CrimeNov 17, 2025
Police Searching for 2 Suspects in Murder of Father, Son Jewelers Faustino Alamo Dominguez and his son, 25-year-old Luis Angel Alamo, were gunned down following an armed robbery at their jewelry store.
Events & AwardsApr 19, 2016
Scott Berg Becomes AGS Board President
John Carter of Jack Lewis Jewelers in Bloomington, Ill. was tapped as president-elect, making him next in line to take over after Berg.
Scott Berg, left, was elected president of the American Gem Society’s board of directors while John Carter was tapped as president-elect.
Washington, D.C.--Members of the American Gem Society elected Scott Berg as president of its board of directors at the close of the organization’s annual Conclave.
The certified gemologist (CG), who is a member of the family that runs multi-store independent Lee Michaels Fine Jewelry, assumes the role from outgoing president Louis Smith, CG, of Smithworks Fine Jewelry in Spartanburg, S.C. He will remain board president until April 2018.
In addition to being a CG, Berg is a Gemological Institute of America graduate gemologist and holds an MBA from Louisiana State University.
For the past nearly 14 years, he has served as president of the Louisiana market for his family’s jewelry store, Lee Michaels Fine Jewelry. The company has a total of eight stores in three states--Louisiana, Texas and Mississippi.
He also is not the only Berg serving in a leadership position in the jewelry industry; his brother Ryan is the current board chairman of Jewelers of America.
Backing up Berg will be board President-Elect John Carter of Jack Lewis Jewelers in Bloomington, Ill.
Underwood Jewelers’ Michael Richards (CG) was elected as the board secretary while Frank Brown (RJ) of Brown & Company Jewelers was appointed treasurer and Georgie Gleim (CG) of Gleim the Jeweler was tapped as the board’s senior adviser.
The committee chairs are:
AGS Lab Board of Advisers, Clayton Bromberg (CG), Underwood Jewelers;
Conclave Sub-Committee, Carter;
International Guilds Council, Marc Altman (CGA), B & E Jewelers and Gemologist;
Gemological Sciences Committee, Richards;
Education Committee, Lisa Bridge (CG), Ben Bridge Jeweler;
Marketing Committee, Scott Udell, London Jewelers; and
Membership Committee and Grievance & Review, Kelly Newton, Newton’s Jewelers.
The directors-at-large are:
Joel Hassler (CGA), Rasmussen Diamonds;
Scott Murphy, Jewelers Mutual Insurance Company;
Alexis Padis (CGA), Padis Jewelry;
Beryl Raff, Helzberg Diamonds;
Ronnie Vanderlinden, Diamex Inc.;
Yancy Weinrich, Reed Jewelry Group; and
Stewart Wicht, Rolex Watch U.S.A. Inc.
Editor’s Note: This article was updated on April 20, 2016, to reflect that Scott Berg will remain as AGS board president until April 2018, not 2017, as was previously stated.
More on Events & Awards
The Latest
GradingNov 17, 2025
IGI Announces New President of North AmericaTiffany & Co. veteran Jeffrey Bennett has stepped into the role.
MajorsNov 17, 2025
Look Inside Robbins Brothers Fine Jewelers’ New Pasadena FlagshipThe showroom is located in a historic 1920s building in the Playhouse District.
Brought to you by
Impacting Tomorrow TodayHow Jewelers of America’s 20 Under 40 are leading to ensure a brighter future for the jewelry industry.
Policies & IssuesNov 14, 2025
U.S., Switzerland Reach Deal That Drops Tariff to 15%The Swiss government announced the deal, which cuts the tax on Swiss imports by more than half, on social media Friday morning.
Weekly QuizNov 13, 2025
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
AuctionsNov 14, 2025
Napoleon’s Diamond Brooch Blows Away Auction Estimates A buyer paid $4.4 million for the piece, which Napoleon wore on his hat for special occasions and left behind when he fled Waterloo.
FinancialsNov 14, 2025
Richemont’s Q2 Jewelry Sales Up 12%Plus, how tariffs and the rising price of gold are affecting its watch and jewelry brands.
Brought to you by
Roseco Releases New Full-Line CatalogRoseco’s 704-page catalog showcases new lab-grown diamonds, findings, tools & more—available in print or interactive digital editions.
CollectionsNov 14, 2025
Piece of the Week: Silvia Furmanovich’s ‘Butterflies in Flight’ Jewelry BoxFurmanovich designed the box to hold Mellerio’s “Color Queen,” a high jewelry collection consisting of 10 rings.
IndependentsNov 13, 2025
127-Year-Old New Orleans Jeweler to CloseAdler’s Jewelry is set to close its two stores as 82-year-old owner Coleman E. Adler II retires.
IndependentsNov 13, 2025
Green Lake Jewelry Works to Move to New Seattle StudioFounder Jim Tuttle shared how a dedication to craftsmanship and meaningful custom jewelry fueled the retailer’s double-digit growth.
MajorsNov 13, 2025
Vahan Jewelry Founder Leon ‘Sacha’ Der Calousdian Dies at 85The third-generation jeweler is remembered as a passionate creative with a love of art, traveling and sailboat racing.
CrimeNov 12, 2025
Father, Son Jewelers in Chicago Victims in Double Homicide JSA and Cook County Crime Stoppers are both offering rewards for information leading to the arrest of the suspect or suspects involved.
AuctionsNov 12, 2025
‘Mellon Blue’ Diamond Sells for $7M Less Than It Did a Decade AgoA buyer paid $25.6 million for the diamond at Christie’s on Tuesday. In 2014, Sotheby’s sold the same stone for $32.6 million.
AuctionsNov 12, 2025
Historic Rolex Oyster Fetches $1.7M at Sotheby’sMercedes Gleitze famously wore the watch in her 1927 swim across the English Channel, a pivotal credibility moment for the watchmaker.
GradingNov 12, 2025
It’s Time: GIA’s Express Holiday Service Is Back GIA is offering next-day services for natural, colorless diamonds submitted to its labs in New York and Carlsbad.
MajorsNov 10, 2025
Jewelers Focus on Love, Joy In 2025 Holiday Campaigns Tiffany & Co., David Yurman, and Pandora have launched holiday campaigns depicting their jewelry as symbols of affection and happiness.
SurveysNov 10, 2025
5 Things Retailers Should Know About Holiday Shoppers This YearThe National Retail Federation is bullish on the holidays, forecasting retail sales to exceed $1 trillion this year.
AuctionsNov 10, 2025
300+ Colored Diamonds Up for Auction at Christie’sLate collector Eddy Elzas assembled “The Rainbow Collection,” which is offered as a single lot and estimated to fetch up to $3 million.
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.
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.
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.
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.
