G. Robert Crowningshield, former GIA vice president, topped the list of honorees at the American Gem Society Circle of Distinction dinner, held Tuesday at the Rainbow Room in New York.

Crowningshield won a Lifetime Achievement Award for his contributions to gemology.

The AGS also gave out its “Triple Zero” awards. Winning in the “Diamond” category was the Kwiat family—Sheldon, Lowell and David Kwait, as well as former International Diamond Manufacturers Association president Jacques Roisen, Sheldon Kwiat’s father-in-law who merged his company into the Kwiat’s in 1998.

Accepting for his family, Sheldon Kwiat said, “Our family is proud and honored to be part of the American Gem Society and Robert M. Shipley’s vision for our industry.” Then he paraphrased George M. Cohan: “My brother thanks you, my father thanks you and my father-in-law thanks you.”

The winner in the “retail category” was Lee Michael Berg of Lee Michael’s Fine Jewelry in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. “It is humbling to be recognized and appreciated by the industry that has given me so much.”

Finally, Cecilia Gardner, executive director of the Jewelers Vigilance Committee, took home the honors in the “Industry” category. The Richard T. Liddicoat Journalism Award winners included Noah Rothbaum and Stephanie Williams of Smart Money, Laura Catalano of the Pottstown Mercury, and, in the trade press category, John Koivula of Gems and Gemology for an article on photomicography.

JCK