Jewelers of America (JA) presented accolades to Lux Bond & Green CEO John Green, FoundRae chief Beth Hutchens and Chanel at the 23rd annual Gem Awards last week in New York.
Green received the Lifetime Achievement Award, JA said Monday.
“My aspiration tonight is more for us in the room to become educators and mentors, to keep elevating our luxury industry to compete with other luxury businesses,” said Green. “The jewelry and watch stage is amazing, but we can’t rest on our success.”
Taking home the High Jewelry Excellence Award at the March 14 event was Chanel. Meanwhile, the JA revealed the winners in the remaining categories live during the black-tie gala.
Beth Hutchens, CEO of jewelry company FoundRae, won the Gem Award for Jewelry Design. Other nominees in the category were Sophie Bille Brahe and Selim Mouzannar.
The prize for Media Excellence went to Sam Broekema, editor in chief of the Natural Diamond Council’s Only Natural Diamonds. Paige Reddinger, watch and jewelry editor at Robb Report, and Trace Shelton, editor in chief of Instore, also received nominations in the category.
Reinhold Jewelers picked up the Gem Award for Retail Innovation. Yael Reinhold, granddaughter of founder Marie Helene Reinhold, and sales, marketing and buyer director Mildred Marcano accepted the tribute. Fine-jewelry brand Bernard James and Chicago-based jeweler and Rolex dealer CD Peacock were also nominated in that category.
Main image: The award gala. (Jewelers of America)
