The California Jewelers Association has selected Jim Hartstein of Joseph in Newport Beach, Calif., as the 2006 recipient of the Robert B. Westover Distinguished Service Award. He is the sixth jeweler to receive the honor.

The award, presented for outstanding service and contributions to the jewelry industry in general and to the CJA in particular, is named in honor of CJA’s longtime executive vice president, Robert B. Westover.

Hartstein will receive the award during a reception on Aug. 20 at the Anaheim Marriott Hotel, to be held in conjunction with the West Coast Jewelry Show.

Hartstein served as CJA president in 2004 and part of 2005, following the footsteps of his father, Joseph Hartstein, as head of the statewide jewelry organization. To date, there have been only four father-son teams in CJA’s 73-year history to serve as president.

Hartstein joined the family business in 1971 and has been active in numerous jewelry organizations, including the Jewelers 24-Karat Club of Southern California, where he served as president. He is an American Gem Society Certified Gemologist and is also active in several community organizations in Orange County.

He and his wife, Laurie, have two children, Claire, who is working in the business and will attend the Gemological Institute of America, and Tom, who is attending Irvine Valley College.

JCK