Every Wednesday, I usually show my readers a beautiful piece of diamond jewelry, but this week I’m going to cast a spotlight on a different type of treasure: JCK‘s very own Rob Bates.

Rob has written about diamonds and jewelry for 20 years, starting with Rapaport, then moving to National Jeweler, and finally to JCK, where he’s been a valued staffer for 14 years. He’s won two Jesse H. Neal awards for his witty and uniquely insightful blog, Cutting Remarks, where he breaks down complex industry issues into easy-to-understand terms, and has written countless feature and news articles in the same authoritative vein, but with a humble voice that’s just so Rob: a wealth of knowledge but not unapproachable, and perhaps the quintessential industry servant.

Having worked with Rob for 14 years, I know he’s an asset to JCK and to the jewelry industry as a whole. (He is a friend, writing mentor, sounding board for ideas, and, sometimes, sparring partner when we’re all cranky and under deadline.) But I was so delighted to see the American Gem Society honor him on July 31 with the Triple Zero award at the 2012 Circle of Distinction dinner in New York City. What a joy to witness such a prestigious group acknowledge the hard work and respected input of a journalist in our intimate luxury niche; this honor is one we’re all accustomed to seeing heads of corporations earn, so imagine the swell of pride our team is feeling as one of our own—always behind the scenes and reporting on the accomplishments of high-ranking retailers and diamantaires—is thrust into that spotlight. Well done, Rob, and thank you AGS for recognizing him and his service to jewelry. Rob is the ultimate multi-tasker: he’s the go-to news guy, an uncomplicat-er of Kimberley Process jargon, another pair of eyes on a weary writer-colleague’s final copy, and a friend for afternoon midtown coffee runs.

Congratulations, too, to the other AGS award recipients, Mark Moeller, owner of R.F. Moeller Jeweler in Minneapolis, as the second recipient of the Triple Zero award, and the Bridge Family of Ben Bridge Jeweler who received the Lifetime Achievement award.

Rob Bates and his wife, Susan Posnock, at the American Gem Society Circle of Distinction dinner last night in New York City

Rob Bates and his dad at the AGS Circle of Distinction dinner

JCK