The 24 Karat Club of New York Welcomes 12 New Members

Time-honored jewelry industry group 24 Karat Club of New York announced this week that it’s accepted 12 new members in 2022.

“These 12 new members reaffirm the vitality of the Club by attracting well-respected leaders from many sectors of our industry,” says Jeffrey Cohen, president of the 24 Karat Club, adding, “The Club’s mission statement for over 120 years, to foster friendships and relationships through all distribution channels for the betterment of the industry, is well continued by these new members.”

The new members are:

Mike Alexander, Chief Operating Officer, Jewelers Mutual Group

Philippe Bonay, President, Panerai Americas

Taylor Burgess, SVP of Customer Experience, Stuller

Eric Horowitz, Managing Director, Citizen Watch Company

Susan Jacques, CEO, Gemological Institute of America

Parag Jain, CEO, Paramount Gems

Thomas Kimble, President, Leach Garner Div./Richline Group

Steven Lerche, EVP, Goldstar Jewellery

Jay Mehta, CEO, Indigo Jewelry, Inc.

Ashit Parikh, President, Emby Intl./Uni Design USA

Jordan Peck, VP, Brevani/Color Merchants

Barry Verragio, Owner and CEO, Verragio

The 24 Karat Club of New York is an industry institution and is most well-known for hosting its annual 24 Karat Club banquet—which in 2023 will be on March 18 at Cipriani South Street in NYC.

The 24 Karat Club started life in 1902 as the “18 Karat Club” and formed as a way for jewelry industry members in NYC to meet for an annual banquet. The first banquet took place in 1902 at the New York Athletic Club. The club’s founding members included Charles F. Brinck of the Crescent Watch Case Co. (the club’s first president); Col. John L. Shepherd of the Keystone Watch Case Co.; Robbins & Appleton (selling agent for Waltham Watches); Edwin R. Crippen of the Philadelphia Watch Case Co.; and William I. Rosenfeld, a diamond importer, who made the decision to cancel the 1918 banquet due to America entering World War I.

Top photo, clockwise from top left: New members Mike Alexander, COO of Jewelers Mutual Group; Barry Verragio, owner and CEO of Verragio; Taylor Burgess, SVP of customer experience at Stuller; Thomas Kimble, president of Leach Garner Div./Richline Group

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