History of Excellence

2001 | A GEM is born! Jewelry Information Center unveils a new awards program paying tribute to journalists and media professionals. The first GEM Awards is set to be held at the Rainbow Room in Rockefeller Center, New York, on November 13, 2001. However, after the tragic events of September 11th rocks New York City, Jewelry Information Center postpones the inaugural GEM Awards gala.

January 10, 2003 | The show goes on! The inaugural GEM Awards is rescheduled and takes place on January 10, 2003, at Cipriani 42nd Street. The first gala honors Marion Fasel and Penny Proddow of InStyle magazine.

January 9, 2004 | Arguably the most famous jewelry-duo of all time, Sybil & David Yurman (pictured with Madeline Albright on left) receive the GEM Award for Lifetime Achievement at the second annual GEM Awards.

January 7, 2005 | At the third annual GEM Awards, InStyle magazine’s Fashion Director Hal Rubenstein (pictured) undresses to reveal necklaces and show his love of jewelry while receiving his GEM Award. That same evening, Richard Lennox and the Diamond Group at J. Walter Thompson are honored for the Diamond Trading Company's unforgettable “A Diamond is Forever” marketing campaign.

January 13, 2006 | At this star-studded gala, Katie Couric accepts the GEM Award for Broadcast Excellence. After a beautiful introduction by Tiffany & Co.’s CEO Michael Kowalski, Couric says: “Mike, thank you so much for that wonderfully kind introduction. Mike, truth be told, was a tad nervous speaking before all of you tonight, and he asked me very sweetly if, when I came on stage, it was alright if he gave me a congratulatory kiss. And I said, 'Of course, just no tongue!'”

Roberto Coin cracks up the audience while accepting the GEM Award for Corporate Communications: “When somebody asked me what I think about why I love to dress women, I said: ‘Well, how old are you?’ And she said: ‘About 25.’ And I say, ‘Obviously you didn’t meet me when I was younger, because when I was younger I used to love to undress them.’ Sometimes fast, sometimes slow, and now at my age, I want to dress them, it’s much easier.”

January 12, 2007 | Twenty-one members of the Kwiat family take the stage.

January 11, 2008 | Dan Marino, one of the most prolific quarterbacks in league history, is the first-ever sports hero to take the GEM Awards stage.

January 9, 2009 | The GEM Awards audience is captivated by music legend L.L. Cool J, who introduces Russell Simmons and presents him with the GEM Award for Jewelry Style. Another honoree Glenda Bailey, editor-in-chief of Harper’s Bazaar, declares her support of jewelry while accepting the GEM Award for Journalistic Excellence: “After all, in these troubled times, it seems wiser to invest in a bracelet than in a bank!”

January 8, 2010 | Former Secretary of State Madeleine K. Albright references her recently published book Read My Pins while accepting the GEM Award for Jewelry Style: “Before long and without intending it, I found that jewelry had become part of my personal diplomatic arsenal. Former President George H. W. Bush has been known for saying ‘Read my Lips.’ I began urging my colleagues to ‘Read my pins!'”

January 7, 2011 | Academy Award and Grammy winner Jennifer Hudson presents the GEM Award for Jewelry Style to Neil Lane at the ninth annual GEM Awards. Joanna Coles, Editor-In-Chief Marie Claire, accepts the GEM Award for Journalistic Excellence presented by Cynthia Nixon. “As I was leaving this evening, my husband, who is not here, pushed a note in my hand and asked me to read it.  It reads as follows: ‘Dear GEM Awards committee, seriously, you think my wife needs an award for her obsession with jewelry? For God's sake, you are enabling her! She doesn’t need an award, she needs an intervention!’”

January 6, 2012 | Padma Lakshmi hosts the 10th annual GEM Awards.

January 11, 2013 | Brooke Shields presents Ippolita with the inaugural GEM Award for Design and Matthew Runci receives the GEM Award for Lifetime Achievement.

January 10, 2014 | For the first time, GEM Awards uses a “live reveal” format with the winners announced live at the event. David Yurman presents the GEM Award for Lifetime Achievement to Marie Helene Morrow. "She has a great passion for jewelry and a great passion for art, and more importantly, she loves people – she dearly loves people – she’s just incredible. She’s taught me a lot."

January 9, 2015 | Carolyn Murphy, Jane Seymour and New York Giant Rashad Jennings created a star-studded red carpet which was broadcast via livestream.

January 8, 2016 | The GEM Awards for Watch Design is the first specialty watch award given at the event. Cartier takes home the inaugural award.

January 13, 2017  | Jim Rosenheim, chairman of Tiny Jewel Box in Washington D.C., is honored with the GEM Award for Lifetime Achievement. In his acceptance speech, he states how his family business was founded on the simple motto: "If it's not special, it's not here."

January 19, 2018 | Actress Debra Messing, of "Will & Grace" fame, accepts the GEM Award for Jewelry Style saying, "My passion for jewelry comes from a deep and authentic place. It has been one of the very few constants in my life. I like to say it's part of my DNA."

January 11, 2019 | Stewart Wicht, President & CEO of Rolex Watch U.S.A., Inc., receives a standing ovation as he accepts the GEM Award for Lifetime Achievement.