"While all of Diamond's suppliers and their products are important facets of the overall comics specialty market," explained Diamond President & CEO Steve Geppi, "the Gems offer our customers the chance to honor those that have been especially beneficial in helping their businesses grow during the past year. They are the crème de le crème of what our entire industry has to offer."

Gem Award nominees were selected by a panel of Diamond product specialists on the basis of their overall impact on the industry, while comics and related merchandise were chosen on the merits of their quality, creativity, and sales performance in 2003. Retailers were able to cast their votes with ballots contained with their February Previews Order Forms, Previews on Disk, Previews on Windows, and Previews Fax Order Forms, as well as via Diamond Online's Retailer Services Area.

Below is a full list of the 2003 Gem Award winners:

Comic Book Publisher of the Year - Over 5% Market Share: DC Comics
Comic Book Publisher of the Year - Under 5% Market Share: IDW Publishing
New Publisher of the Year: Devil's Due Publishing
Star System Publisher/Manufacturer of the Year: DC Comics
Sports Card Manufacturer of the Year (Tie): Topps Company & Upper Deck Company
Non-Sports Card Manufacturer of the Year: Inkworks
Game Manufacturer of the Year: WizKids, LLC
Toy Manufacturer of the Year: DC Direct
Video Manufacturer of the Year: Warner Home Video
Best Comic Book of the Year - Under $3.00: Batman #619 (DC Comics)
Best Comic Book of the Year - Over $3.00: Marvel 1602 #1 (Marvel Comics)
Magazine of the Year: Wizard: The Comics Magazine (Wizard Entertainment)
Original Graphic Novel of the Year: Sandman: Endless Nights (DC Comics)
Reprint Trade Paperback or Hardcover of the Year: Batman: Hush Volume 1 HC (DC Comics)
Sports Card Product of the Year: Topps 2003 Bowman Chrome MLB T/C Box (Topps Company)
Non-Sports Card Product of the Year: Topps Garbage Pail Kids Series 16 T/C Stickers Box (Topps Company)
Game Product of the Year: Marvel HeroClix: Xplosion Booster Pack (WizKids, LLC)
Trade Book of the Year: Alex Ross: Mythology Special Edition Previews Exclusive Hardcover (Pantheon)
Toy Product of the Year: Kingdom Come Series 1 Superman Action Figure (DC Direct)
Collectible Statue of the Year: Batman Statue (DC Direct)
Video/DVD of the Year: Spirited Away DVD (Buena Vista)
Toy Line of the Year: Kingdom Come Action Figures (DC Direct)
Mini Bust of the Year: Boba Fett Mini Bust (Dark Horse Comics)
Manga TP of the Year: Trigun Volume 1 TP (Dark Horse Comics)