New York, NY – Jewelers of America (JA), the national trade association for businesses serving the fine jewelry marketplace, and the GEM Awards Committee proudly announce the winners of the 23rd annual GEM Awards that took place Friday, March 14, 2025 at Cipriani 42nd Street in New York City. John A. Green, President and CEO of Lux Bond & Green, was the recipient of the GEM Award for Lifetime Achievement. Chanel was presented with the GEM Award for High Jewelry Excellence. The winners in the categories of Jewelry Design, Media Excellence and Retail Excellence were revealed live during the event.
Beth Hutchenson of FoundRae won the GEM Award for Jewelry Design. The award was presented by the 2024 GEM Award for Jewelry Design winner, Marla Aaron. The other nominees in the category were Sophie Bille Brahe and Selim Mouzannar.
The GEM Award for Media Excellence went to Sam Broekema. The award was presented by the 2024 winner in the category, Tanya Dukes. The other nominees were Trace Shelton and Paige Reddinger.
Reinhold Jewelers won the GEM Award for Retail Excellence, and the award was accepted on stage by Yael Reinhold and Mildred Marcano. The other nominees were Bernard James and CD Peacock. The award was presented by 2024 GEM Award for Retail Excellence winner Lisa Bridge of Ben Bridge.
The evening concluded with the presentation of the GEM Award for Lifetime Achievement to John A. Green, president & CEO of Lux Bond & Green. John took the stage to a standing ovation following a heartfelt and engaging introduction from Jeff Feero of Alex Sepkus. John’s speech did more than thank his colleagues and family, he also called for the industry to keep moving forward by saying, “My aspiration tonight is more for us in this room to become educators and mentors, to keep elevation our luxury industry to compete with other luxury businesses. The jewelry and watch stage is amazing, but we can’t rest on our success.”
The 2025 GEM Awards was chaired and emceed by Marion Fasel, The Adventurine. The GEM Awards Committee was comprised of Randi Udell Alper, London Jewelers; Sarin Bachmann, JCK & LUXURY; David Bonaparte, Jewelers of America; Gannon Brousseau, COUTURE; Annie Doresca, Black in Jewelry Coalition; Tanya Dukes; Jennifer Gandia, Greenwich St. Jewelers; Michelle Graff, National Jeweler; Lauren Harwell Godfrey, Harwell Godfrey; Sally Morrison, De Beers Group; Jill Newman; Rebecca Moskal, and Matthew Rosenheim, Tiny Jewel Box.
For more information on GEM Awards or to view photos from the 2025 GEM Awards visit www.jewelers.org/gemawards.
High resolution photos are available for download at:
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/0q80sqzklsagsvr01by66/AHyO0OhZLv72zyNPrVN1ZdU?rlkey=yibj2yi1pvn4avc4w1fg84hkl&st=cgkaw09u&dl=0
BFA/Matt Borkowski
