 JCK Talks Sessions to Add to Your Las Vegas ScheduleThe trade show’s education series returns, with sessions on retail trends, AI, watches, marketing, corporate responsibility, and more.
Events & AwardsMay 26, 2026
CBG Brings Its Curated Designer Project to Las Vegas ShowThe Curated Designer Project has expanded to highlight eight independent jewelry designers during CBG’s Las Vegas show.
Brought to you by
All Eyes on Gold Prices. Alternatives to Look For. And What to BEWARE of in VegasAs gold prices rise, today’s retailers are looking for alternatives at prices that will appeal to wider audiences.
TrendsMay 26, 2026
Amanda’s Style File: A Cooldown Is ComingBring a cool tone to your summer jewelry with these white metal pieces.
Weekly QuizMay 21, 2026
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
Events & AwardsMay 22, 2026
Instore Buys JA New York ShowThe deal closed this week, which means Instore will produce the JA NY show slated to take place this fall.
FinancialsMay 22, 2026
Richemont’s Jewelry Brands Lead the Charge in Q4The company’s jewelry sales were up in Q4 and the fiscal year, with Richemont raising prices in part because of the cost of gold.
Brought to you by
How Modern Training Is Becoming a Competitive Advantage for Jewelry RetailersWith the trade and customer trust in mind, GIA® developed NextGem™ – on-demand training designed specifically for retail.
CollectionsMay 22, 2026
Leigh Maxwell Celebrates 5 Years at Couture With ‘Bauble’ CollectionThe “Bauble” capsule collection of colorful one-of-a-kinds includes our Piece of the Week, the “Bauble” earrings, featuring rose zircon.
MajorsMay 22, 2026
Stuller’s New Packaging, Display Catalog Is Out The updated catalog has a newly dedicated section for gift wrapping.
PodcastsMay 21, 2026
Episode 5: Sotheby’s Frank Everett Puts the Auction Market in PerspectiveEverett covers colored stones’ surging popularity, the mellow return of the “Mellon Blue,” and his “The Devil Wears Prada” doppelgänger.
IndependentsMay 21, 2026
Springer’s Jewelers’ New Flagship Will Serve Next-Gen Luxury ShoppersFourth-generation CEO Lilly Mullen wants to emphasize experience, connection, and personalized service.
Events & AwardsMay 21, 2026
JA Announces Nina Pugliese Memorial ScholarshipThe new award, created in partnership with Henne Jewelers, honors the late designer’s legacy through supporting jewelry education.
SourcingMay 21, 2026
Botswana, Angola Join WFDBThe addition of the diamond-producing countries as nation affiliated members broadens the federation’s global representation, WFDB said.
CrimeMay 20, 2026
NYPD Warns of Jewelry Swap Scams Targeting SeniorsThe NYPD is warning elderly New Yorkers to keep their jewelry hidden when walking outside to avoid being a target.
IndependentsMay 20, 2026
Adornment & Theory’s New Store Feels Like Home Designer Viviana Langhoff has realized her dream of owning a space for her Chicago jewelry store that looks and feels like her brand.
Events & AwardsMay 20, 2026
Here Is Couture’s 2026 Education Lineup The sessions will run from Friday, May 29, to Sunday, May 31, with one being a live taping of an episode of Couture’s podcast.
Lab-GrownMay 20, 2026
Savannah Friedkin Jewelry Names New CEOFormer Stephanie Gottlieb Fine Jewelry executive Morgan P. Richardson is joining the lab-grown diamond jewelry brand.
WatchesMay 19, 2026
Here’s the AP x Swatch Pocket Watch That Caused PandemoniumThe $400 pocket watch is a blend of Audemars Piguet’s iconic eight-sided Royal Oak and Swatch’s unserious Pop watches from the ‘80s.
CollectionsMay 19, 2026
Chris Ploof’s New Collection Makes an Ancient Metal ModernWith gold prices on the rise, the “Modern Electrum” collection uses an alternative, non-tarnishing metal alloy composed of gold and silver.
IndependentsMay 19, 2026
Ellen and Michael Fruchtman Retire, Sell Marketing Agency Fruchtman Marketing has new owners, Erin Moyer-Carballea and Manuel Carballea, and will relocate to Miami.
ColumnistsMay 19, 2026
Peter Smith: The (Mostly) Immutable Sales TruthsIn a column for the 2026 State of the Majors issue, Smith lists 10 time-tested principles about sales that still ring true.
ColumnistsMay 18, 2026
Edahn Golan: What a K-Shaped Economy Means for Fine JewelryIn a column for the 2026 State of the Majors issue, Golan spells out how the growing economic divide in the U.S. is reshaping the market.
CollectionsMay 18, 2026
Foundrae’s New Collection Taps Into JoyThe “Limitless Expansion of Joy and Hope” collection evokes summer through colored gemstones and motifs of butterflies and florals.
CollectionsMay 18, 2026
Hancocks London Acquires Historic ‘Inchiquin’ EmeraldThe jewel, circa 1890, is from the late Victorian era and was owned by descendants of the last high king of Ireland.
Events & AwardsMay 18, 2026
Here Are the 2026 JCK Industry Fund Grant Recipients This is what the nine recipients plan to do with the funds.
AuctionsMay 15, 2026
American Collector Ponies Up Almost $17K for John Wayne’s RingThe Western star’s 14-karat gold signet ring sold for six times its low estimate following a bidding war at U.K. auction house Elmwood’s.
