Jewelers of America is awarding WatchTime Editor-in-Chief Joe Thompson the association's 2016 GEM Award for Lifetime Achievement. The GEM Award for Lifetime Achievement recognizes an individual for an accumulated career's worth of contributions to the fine jewelry and watch industry. Honorees set a standard of excellence that serves as an inspiration to industry colleagues.
Recognized and respected industrywide for his journalistic integrity, Joe is the first journalist or member of the media to receive the Lifetime Achievement Award in the 14-year history of the GEM Awards. Joe began his watch journalism career in 1977 at JCK magazine. From 1982 to 1996 he was editor-in-chief (and eventually publishing director) of Modern Jeweler magazine. Under his direction, MJ became known for independent, in-depth reporting and analysis of the watch and jewelry industries, winning 18 awards for editorial excellence from the American Business Press. In 1996, Joe left Modern Jeweler to focus exclusively on watch reporting as the founding editor of American Time magazine. He joined WatchTime in 2000.
The 14th annual GEM Awards ceremony will be held on January 8, 2016 at Cipriani 42nd Street in New York City.
On behalf of everyone at TimeZone, congratulations Joe!