Mark and Candy Udell of London Jewelers will receive the honor at the 24th annual Gem Awards next March.
Jewelers of America has announced that Mark and Candy Udell of London Jewelers are the recipients of the 2026 Gem Award for Lifetime Achievement.
The couple will receive the honors at next year’s gala, which will take place March 13, 2026, in New York.
“We are thrilled to present the Gem Award for Lifetime Achievement to Mark and Candy Udell. Together they have built an incredible business that relies heavily on family values and a commitment to excellence in everything they do,” said Amanda Gizzi, JA’s senior vice president of corporate affairs.
“As London Jewelers prepares to celebrate its 100th anniversary, we are honored to recognize Mark and Candy and their lifetime of success that has inspired the jewelry industry as well as their next generation.”
The Udells are the owners of London Jewelers, the jewelry retail business founded by Mark’s maternal grandfather, Charles London, in 1926.
The duo transformed what began as a single-store business into a multi-store luxury operation known for innovation, craftsmanship, and unparalleled customer service, said JA.
Together, they have driven major milestones for London Jewelers, including the 2025 opening of the first-ever Rolex boutique in East Hampton, New York, the continued expansion of their flagship store in Manhasset, New York, and the opening of a store at The Mall at Short Hills in New Jersey.
They are also mentoring the fourth generation—their daughter Randi, son Scott, and nephew Zachary—in carrying forward the retailer’s values of integrity, innovation, excellence, and treating every customer like family.
The Udells have previously been honored, as individuals, in National Jeweler’s Retailer Hall of Fame.
Mark was inducted in 1992, and Candy was inducted in 2023.
At the 2026 gala, the Gem Award for Lifetime Achievement will be given alongside the Gem Awards for Jewelry Design, Media Excellence and Retail Innovation.
Nominations for the three latter awards are open until July 30.