Articles and News
Industry News: AGS To Honor Siegel, Kenyon, Wicht; GIA Expands In Israel; De Beers Grading Lab; More February 24, 2016 (0 comments)
Hank Siegel, Stewart Wicht, and Dione Kenyon AGS 2016 Circle of Distinction Honorees
Las Vegas, NV—The American Gem Society (AGS) will honor three industry leaders at its annual Circle of Distinction dinner, set for Tuesday, July 26 at the historic Plaza Hotel in New York City. Dione Kenyon, retiring president of the Jewelers Board of Trade (JBT), will receive the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award for her significant contributions to the industry throughout her career. Stewart Wicht, CEO and president of Rolex Watch U.S.A., and retailer Hank Siegel (left), president of Princeton, NJ-based Hamilton Jewelers, will both be awarded the distinctive AGS Triple Zero Award for their many accomplishments and contributions to the fine jewelry industry.
Dione Kenyon, retiring president of the Jewelers Board of Trade, will receive AGS' Lifetime Achievement Award this summer.
“We are proud to continue the Society’s tradition of honoring excellence and outstanding contributions to our industry,” says Scott Berg, president-Elect of the AGS board of directors. “These three individuals stand out as exceptional leaders in the fine jewelry industry. Dione has provided an invaluable service to the industry, and has made an impact through her work at the Jewelers Board of Trade. Stewart Wicht and Hank Siegel are exemplary professionals, each with a long list of impressive achievements. These three set the bar high for all jewelry professionals, and we gladly applaud their on-going efforts.”
Kenyon has served the Jewelers Board of Trade for over 14 years, and has been active on the boards of other industry organizations like the Women’s Jewelry Association (WJA) and the Gemological Institute of America (GIA). She helped the JBT add greater value to its membership by providing insights and tools that help members make good business decisions.
Wicht has extensive experience in the luxury watch industry, having served at Rolex since 1975. He too over the company’s U.S. division in 2010 and continues his high-profile leadership and excellence to maintain the brand’s image and esteem for their loyal fan base.
Stewart Wicht, president of Rolex USA.
Siegel is the third generation to head his family business of Hamilton Jewelers. As president and CEO, he has led Hamilton Jewelers to new levels of success, while retaining its core values and its character as a family business.
To order dinner tickets or to learn about advertising opportunities in the Circle of Distinction Tribute Book, contact Lauren Ruggeroli at 866-805-6500 x1005 or email lruggeroli@ags.org.
GIA Holds Grand Opening Reception Of Its New Facilities In Israel
Ramat Gan, Israel—GIA (Gemological Institute of America) last week hosted a grand opening reception at its new, expanded offices in Ramat Gan's Diamond Exchange Complex. GIA president and CEO Susan Jacques, executive vice president Tom Moses and vice president for regional laboratory operations Matt Crimmin, were on hand for the event, held during International Diamond Week in Israel.
GIA's Israel Manager, Gabriel Alayon, said that with the establishment of its new offices, GIA Israel would continue to expand and grow and provide the services the community needs.
Expressing her delight to be in Israel once again, Susan Jacques noted that the diamond and jewelry business had its ups and downs. But declaring herself an eternal optimist, she expressed her belief that the downturn had bottomed out, that there now was wind under the wings and that "we will soar to great heights." Tom Moses recalled that when he began his studies at GIA in Santa Monica forty years ago, GIA had less than 100 employees worldwide, while more than 100 people already work in its Israel facility.
At the conclusion of the ceremony, Jacques was given a certificate attesting to her induction into the Israel Diamond Exchange League of Honor.
Watch video from the event here.
De Beers Opens Grading Lab To Public
London, United Kingdom—As industry pundits were sure they would, De Beers has begun accepting outside stones for grading in its International Institute of Diamond Grading & Research labs in Maidenhead, UK, Antwerp, Belgium, and Surat, India.
Originally established to provide grading support for its own proprietary Forevermark brand, the De Beers labs rely heavily on technology and automation for grading, with human element reserved for double-checking.
According to a report in JCK, De Beers’ officials say the system ensures that stones will be graded objectively and consistently—and quickly—around the world.
A U.S. lab might be in the future, said spokesperson David Johnson in the JCK article.
Rapaport Launches New Investment Diamond Grading Report
New York, NY—The Rapaport Group has launched a new diamond grading report, titled the Rapaport Investment Diamond Report (IDR). The new report conservatively grades diamonds based on Gemological Institute of America (GIA) standards. Tint, location, and color of inclusions as well as high-resolution images are provided online and with the report.
All Rapaport Investment Diamond Reports are double tested, as they include an additional independent GIA diamond grading report. The IDR will only be issued for the best quality round 0.50 ct. and larger, D-H, IF-VS2, excellent cut, polish and symmetry, Rapaport Specification A1 diamonds that, in the opinion of Rapaport gemologists, meet investment quality standards. Diamonds that lack overall brilliance, have features that limit trade liquidity or have borderline grades may not be issued IDR's.
For more information, a sample report and Rapaport Specification A1 details, see www.RapLab.com.
.