Appointments: 24 Karat Club, Buccellati, more

Another jeweler awarded the certified gemologist appraiser title, a new CEO at Buccellati and a former Tiffany executive joining the Talisman Collection are among the industry’s recent career moves.

Michelle Graff michelle.graff@nationaljeweler.com

New York--Another jeweler awarded the certified gemologist appraiser title, a new CEO at Buccellati and a former Tiffany executive joining the Talisman Collection are among the industry’s recent career moves.

Christine Edlund of Stuart Benjamin & Co. Jewelry Designs in San Diego recently was awarded the certified gemologist appraiser title by the American Gem Society.

Edlund already was accredited as an AGS certified gemologist but had to pass additional requirements to become a CGA. This included a two-part exam with theory questions and practical assignments based on performing a number of accurate appraisals for a variety of jewelry items.

There are currently around 400 AGS jewelers in North America that are CGAs.

Stuart Benjamin & Co. said that it has an accredited gemologist laboratory on premises that includes a binocular microscope, a set of five AGS mast diamonds for color grading purposes, gem testing equipment and a gemological library of reference materials.

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The Jewelers 24 Karat Club of Southern California and its board of directors will honor Karen Signorino of Jewelers Mutual Insurance and Ricardo Basta of Ricardo Basta Fine Jewelry with its Excellence in Service awards.

The award is bestowed every year upon jewelers who exemplify the values of the 24 Karat Club, social responsibility, integrity, and honor, and have made a significant contribution to the industry.

Signorino has been a part of the jewelry industry for more than 35 years. She currently serves as the regional sales director for JM Insurance Services LLC and has represented Jewelers Mutual as one of their insurance agents since 1978.

Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Basta got his start in the industry when he moved to Los Angeles at 19 and started working in his uncle’s jewelry store. He then started working for Frances Klein, restoring Art Deco, Edwardian and Victorian jewelry pieces, inspiring his own award-winning creations and designs.

The two will receive their awards at the club’s 69th annual gala, scheduled for Oct. 11. This year’s event will be held at the Ritz-Carlton Marina del Rey in Marina del Rey, Calif. For more information or tickets, email Lisa Schoening at info@jewelers24karatclub.com.

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The Buccellati Group has appointed fashion and luxury veteran Gianluca Brozzetti as its new CEO.

The company said in its statement that Brozzetti will carry out the growth process of the brand that was started almost two years ago when Clessidra

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Private Equity Fund entered the group as a shareholder.

Brozzetti has been in the luxury goods sector for more than 28 years, working as marketing and sales manager at Gucci, executive director of the jewelry and watches division at Bulgari Group, and president and CEO at Louis Vuitton.

Coinciding with the appointment, CEO Thierry Andretta has left his position and has been appointed as vice president of the group, supporting management in the development plans for the brand in international markets.

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Jewelry retail chain Talisman Collection has named former Tiffany & Co. executive Jill O’Neill as vice president of sales and management for the company’s retail locations and e-commerce divisions. She’ll oversee sales, training and human capital.

At Tiffany, O’Neill was selected to open the company’s Roseville, Calif. location after training at its Fifth Avenue corporate headquarters and East Coast manufacturing centers.

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The Gemmological Association of Great Britain (Gem-A) has announced that fine diamond and gemstone jewelry manufacturer and wholesaler P.J. Watson is the winner of this year’s Gem Empathy Award.

Gem-A said the company was selected for its multi-purpose tourmaline and diamond peacock feather brooch, which was created especially for the International Jewellery London show.

P.J. Watson’s winning piece, designed by John Watson, featured a 23.81-carat tourmaline center stone and 3.94-carats of G color, VS clarity diamonds all set in 18-karat white gold.

The Gem Empathy Award is presented every year on the last day of the IJL show to the exhibitor who displays, according to the judges, a single piece or collection of jewelry that makes “captivating use” of one or more gemstones and provides accurate ethical descriptions, as well as displays creativity and imagination.

Michelle Graffis the editor-in-chief at National Jeweler, directing the publication’s coverage both online and in print.