FinancialsSep 09, 2026
Signet Jewelers to ‘Double Down’ on Blue Nile Amid Strong SalesThe jewelry retailer said it sees opportunity at higher price points, particularly in natural diamonds for bridal and fashion.
Events & AwardsJun 05, 2017
These Are the Winners of the 2017 Couture Design Awards
Diamonds that move, a hamburger ring and the presentation of the Cindy Edelstein Award were some of the evening’s highlights.
Las Vegas--Diamonds that move, a hamburger ring and the presentation of the Cindy Edelstein Award were just some of the highlights of the 2017 Couture Design Awards, held Sunday evening in Las Vegas.
This year, the show moved to the glitzy Encore Theater, a venue that made the night “feel like an actual awards show,” Couture show director and annual host Gannon Brousseau joked from the stage to open the show.
The first award presented was Best in Silver, which went to Atelier Zobel for an industrial, honeycomb-inspired design. The German brand, helmed by Peter Schmid, is known for its cool mixed-metal creations.
WINNER! Congratulations @atelier_zobel for Best of Silver #cda2017
A post shared by COUTURE (@by_couture) on Jun 4, 2017 at 7:27pm PDT
Nadine Ghosn, a young designer who debuted in Couture’s Design Atelier this year, received the award for Best in Innovative for her multi-layered hamburger ring, which is equal parts luxurious and humorous.
In one of the evening’s best shout-outs, Ghosn made sure to thank her intern for attending the show on her birthday weekend.
WINNER! Congratulations @nadineghosnjewelry for Best in Innovative! #cda2017
A post shared by COUTURE (@by_couture) on Jun 4, 2017 at 7:32pm PDT
Yvel was awarded with Best in Pearls for its unique pearl bracelet design. It’s one of many awards the edgy pearl-centric company has received from various trade shows and organizations over the years.
WINNER! Congratulations @yvel_jewelry for Best in Pearls! #cda2017
A post shared by COUTURE (@by_couture) on Jun 4, 2017 at 7:33pm PDT
The Best in Platinum award went to Heinrich and Denzel, another German brand that specializes in the material.
WINNER! Congratulations @henrich.denzel for Best in Platinum! #cda2017
A post shared by COUTURE (@by_couture) on Jun 4, 2017 at 7:36pm PDT
In the prestigious Best in Bridal category, Jade Trau--who described herself as a fifth-generation diamantaire but a first-generation designer--received top honors. Fittingly, she honored those who came before her, dedicating her award to her late grandfather who introduced her to the diamond business.
WINNER! Congratulations @jadetrau for Best in Bridal! #cda2017
A post shared by COUTURE (@by_couture) on Jun 4, 2017 at 7:37pm PDT
In its second year at the Couture show, New York-based brand Cadar, designed by Michal Kadar, received the award for Best in Gold, adding to the splash it’s made in the short time since its launch.
WINNER! Congratulations @cadardesigns for Best in Gold! #cda2017
A post shared by COUTURE (@by_couture) on Jun 4, 2017 at 7:40pm PDT
Best in Colored Gemstones Under $20,000 went to Amali Jewelry, known for its elegant gemstone and milgrain pieces.
WINNER! Congratulations @amalijewelry for Best in Colored Gemstones Below $20k
A post shared by COUTURE (@by_couture) on Jun 4, 2017 at 7:43pm PDT
Best in Colored Gemstones Above $20,000 went to John Hardy for a spectacularly elaborate cuff. It’s a promising way for John Hardy’s new designer to start her tenure at the Bali and New York-based house.
WINNER! Congratulations @johnhardyjewelry for Best in Colored Gemstones Above $20K! #cda2017
A post shared by COUTURE (@by_couture) on Jun 4, 2017 at 7:44pm PDT
Garavelli’s cool sculptural cuff that, even in a photograph, denotes the movement of ripples across water was awarded Best in Diamonds Below $20,000.
WINNER! Congratulations @garavelli_1920 for Best in Diamonds Below $20K! #cda2017
A post shared by COUTURE (@by_couture) on Jun 4, 2017 at 7:46pm PDT
Best in Diamonds Above $20,000 was another design full of movement, a pair of elaborate diamond earrings from Fernando Jorge, who went from exhibiting at a showroom’s
booth last year to his very own space at this Couture. His winning earrings, a result of a brand-new diamond collection he debuted at the show, were nominated across multiple categories.
Meanwhile, Best in Haute Couture was given to Pasquale Bruni for one of its spectacular diamond collars with an emerald drop, a style that has become a high jewelry signature for the company.
This year, men’s jewelry had its very own category and the Best in Men’s Jewelry award was given to Furrer Jacot, the historic Swiss design house that excels in pieces that can be worn by both genders.
Best in Debuting at Couture, always a hot category, went to Leyla Abdollahi, a Central Saint Martins graduate whose emerald and diamond necklace pays equal attention to the back of the design as the front.
Italian designer Giovanni Ferraris was the recipient of the Editor’s Choice award for his lightweight titanium and diamond earrings.
The People’s Choice award, which was determined by the audience at the show via text message for the second year, was awarded to fine jewelry house Mariani.
Last year, show organizers announced that an award would be created in honor of Cindy Edelstein, the brand consultant and designer advocate who passed away unexpectedly in January 2016.
And Edelstein’s daughter, Remy Stankus, was on hand to present the award, which went to British jewelry designer Stephen Webster for the work he’s done to help the careers of young jewelry designers and to ensure a sustainable supply chain for his own line.
Webster--who promotes promising U.K. designers, and shares his Couture space with them, through Rock Vault--was visibly emotional when accepting the award, thanking this team, his family and paying homage to the late Edelstein, whom he described as the advocate for jewelry designers in the United States.
“I’m lost for words. I feel really emotional here … because obviously I knew Cindy very, very well. I was right there in the beginning when she was the champion of designer jewelry in America, and as a Brit, I always felt very much a part of the spirit that she just passed on to everybody.”
But he also joked about the size of his award, which was smaller (and presumably lighter) than the awards presented to the design winners.
“Why is my award so small?” Webster quipped.
WINNER! Congratulations @fernandojorge for Best in Diamonds Above $20K! #cda2017
A post shared by COUTURE (@by_couture) on Jun 4, 2017 at 7:48pm PDT
Meanwhile, Best in Haute Couture was given to Pasquale Bruni for one of its spectacular diamond collars with an emerald drop, a style that has become a high jewelry signature for the company.
WINNER! Congratulations @pasqualebruni for Best in Haute Couture! #cda2017
A post shared by COUTURE (@by_couture) on Jun 4, 2017 at 7:50pm PDT
This year, men’s jewelry had its very own category and the Best in Men’s Jewelry award was given to Furrer Jacot, the historic Swiss design house that excels in pieces that can be worn by both genders.
WINNER! Congratulations @furrerjacotus for Best in Men's Jewelry! #cda2017
A post shared by COUTURE (@by_couture) on Jun 4, 2017 at 7:52pm PDT
Best in Debuting at Couture, always a hot category, went to Leyla Abdollahi, a Central Saint Martins graduate whose emerald and diamond necklace pays equal attention to the back of the design as the front.
WINNER! Congratulations @leylaabdollahilondon for Best in Debuting! #cda2017
A post shared by COUTURE (@by_couture) on Jun 4, 2017 at 7:55pm PDT
Italian designer Giovanni Ferraris was the recipient of the Editor’s Choice award for his lightweight titanium and diamond earrings.
WINNER! Congratulations @giovanniferrarisgioielli for Best in Editor's Choice! #cda2017
A post shared by COUTURE (@by_couture) on Jun 4, 2017 at 7:57pm PDT
The People’s Choice award, which was determined by the audience at the show via text message for the second year, was awarded to fine jewelry house Mariani.
WINNER! Congratulations @mariani1878 for Best in People's Choice! #cda2017
A post shared by COUTURE (@by_couture) on Jun 4, 2017 at 8:04pm PDT
Last year, show organizers announced that an award would be created in honor of Cindy Edelstein, the brand consultant and designer advocate who passed away unexpectedly in January 2016.
And Edelstein’s daughter, Remy Stankus, was on hand to present the award, which went to British jewelry designer Stephen Webster for the work he’s done to help the careers of young jewelry designers and to ensure a sustainable supply chain for his own line.
Webster--who promotes promising U.K. designers, and shares his Couture space with them, through Rock Vault--was visibly emotional when accepting the award, thanking this team, his family and paying homage to the late Edelstein, whom he described as the advocate for jewelry designers in the United States.
“I’m lost for words. I feel really emotional here … because obviously I knew Cindy very, very well. I was right there in the beginning when she was the champion of designer jewelry in America, and as a Brit, I always felt very much a part of the spirit that she just passed on to everybody.”
But he also joked about the size of his award, which was smaller (and presumably lighter) than the awards presented to the design winners.
“Why is my award so small?” Webster quipped.
More on Events & Awards
The Latest
IndependentsSep 09, 2026
Sarah Leonard Fine Jewelers Closes After Nearly 80 YearsThe Los Angeles-based, family-owned jeweler was founded by Lenny and Sunny Friedman in 1946.
SourcingSep 09, 2026
Fura Gems Notes ‘Remarkable’ Interest in Larger Rubies at Latest SaleThe auction, held in Bangkok, was 96 percent sold by lot, with nearly 411,000 carats of Mozambiquan rubies sold.
Brought to you by
Your Piece Could Be the One Editors Talk AboutSubmit your pieces for a chance to win in this year's competition.
MajorsSep 09, 2026
Stuller’s Latest Catalog Includes Its New Demi-Fine CollectionFine Jewelry 2027-2028 has more than 900 new styles, including silver, gold-filled, gold-plated sterling silver, and vermeil jewelry.
Weekly QuizSep 03, 2026
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
Policies & IssuesSep 09, 2026
8 Key Changes the FTC Made to the Jewelry Guides: A Refresher Learn more about the new terms for lab-grown diamonds and composite gemstones, and the major changes in store for precious metals jewelry.
IndependentsSep 08, 2026
Ricky Bromberg, Longtime President of Bromberg & Co., Dies at 67 Bromberg is remembered as a Southern gentleman who always wore a suit and tie and treated others with kindness.
Brought to you by
Why More Jewelry Retailers Are Hosting Turnkey Estate Buying EventsRetailers are seeking new ways to attract customers, increase traffic, and create revenue – Estate buying events are a popular solution.
TrendsSep 08, 2026
Amanda’s Style File: A Hot Take on September’s Birthstone With high durability and a wide range of colors to choose from, sapphires may be the ultimate birthstone, Gizzi claims.
ColumnistsSep 08, 2026
Peter Smith: Humor Is No Laughing MatterLaughter is often considered a distraction in the workplace, but it has benefits for both staff and management, Peter Smith writes.
MajorsSep 08, 2026
Former Tiffany & Co. Exec Joins Exemplar Luxury GroupGretchen Koback Pursel is the new chief people officer at the company formerly known as Saks Global.
IndependentsSep 04, 2026
Orloff Jewelers Will Soon Unveil a Bigger, Better LocationThe California jeweler is renovating its store in Fresno, with plans to show off the new space in December.
CollectionsSep 04, 2026
Chelsea Gabrielle Transforms Pilates Reformer Springs Into Ring A lifelong practitioner of Pilates, Gabrielle looked to the springs’ tension and suspension when creating this ring, our Piece of the Week.
AuctionsSep 04, 2026
Christie's Names New Global Head of WatchesThe auction house has promoted Remi Guillemin, formerly its head of watches for the Americas and EMEA, to the role.
EditorsSep 03, 2026
Q&A: Simon G.’s CEO on Why He Won’t Use AI for Jewelry DesignZaven Ghanimian discussed the value of human craftsmanship and where the implementation of artificial intelligence does work.
WatchesSep 03, 2026
Robert Pattinson Joins Jaeger-LeCoultre as Brand AmbassadorThe British actor, known for his roles in “Twilight” and “The Odyssey,” will star in a campaign for the Master Control Chronometre.
CollectionsSep 03, 2026
Sydney Evan Celebrates 25 Years With 4 New CollectionsThe “Confetti Disco,” “Champagne Cheers,” “Tuxedo,” and “Classic Punk” jewelry collections each capture a distinct spirit of celebration.
CrimeSep 02, 2026
CA Jeweler Gets 5 Years in ‘Phantom Rolex’ Ponzi SchemeNelson Holdo of Newport Beach pleaded guilty to multiple counts of felony grand theft and writing bad checks and was sentenced Monday.
AuctionsSep 02, 2026
If You Love Cats, This Jewelry Auction Is for YouCat ladies of the jewelry world, unite. Sandy Lerner’s “significant” collection of cat jewelry and other objects is going up for auction.
MajorsSep 02, 2026
Messika Names Former Omega Exec as New President, CEO of AmericasArnaud Michon, the former Omega USA President, will now lead Messika’s Americas region during its international development.
Events & AwardsSep 02, 2026
Emerald’s New Owner Introduces ‘Glitter in the Grove’The branding references the back-to-back jewelry shows that new parent company Forge will host in Miami's Coconut Grove this November.
AuctionsSep 01, 2026
UK Woman Uncovers Rare Patek Philippe Watch in Mom’s Jewelry BoxThe stainless steel Patek Philippe “Calatrava” watch from the 1930s sold for nearly $80,000 at a recent Hansons Cornwall auction.
ColumnistsSep 01, 2026
Your Jewelry Marketing Has a Bridal ProblemEngagement rings are important but don’t ignore the customers who are buying jewelry “just because,” Emmanuel Raheb writes.
MajorsSep 01, 2026
Kering Names New Pomellato, DoDo CEOsFormer Pomellato CEO Sabina Belli has been named president of Kering Italia amid a shakeup of Kering's new Jewelry division.
MajorsSep 01, 2026
Anne Marie Shulman Joins GPA GlobalThe veteran luxury packaging executive was appointed to help the company grow its North American business.
CrimeAug 31, 2026
$4M Van Cleef & Arpels Diamond Necklace Snatched From Vienna Museum Once the property of an Egyptian queen, the necklace was part of a larger exhibition of VCA jewelry at the Museum of Applied Arts (MAK).
GradingAug 31, 2026
GIA, Gübelin Gem Lab Confirm New Paraíba Tourmaline Deposit in EthiopiaThe labs’ separate investigations each determined that the East African country is producing copper-bearing tourmaline.
