The Jewelers Vigilance Committee (JVC), the legal watchdog of the US diamond, gem, and jewelry industry and trade, announced last week that Jeffrey Fischer, Honorary IDMA President, is the 2023 recipient of JVC’s Stanley Schechter Award.JVC wrote the following in their announcement:
Jeffrey Fischer of Fischer Diamonds, Inc., is a second-generation diamantaire who has been involved in the family business for his entire career. He grew up in the industry and, while still in high school, apprenticed at marking and cutting rough diamonds. After graduating from George Washington University and studying at the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), he joined his father in his business.
In addition to serving as president of Fischer Diamonds, Inc. since 1974, Mr. Fischer has also served as president of Fischer Diamonds Ltd., a Tel Aviv-based manufacturing and distributing affiliate of Fischer Diamonds, Inc.
Besides heading his family business, Jeffrey is active in many industry organizations. He served as IDMA president from 2002 to 2008 and was declared Honorary President at the 33rd World Diamond Congress. He was the Diamond Manufacturers and Importers Association of America (DMIA) president from 1998 to 2002. He is a founder and charter member of the World Diamond Council.
Jeffrey has served as a member of the Board of Governors of the GIA. He has been a board member of the Jewelers Vigilance Committee for over 20 years, serving as chairman from 2012 to 2014. He continues to serve on the JVC executive committee as secretary. He was chairman of the 24 Karat Club of New York from 2017 to 2022. From 1989 to 1992, he served on the board of the Jewelry Information Center (JIC), which has since become part of Jewelers of America (JA). While active in business and industry affairs, he is also involved in charitable organizations, serving as the General Chair of the UJA Federation of New York – Diamond, Watch, Jewelry Division, and as a member of the Executive Committee of the American ORT – Jewelry Industry Chapter.
While under the leadership of Cecilia Gardner, the JVC established the Stanley Schechter Award in 2002 to honor and remember Stanley Schechter’s legacy and his contributions to the JVC. Cecilia Gardner said that Stanley Schechter, who had passed away during a business trip in December 2000, had been one the most important pillars of support of JVC. “Without Stanley’s energy and dedication, the JVC would not be where it is today,” Gardner commented.
Recipients of the Stanley Schechter Award embody Stanley’s characteristics and values: leadership, integrity, and passion for elevating the jewelry community’s reputation in the US and worldwide.
Jeffrey is certainly in good company. Earlier recipients of the Stanley Schechter Award were [the late] Steven Kaiser (2022), John Kennedy (2021),: Susan Jacques (2020),: Beryl Raff (2019), Ben Bridge (2018), Joel Schechter (2017), Dione Kenyon (2016) , David Bouffard (2015), Brad Brooks-Rubin (2014), Matthew Runci (2013), and Aaron Suna (2012).
I am sure you all join me in congratulating Jeffrey on receiving this honor.
