As a token of womanhood, this necklace depicts when Venus was born from the sea.
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.
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.
The Latest
The deal gives the retailer control over the distribution of Roberto Coin jewelry in the U.S., Canada, Caribbean, and Central America.
Show your mother some love with a piece of fine jewelry.
Tradeshow risks are real. Get tips to protect yourself before, during and after and gain safety and security awareness for your business.
Brian D. Fleming of Carla Corporation was elected to serve a one-year term in the role.
Sponsored by the Las Vegas Antique Jewelry and Watch Show
Tobak, author of “Ice Cold: A Hip-Hop Jewelry History,” shares how the exhibition came to be, and the pieces people may be surprised to see.
Meet Ben Claus—grand prize winner of For the Love of Jewelers 2023 Fall Design Challenge.
Stars adorned themselves in emeralds, platinum, and myriad bird motifs, writes Associate Editor Natalie Francisco.
M.S. Rau is set to open a seasonal gallery in the high-end resort town early next month.
The branded jewelry market is thriving, said Richemont Chairman Johann Rupert.
The six designers, all participants in the show’s Diversity Action Council mentorship program, will exhibit in Salon 634.
The highlight of his collection is the coveted Patek Philippe Grandmaster Chime, which could sell for up to $5 million.
The “Venetian Link” series modernizes the classic Veneziana box chain in its bracelets and necklaces.
The Seymour & Evelyn Holtzman Bench Scholarship will provide tuition assistance to two low-income students.
The Swiss watchmaker said the company’s plans to use a new version of the Hallmark crown on jewelry would confuse consumers.
The executive talked about the importance of self-purchasers and how fuel cell electric vehicles are going to fuel demand for platinum.
The Indian jeweler’s new store in Naperville, Illinois marks its 350th location, part of its ongoing global expansion plans.
It will award a graduating high school student with about $10,000 toward a GIA diploma and an internship with the Seattle-based jeweler.
Wheat Ridge, Colorado police took a 50-year-old man into custody Wednesday following a two-month search.
PGI partnered with four new and seven returning designers for its annual platinum capsule collection.
Nicolosi, president and CEO of The Kingswood Company, previously sat on WJA’s board from 2011 to 2018.
Karina Brez’s race-ready piece is a sophisticated nod to the horse-rider relationship.
The men are allegedly responsible for stealing millions in jewelry and other valuables in 43 burglaries in 25 towns across Massachusetts.
“Horizon” invites individuals to explore the limitless possibilities that lie ahead, said the brand.
The jeweler credits its recent “Be Love” campaign and ongoing brand revamp for its 17 percent jump in sales.
The co-founder of Lewis Jewelers was also the longtime mayor of the city of Moore.