EditorsNov 22, 2024
Out & About: Inside the CD Peacock MansionStep inside the nearly 21,000-square-foot suburban Chicago jewelry store with Editor-in-Chief Michelle Graff.
IndependentsMar 05, 2020
Bob Lynn, the ‘Magician Jeweler,’ Dies at 68
The longtime American Gem Society jeweler owned Lynn’s Jewelry Studio in Ventura, California.
Ventura, Calif.—Bob Lynn, the longtime American Gem Society jeweler who once made Bill Farmer disappear on stage at Conclave, died over the weekend.
He was 68.
As an apprentice, he learned the fundamentals of jewelry work, including how to cut, carve and facet gemstones.
After studying physics in college, Lynn got a job as a junior engineer at the Pacific Missile Test Center in Point Mugu, California while still honing his jewelry skills by working part-time out of a crafts arcade.
“All through high school and college, I always had at least two jobs, one of which was jewelry,” Lynn told Spectra. “Because I was well-schooled in manufacturing and production of precision parts for aerospace, translating those skills to jewelry was natural.”
In 1973, he opened his first brick-and-mortar store, Lynn’s Jewelry Studio, and joined AGS.
Over the next 40-plus years, he created a wide variety of custom designs for his clients and one very important pin—Lynn was the jeweler behind the Shipley pin, which is given to the recipient of the Robert M. Shipley Award every year.
AGS said he made every Shipley pin to date, at no charge to the association.
Lynn retired from his store in 2017, passing the torch to his colleague John Muscarella, who worked alongside him for 22 years and still operates Lynn’s Jewelry Studio today.
After his “retirement,” the jeweler continued to work—he took on process engineering projects with a partner and, in October 2019, traveled to Europe for two weeks to perform an appraisal.
Lynn also constructed a lapidary and jewelry workshop where he worked on cutting and finishing his personal collection of gemstones.
Outside of the jewelry industry, Lynn was a 50-year member of the International Brotherhood of Magicians and a member of the Academy of Magical Arts, better known as Los Angeles’ Magic Castle, earning himself the nickname the “Magician Jeweler.”
The Spectra article recalled one specific trick.
At Conclave 1997 in Chicago, jeweler Bill Farmer delivered the closing address, which included announcing the following year’s theme—“Magic of AGS.”
Lynn came on stage with his “assistant,” Gary Long, and made Farmer “disappear” using a
chair, a folding table and a drape.
“We learned the sad news this weekend that Bob Lynn passed away,” AGS President Katherine Bodoh said in a message shared with AGS members earlier this week.
“Bob made a lasting impact on our community … He loved our community, and what we represented to the industry and jewelry buyers. We will be forever grateful to Bob for his contributions. Our thoughts go out to his loved ones.”
“We learned the sad news this weekend that Bob Lynn passed away,” AGS President Katherine Bodoh said in a message shared with AGS members earlier this week.
“Bob made a lasting impact on our community … He loved our community, and what we represented to the industry and jewelry buyers. We will be forever grateful to Bob for his contributions. Our thoughts go out to his loved ones.”
More on Independents
The Latest
CollectionsNov 22, 2024
Piece of the Week: Xander Jane’s ‘Spiked’ Pearl StudsThese punk-inspired earrings from the new Canadian brand’s debut collection reveal the alter ego of the classic pearl.
SourcingNov 22, 2024
Facets of Fire Expands to Include Pear, Marquise DiamondsThe company brings its nanotechnology to two new fancy cuts for diamonds that feature its signature color and brilliance.
Brought to you by
Navigating Cybersecurity: Essential Guidance for JewelersFrom protecting customer data to safeguarding inventory records, it's crucial to learn how to tackle cybersecurity challenges.
Supplier BulletinNov 21, 2024
Tasha R Releases 2025 Labbelle Lab Diamond Jewelry CatalogSponsored by Tasha R
Weekly QuizNov 21, 2024
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
AuctionsNov 21, 2024
Gold Watch Gifted to Titanic Rescue Ship Captain Sells for $2MThree Titanic survivors presented him with the personalized Tiffany & Co. timepiece about a year after the tragedy.
MajorsNov 21, 2024
Harris Jewelry Ordered to Reopen Claims Portal for Refund RequestsA federal court found that the jewelry store chain violated terms of the settlement reached after it was accused of defrauding customers.
Brought to you by
Enhance Your Expertise with IGI’s In-Person Courses in NYCThis fall, sharpen your skills in jewelry grading, quality control and diamond assessment.
CollectionsNov 21, 2024
Channel Elphaba in Muse’s ‘Have a Heart x Cynthia Erivo’ CollectionCynthia Erivo chose Dreams of Hope, an organization dedicated to empowering LGBTQA+ youth, as the charity for this year’s collection.
MajorsNov 21, 2024
Rocksbox Opens Pop-Up Store in San FranciscoThe new space was designed to evoke a warm, inviting vibe.
CrimeNov 20, 2024
Sotheby’s to Pay $6.25M Settlement to NY State for Alleged Tax FraudThe auction house was accused of helping clients avoid paying taxes on millions of dollars’ worth of art purchased from 2010 to 2020.
Events & AwardsNov 20, 2024
Kering Debuts New Jewelry Award With Sustainability FocusThe four finalists will present their pieces at the 2025 JCK Las Vegas show.
CollectionsNov 20, 2024
Pamela Love Channels Surrealist Artists in New CollectionThe “Camera Oscura” collection showcases earring designs celebrating female Surrealist artists Claude Cahun and Leonor Fini.
Policies & IssuesNov 20, 2024
Columbia Gem House Raises $10K for Reforestation EffortsThe money will fund the planting of 10,000 trees in critical areas across Oregon, Arizona, Montana, and other regions.
Events & AwardsNov 20, 2024
The Jewelry Symposium Opens Registration, Scholarship ApplicationsThe event centered on advancing jewelry manufacturing technology will return to Detroit in May 2025.
CrimeNov 19, 2024
Woman Killed in Armed Robbery of Sacramento Jewelry StoreLocal reports identified the woman as the wife of the jewelry store owner.
AuctionsNov 19, 2024
‘A Tsar’s Treasure’ Fetches $2.9M at Sotheby’s Jewelry SaleA collection of pieces owned by Ferdinand I, the first king of modern Bulgaria, and his family, blew away estimates in Geneva last week.
MajorsNov 19, 2024
Trove Opens First US Flagship in NYCThe Australian jewelry box brand’s new West Village store will showcase new jewelers each month through its Designer in Residence program.
CollectionsNov 19, 2024
Snoop Dogg’s New Jewelry Collection Is All About Love“Lovechild” was created in partnership with Carolyn Rafaelian’s Metal Alchemist brand.
EditorsNov 18, 2024
Q&A: Helzberg CEO Brad Hampton on the Jeweler’s RebrandHampton discussed how Helzberg is improving the customer experience and why it was inspired by the company formerly known as Dunkin’ Donuts.
Policies & IssuesNov 18, 2024
Reciprocity Jewels Returns to NYC Jewelry WeekThe group will host several curated events and an exhibition of designer jewelry made with Peruvian gold traceable to the miners’ names.
CollectionsNov 18, 2024
Dolly Parton Shines in Collaboration with Kendra ScottThe collection honors the 50th anniversary of Dolly Parton’s “Love is Like a Butterfly” song, which shares a birth year with Kendra Scott.
Events & AwardsNov 18, 2024
IGI Jewelry Design Competition ReturnsThis year’s theme asks designers to take inspiration from classic fairy tales.
EditorsNov 15, 2024
Why Fine Jewelry Belongs at New York Comic ConSenior Editor Lenore Fedow makes the case for why more jewelers should be appealing to nerds at the annual event.
CollectionsNov 15, 2024
Marie Lichtenberg Battles Counterfeits with New ‘Raiz’in Scapular’ DesignsThe latest “Raiz’in” drop showcases a newly designed “Scapular” necklace and donates a portion of the proceeds to Make-A-Wish France.
WatchesNov 15, 2024
Piece of the Week: Citizen’s Commemorative Pocket WatchNo. 1 out of 100, the timepiece was created to mark Citizen’s 100th anniversary and will be auctioned off at Sotheby’s next month.
Recorded WebinarsNov 15, 2024
Watch: 10 Tips to Keep Your Jewelry Store Secure On the latest episode of “My Next Question,” two experts share best practices for store security during the holidays and year-round.
