EditorsSep 15, 2025
Skipping the Necklace, Embracing Snakes: The Best Jewelry From the 2025 Emmy AwardsAssociate Editor Natalie Francisco shares eight of her favorite jewelry looks from the 77th annual Primetime Emmy Awards, held Sunday night.
IndependentsJan 27, 2017
National Jeweler’s Retailer Hall of Fame Returns
John Henne, Sissy Jones and Jean-Christophe Bédos of Birks Group are the jewelers who comprise the 2017 class of inductees.
The 2017 inductees into National Jeweler’s Retailer Hall of Fame are, from left to right, John Henne, Sissy Jones and Jean-Christophe Bédos.
New York--National Jeweler is bringing back yet another popular feature.
For the first time in five years, the jewelry trade magazine is naming jewelers to its Retailer Hall of Fame and honoring them with a special issue that will be published in mid-May.
National Jeweler first introduced the Retailer Hall of Fame in 1989 as a way to recognize jewelers who have made significant contributions to jewelry retailing and inspired their peers.
Each year between 1989 and 2012, the publication inducted retailers in three categories based on their store’s size: single-store independent, multi-store independent and majors.
For 2017, the inductees are as follows.
-- Single-store independent: John Henne, Henne Jewelers, Pittsburgh
-- Multi-store independent: Sissy Jones, Sissy’s Log Cabin, Pine Bluff, Arkansas
-- Majors: Jean-Christophe Bédos, Birks Group Inc., Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Henne is the owner and president of Henne Jewelers in Pittsburgh and is the fourth generation to run the store that his great-grandfather, Rudolph Joseph Henne, opened in 1887.
Located in the city’s upscale Shadyside neighborhood, Henne Jewelers has been named the “Best Jeweler” in the city by Pittsburgh Magazine every year since 2009 and, under Henne’s leadership, the store also has been honored for its ethics and workplace culture.
Henne serves as the chair-elect of Jewelers of America’s board of directors.
Jones opened an antiques and jewelry store in a literal log cabin in 1970 and since has grown the business to four stores, in Pine Bluff, Jonesboro and Little Rock, Arkansas and Memphis, Tennessee.
Over the course of her career, she has received numerous accolades, including the Arkansas Jewelers Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award, the Retailer of the Year Award from the Women’s Jewelry Association and the 2015 Arkansan of the Year award from Easter Seals.
She also is an inductee into another Hall of Fame, that of the WJA, which honored Jones at its event this past July.
Bédos started his career in the jewelry industry 29 years ago at Cartier, rising to become the iconic brand’s managing director in France between 2002 and 2004 and international executive manager alongside the president of parent company Richemont from 2000 to 2002.
From May 2004 to June 2011, he was the president and CEO of Boucheron International, which is owned by Kering (formerly PPR).
Birks hired Bédos as its new president and CEO in April 2012.
The company, which ranks No. 21 on the 2016 $100 Million Supersellers and No. 22 on the Top 50 Retail Jewelry Chains by store count lists, operates Birks stores in Canada and as well as Mayors stores in the southeastern United States.
For the first time in five years, the jewelry trade magazine is naming jewelers to its Retailer Hall of Fame and honoring them with a special issue that will be published in mid-May.
National Jeweler first introduced the Retailer Hall of Fame in 1989 as a way to recognize jewelers who have made significant contributions to jewelry retailing and inspired their peers.
Each year between 1989 and 2012, the publication inducted retailers in three categories based on their store’s size: single-store independent, multi-store independent and majors.
For 2017, the inductees are as follows.
-- Single-store independent: John Henne, Henne Jewelers, Pittsburgh
-- Multi-store independent: Sissy Jones, Sissy’s Log Cabin, Pine Bluff, Arkansas
-- Majors: Jean-Christophe Bédos, Birks Group Inc., Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Henne is the owner and president of Henne Jewelers in Pittsburgh and is the fourth generation to run the store that his great-grandfather, Rudolph Joseph Henne, opened in 1887.
Located in the city’s upscale Shadyside neighborhood, Henne Jewelers has been named the “Best Jeweler” in the city by Pittsburgh Magazine every year since 2009 and, under Henne’s leadership, the store also has been honored for its ethics and workplace culture.
Henne serves as the chair-elect of Jewelers of America’s board of directors.
Jones opened an antiques and jewelry store in a literal log cabin in 1970 and since has grown the business to four stores, in Pine Bluff, Jonesboro and Little Rock, Arkansas and Memphis, Tennessee.
Over the course of her career, she has received numerous accolades, including the Arkansas Jewelers Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award, the Retailer of the Year Award from the Women’s Jewelry Association and the 2015 Arkansan of the Year award from Easter Seals.
She also is an inductee into another Hall of Fame, that of the WJA, which honored Jones at its event this past July.
Bédos started his career in the jewelry industry 29 years ago at Cartier, rising to become the iconic brand’s managing director in France between 2002 and 2004 and international executive manager alongside the president of parent company Richemont from 2000 to 2002.
From May 2004 to June 2011, he was the president and CEO of Boucheron International, which is owned by Kering (formerly PPR).
Birks hired Bédos as its new president and CEO in April 2012.
The company, which ranks No. 21 on the 2016 $100 Million Supersellers and No. 22 on the Top 50 Retail Jewelry Chains by store count lists, operates Birks stores in Canada and as well as Mayors stores in the southeastern United States.
More on Independents
The Latest
SurveysSep 15, 2025
Resilient Shoppers to Boost Holiday Retail Sales, Says DeloitteIt’s predicting a rise in retail sales this holiday season despite economic uncertainty and elevated inflation.
SourcingSep 15, 2025
Gemfields Achieves $32M at High-Quality Emerald AuctionIt included the sale of the 11,685-carat “Imboo” emerald that was recently discovered at Kagem.
Brought to you by
reDollar.com Is Rolling Out the Next Level Jewelry, Diamond & Watch Consignment ProgramWith their unmatched services and low fees, reDollar.com is challenging some big names in the online consignment world.
SourcingSep 15, 2025
AGTA Elects 8 Members to Board of Directors The newly elected directors will officially take office in February 2026 and will be introduced at the organization’s membership meeting.
Weekly QuizSep 12, 2025
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
EditorsSep 12, 2025
Out & About: Mining Sapphires in Rock Creek, MontanaAssociate Editor Lauren McLemore headed out West for a visit to Potentate Mining’s operation hosted by gemstone wholesaler Parlé Gems.
TrendsSep 12, 2025
Piece of the Week: Arunashi’s Fordite and Rhodolite EarringsFordite is a man-made material created from the layers of dried enamel paint that dripped onto the floors of automotive factories.
Brought to you by
Rallying Call for the Jewelry Industry on Tariffs and Other Key IssuesJewelers of America is leading the charge to protect the industry amidst rising economic threats.
Events & AwardsSep 12, 2025
Al Gilbertson Wins 2025 Robert M. Shipley AwardGilbertson has worked as a researcher, jeweler, lapidary artist, appraiser, and business owner throughout his decades in the industry.
Policies & IssuesSep 11, 2025
Supreme Court to Hear Tariffs Case in November A decision likely won’t come until January 2026 at the earliest, and the tariffs remain in effect until then.
MajorsSep 11, 2025
Tabayer Opens Nordstrom Shop-In-ShopLocated in the revamped jewelry hall at the retailer’s New York City flagship, this opening is Tabayer’s first shop-in-shop.
SourcingSep 11, 2025
Need to Sell More Natural Diamonds? De Beers Has an App for ThatThe new, free app offers accessible educational content, like games and podcasts, for U.S. retailers.
MajorsSep 10, 2025
Stuller to Swap Gold Scrap for Full Credit to AccountAs the gold price rises, the manufacturer is offering a 100 percent payout through Sept. 30 for gold clean scrap.
SourcingSep 10, 2025
Tech Meets Style in the New Loewe x Jacob & Co. HeadphonesJacob & Co. partnered with the German technology company on two pairs of headphones, one set with diamonds and the other with sapphires.
TrendsSep 10, 2025
Tiffany & Co. Archival Jewels Bring Life to ‘Frankenstein’Guillermo del Toro’s 2025 “Frankenstein” will feature 27 jewels and objects from the storied brand, including pieces from its archives.
MajorsSep 10, 2025
24 Karat Club of New York’s Banquet to Return to Waldorf AstoriaThe Waldorf Astoria New York’s grand reopening this past summer means a homecoming for the industry group’s annual event.
SourcingSep 09, 2025
Anglo American to Merge With Canadian Copper Miner Anglo plans to merge with Teck Resources Ltd. to form Anglo Teck. The deal changes nothing about its plans to offload De Beers.
AuctionsSep 09, 2025
‘The Mellon Blue’ to Return to Auction, This Time at Christie’s The 9.51-carat fancy vivid blue diamond, which set two world auction records at Sotheby’s in 2014, is estimated to fetch up to $30 million.
AuctionsSep 09, 2025
Phillips Names Dianne Batista Head of Jewels, New YorkThe industry veteran joins the auction house as it looks to solidify its footprint in the jewelry market.
MajorsSep 09, 2025
MJSA Education Foundation Announces 2025 Scholarship WinnersThe nonprofit awarded four students pursuing a professional career in jewelry making and design with $2,250 each.
MajorsSep 08, 2025
MJSA Is Officially Now Under JA’s UmbrellaThe two organizations have finalized and signed the affiliation agreement announced in May.
AuctionsSep 08, 2025
Sotheby’s To Auction ‘Exceptional’ Collection of JAR, Suzanne Belperron JewelsThe single-owner sale will headline Sotheby's inaugural jewelry auction at the Breuer building, its new global headquarters, this December.
Events & AwardsSep 08, 2025
27 Can’t-Miss Converge Sessions, Events From sunrise yoga to tariffs talks, these are some events to check out at the upcoming inaugural event.
ColumnistsSep 05, 2025
Peter Smith: A Lasting Lesson From Maurice Tempelsman Smith recalls a bit of wisdom the industry leader, who died last week, shared at a diamond conference years ago.
CollectionsSep 05, 2025
Piece of the Week: Jamie Turner’s ‘Victoria’ Necklace The “Victoria” necklace features a labradorite hugged by diamond accents in 18-karat yellow gold.
Policies & IssuesSep 05, 2025
Trump Takes Tariffs Case to the Supreme Court Two lower courts have moved to block the import taxes, which will remain in place as the legal battle continues.
WatchesSep 05, 2025
Patrick Mahomes Is the New Hublot Brand AmbassadorThe Kansas City Chiefs quarterback shares Hublot’s dedication to pursuing greatness, the Swiss watchmaker said.
