AGS to Honor Gumuchian, Peter Engel and James Shigley

New York--The American Gem Society has announced this year’s Circle of Distinction honorees.

The annual Circle of Distinction dinner will be held on July 25 at the Plaza Hotel in New York City.

Myriam Gumuchian, co-owner of the Gumuchian fine jewelry brand, and Peter Engel, president of Fred Meyer Jewelers, will be awarded the AGS Triple Zero award, while James Shigley, a research fellow at the Gemological Institute of America’s Carlsbad campus, will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award.

Along with her mother Anita and sister Patricia, Myriam Gumuchian founded Gumuchian in 1979. She has been an active member of the jewelry industry, serving on numerous boards and holding the position of president of the 24 Karat Club last year; she was only the second woman in the club’s history to do so .

Engel, meahwhile, oversees 319 stores in 31 states. He joined Fred Meyer Jewelers in 1981 and has been involved with organizations ranging from Jewelers of America to the Diamond Council of America.

Shigley has been at the GIA since 1982 and is the author of over 180 published articles. He helps direct research activities at the GIA and conducts his own ongoing research in the natural geological environments of gem mineral formation and the characterization of gem materials.

The Circle of Distinction event will commence at 6 p.m. with cocktails, followed by a three-course dinner and the awards ceremony.

Those interested in buying tickets or advertising in the Circle of Distinction Tribute Book may contact Lauren Ruggeroli at 866-805-6500 ext. 1005 or lruggeroli@ags.org.

“The Circle of Distinction dinner is a proud tradition of the American Gem Society, honoring excellence and the outstanding contributions to our industry,” said Katherine Bodoh, CEO of AGS and AGS Laboratories. “This is my first Circle of Distinction dinner as CEO of the AGS, and I am truly honored and inspired by these three individuals who stand out as exceptional leaders in the fine jewelry industry.”