Gem Awards take place at Cipriani in New York City.
Jewelers of America (JA) has announced that Mark and Candy Udell of London Jewelers will receive the 2026 GEM Award for Lifetime Achievement. The honor will be presented during the 24th annual GEM Awards on March 13, 2026, at Cipriani 42nd Street in New York City.
Mark and Candy Udell
The Udells have been instrumental in shaping London Jewelers into one of America’s most respected family-owned luxury jewelry retailers. Under their leadership, the brand has grown from a single store founded in 1926 to a regional powerhouse with multiple locations, including a newly opened Rolex Boutique in East Hampton and a fifth store at The Mall at Short Hills in New Jersey. As the business approaches its centennial, the Udells continue to guide the next generation—daughter Randi, son Scott, and nephew Zachary—in maintaining the company’s core values: integrity, innovation, and a deep commitment to customer relationships.
Also just announced is the debut of the David Yurman GEM Awards Grant, a $50,000 award created in partnership with JA and the GEM Awards Committee to support an emerging fine jewelry designer. In addition to the monetary grant, the recipient will receive mentorship from executives at David Yurman and other industry leaders. Applications open on August 4 and close on October 7, 2025, and you can apply here. Finalists will be notified in December and the winner revealed at the March awards gala.
The grant will be awarded to a U.S.-based designer who has operated a jewelry business for at least three years and demonstrates outstanding creativity and potential for growth. Five finalists will be invited to present their work in person to a dedicated selection committee.
