Stuart Samuels joined the diamond industry in 1980. After a one-year stint in medical school, he decided that the pull and excitement of the diamond business were too strong and too attractive to ignore.

Upon joining his father Marvin in the family business, he began his career apprenticing diamond cutting and polishing under the tutelage of master diamond cutter Hy Kessler.

To their father’s delight, Stuart’s brothers David and Robert joined the firm a few years later. Together, they run Premier Gem Corp, a diamond manufacturing company and a long-standing De Beers Sightholder.

Before becoming president of the DMIA in 2021, Stuart served as a board member of the association and for many years on DMIA’s Gemological Committee.

In addition to his role as DMIA president, Stuart serves on the Executive Board of the Diamond Dealers Club of New York (DDCNY). He has also served on the Jewelers Vigilance Committee (JVC) board and is a Responsible Jewelry Council (RJC) member.

Stuart is very active in his community on Long Island and has served as president of the school his children attended and of the board of his synagogue.