EditorsNov 07, 2025
Piece of the Week: An MVP’s Sapphire Tennis Necklace At the 2025 World Series, the Los Angeles Dodgers’ Yoshinobu Yamamoto sported a custom necklace made by California retailer Happy Jewelers.
Events & AwardsFeb 21, 2018
WJA Revamps Its Awards for Excellence
The Women’s Jewelry Association is simplifying the evening by giving out a total of only four awards.
The recipients of the WJA’s first Visionary Awards are, from left to right, Mercedes Abramo, Caryl Capeci and Nadja Swarovski. Receiving the fourth Visionary Award is De Beers/UN Women.
New York--The Women’s Jewelry Association announced Tuesday that it is revamping the format of its annual Awards for Excellence gala.
Instead of handing out awards in more than a dozen separate categories (e.g., Design, Editorial, Business Services, etc.) the WJA is simplifying the program with the presentation of four Visionary Awards.
“The WJA board voted to introduce its Visionary Awards as a way to mark our anniversary and to recognize individuals and organizations making a difference in the cause of women’s equality,” new WJA board President Jenny Luker said in a press release. “Our four awards will go to women who are the first to hold their high positions of leadership in their companies, and to organizations that are providing support and mentorship to women.”
The 2018 honorees are: Mercedes Abramo, president and CEO of Cartier, North America; Caryl Capeci, president of Hearts On Fire; and Nadja Swarovski, the first female member of the executive board of Swarovski, as well as De Beers Group/UN Women, the United Nations entity dedicated to gender equality.
Abramo started her career with Cartier in 2008 as director of the flagship Fifth Avenue mansion. She became president and CEO of Cartier North America in 2014. In addition, she is on the board of Jewelers of America and the advisory board of the Luxury Education Foundation, a not-for-profit that focuses on educational programs for design and business students. Abramo is also a key advocate for the Cartier Women’s Initiative Awards, an international business plan competition for women entrepreneurs.
Capeci began her career working on the De Beers account at N.W. Ayer and J. Walter Thompson. She joined Hearts On Fire in 2007 as vice president of marketing and was promoted to chief marketing officer before being named president of the company in 2015. She serves on the boards of Jewelers for Children and the Diamond Empowerment Fund, and is a member of the 24 Karat Club of the City of New York.
Swarovski is the first female board member of the crystal company her great-great-grandfather, Daniel Swarovski, started in Austria in 1895.
She leads the company’s global branding and communications and drives “conscious luxury” through the Atelier Swarovski brand, which created a charity bracelet with UN Women in 2016. She also oversees the company’s sustainability agenda and chairs the Swarovski Foundation, both of which promote women’s empowerment. Swarovski is an ambassador
for Women for Women International and under her leadership, her company has signed on to the UN Women’s Empowerment Principles and the UN Global Compact.
The fourth Visionary Award is being given jointly to De Beers and UN Women in recognition of the three-year partnership De Beers inked with UN Women last year to promote the advancement of women within De Beers in the countries where it produces diamonds and in its marketing.
Elizabeth Nyamayaro, the head of UN Women’s “HeForShe” movement, and De Beers’ David Prager will accept the award on behalf of both organizations.
The WJA said it will wait to receive feedback from this year’s Awards for Excellence before determining the format for the awards ceremony in 2019 and beyond.
The 2018 Awards for Excellence will mark the WJA’s 35th year in the industry. The awards are scheduled to take place Monday, July 16 at Pier 60 at the Chelsea Piers in New York.
The evening will, as usual, include a silent auction to raise money for scholarships and grants the WJA distributes to women working in or entering the jewelry industry.
Gala sponsorships are available now while tickets will go on sale in the near future. For more information, email WJA Executive Director Bernadette McGovern Mack at bernadette@womensjewelryassociation.com.
The fourth Visionary Award is being given jointly to De Beers and UN Women in recognition of the three-year partnership De Beers inked with UN Women last year to promote the advancement of women within De Beers in the countries where it produces diamonds and in its marketing.
Elizabeth Nyamayaro, the head of UN Women’s “HeForShe” movement, and De Beers’ David Prager will accept the award on behalf of both organizations.
The WJA said it will wait to receive feedback from this year’s Awards for Excellence before determining the format for the awards ceremony in 2019 and beyond.
The 2018 Awards for Excellence will mark the WJA’s 35th year in the industry. The awards are scheduled to take place Monday, July 16 at Pier 60 at the Chelsea Piers in New York.
The evening will, as usual, include a silent auction to raise money for scholarships and grants the WJA distributes to women working in or entering the jewelry industry.
Gala sponsorships are available now while tickets will go on sale in the near future. For more information, email WJA Executive Director Bernadette McGovern Mack at bernadette@womensjewelryassociation.com.
More on Events & Awards
The Latest
IndependentsNov 07, 2025
Foundrae’s New Palm Beach Location Is a ‘Golden Solarium’The brand’s seventh location combines Foundrae’s symbolic vocabulary with motifs from Florida’s natural surroundings.
FinancialsNov 07, 2025
Watches of Switzerland’s H1 Sales Up 8%The retailer also shared an update on the impact of tariffs on watch customers.
Brought to you by
Jewelers of America Aligns New Mission to Create Meaningful Impact for MembersFrom educational programs, advocacy, and recent MJSA affiliation, Jewelers of America drives progress that elevates businesses of all sizes.
SourcingNov 06, 2025
Pink Tourmaline Bracelet, Emerald Suite Take Top Spectrum Honors Pink and purple stones were popular in the AGTA’s design competition this year, as were cameos and ocean themes.
Weekly QuizNov 06, 2025
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
IndependentsNov 06, 2025
Greenwich St. Jewelers Hosts Raffle Supporting Food RescueAll proceeds from the G. St x Jewel Boxing raffle will go to City Harvest, which works to end hunger in New York City.
IndependentsNov 06, 2025
Cornell’s Jewelers Names New PresidentCourtney Cornell is part of the third generation to lead the Rochester, New York-based jeweler.
SourcingNov 06, 2025
De Beers’ Production, Sales Increase in Q3 De Beers also announced more changes in its upper ranks ahead of parent company Anglo American’s pending sale of the company.
WatchesNov 05, 2025
Shinola President Steps Down Just as He Starts Former Signet CEO Mark Light will remain president of Shinola until a replacement for Ulrich Wohn is found.
AuctionsNov 05, 2025
Taylor Swift’s Engagement Ring Designer Makes Her Auction DebutKindred Lubeck of Artifex has three rings she designed with Anup Jogani in Sotheby’s upcoming Gem Drop sale.
FinancialsNov 05, 2025
Pandora Posts Modest Q3 Sales Growth Amid ‘Weak’ Consumer Sentiment The company focused on marketing in the third quarter and introduced two new charm collections, “Pandora Talisman” and “Pandora Minis.”
FinancialsNov 05, 2025
Brilliant Earth’s Q3 Sales Climb 10%The jewelry retailer raised its full-year guidance, with CFO Jeff Kuo describing the company as “very well positioned” for the holidays.
Policies & IssuesNov 04, 2025
Supreme Court to Hear Tariffs Case WednesdayAhead of the hearing, two industry organizations co-signed an amicus brief urging the court to declare Trump’s tariffs unlawful.
MajorsNov 04, 2025
Danny Clark to Become Stuller CEO, Succeeding Matt StullerStuller COO Belit Myers will take on the additional role of president, with all changes effective at the start of 2026.
ColumnistsNov 04, 2025
Peter Smith: What Do Birds Have to Do With the Price of Gold? Smith cautions retailers against expending too much energy on things they can’t control, like the rising price of gold.
TrendsNov 04, 2025
Amanda’s Style File: Fall Colors for November BirthdaysCitrine and topaz are birthstones fit for fall as the leaves change color and the holiday season approaches.
IndependentsNov 04, 2025
Weston Jewelers Heads to Fort LauderdaleThe family-owned jeweler will open its fourth store in Florida in late 2027.
CrimeNov 03, 2025
Men Dressed as Construction Workers Burglarize Jeweler’s Home The NYPD is looking for three men who stole a safe and jewelry valued at $3.2 million from the home of a jeweler in Jamaica Hills, Queens.
MajorsNov 03, 2025
Matthew Rosenheim Takes Over as JA Board ChairThe trade organization also announced its executive committee and five new directors.
CollectionsNov 03, 2025
Muse’s ‘Have a Heart’ Collab Returns, Now With DDGThe “Have a Heart x Diamonds Do Good” collection is championed by model and humanitarian Flaviana Matata and will benefit her foundation.
AuctionsNov 03, 2025
Kashmir Sapphire Ring Tops Christie's Online AuctionThe ring, set with a nearly 17-carat Kashmir cabochon sapphire, sold for $1 million.
TrendsOct 31, 2025
Piece of the Week: A Spinner Fit for ‘Frankenstein’This “Mother Father” spinner necklace from Heavenly Vices Fine Jewelry draws inspiration from Victorian Era jewelry.
CrimeOct 31, 2025
5 More Arrested in Louvre Heist, Jewelry Still Missing The suspects were rounded up in Paris and its suburbs on Wednesday night, but none of the stolen jewels were recovered with them.
Recorded WebinarsOct 31, 2025
Watch: How to Master Google Reviews for Your BusinessExperts share top tips on how to encourage positive reviews and handle negative feedback.
Supplier BulletinOct 30, 2025
Protect Your Customers and Your BusinessSponsored by the Gemological Institute of America
CrimeOct 30, 2025
29-Year-Old Man Charged in Multiple Seattle-Area Smash and Grabs The suspect faces charges in the August robbery of Menashe & Sons Jewelers and is accused of committing smash and grabs at two pawn shops.
