The Women’s Jewelry Association, host of the annual Awards for Excellence, has planned a grand gala for the 25th edition of the Awards ceremony, which falls in 2008. The gala dinner will be held at Chelsea Piers in New York City on Sunday, July 27 at 6:00 PM.

The celebrations are hyped this year, with a special tribute to industry leaders who have supported the organisation: Ann Arnold, Jane Baum, Phyllis Bergman, Nancy Brewer, Terry Burman, Bill Boyajian, Babette Goodman Cohen, Ralph Destino, Helene Fortunoff, Mary Forte, Gerry Gewirtz, Linda Goldstein, June Herman, Laurie Hudson, Juell Kadet, Ben Kaiser, Kathryn Kimmel, Peggy Kirby, Anna Martin, Eunice Robinson Miles, Sallie Morton, Joan Parker, Beryl Raff, Rachel Rosin, Harriet Schreiner, Hedda Schupak, and Tina Segal.

Also, the present and former presidents of the Hall of Fame will be felicitated including Sybil Yurman, president and chief marketing officer of David Yurman, who will receive WJA’s 2008 “Hall of Fame Lifetime Achievement Award.” The Ben Kaiser Award will be given to Steven Kaiser, president and CEO of Kaiser Time.

Preparations for the 2008 Awards for Excellence gala will be grand according to Dinner Chair Lisa Cochin of Diamond Promotion Service. She said, “In addition to the award ceremony that highlights WJA’s achievements over the past 25 years, there will be special entertainment to mark this memorable evening followed by a dessert and dance reception, which was a huge hit last year.” The Silent Auction initiative of the WJA will be promoted at the ceremony. The auction raises monies for WJA Scholarship and Grant programmes, and this year will be outlined with attractions like a trip for two to Bermuda and a private cooking class and luncheon for four sponsored by Gourmet Magazine, among hundreds of other items. Guests will also have the chance to win a special Hearts On Fire diamond ring, generously donated by the company.

“Our annual Awards for Excellence dinner is one of the most highly anticipated social events of the year and typically draws over 600 movers and shakers,” said WJA President Yancy Weinrich, Industry VP, JCK Events. Weinrich thanked the sponsors of the event, the “Pillars of Distinction”: Platinum Guild International, Jewelers Mutual Insurance, and David Yurman for their support throughout this anniversary year. The WJA has kept a participation fee of $325 for members and $365 for non-members.