CollectionsJun 10, 2022
At Couture, Alice Cicolini Brings Indian Inspiration to Las Vegas Events & AwardsJun 14, 2022
These Are the Winners of the 2022 Couture Design Awards
Held Saturday night in Las Vegas, the annual event honors the best creations across 15 categories.
Designer Emily P. Wheeler won the 2022 Couture Design Award in the Colored Gemstones Above $20,000 category for her “Audrey” choker. The 18-karat yellow gold piece features 111.31 carats of aquamarine, 101.12 carats of crystal quartz, and 5.84 carats of diamonds (price available upon request).
Las Vegas—The 2022 Couture Design Awards began with show director Gannon Brousseau paying tribute to two beloved individuals the industry lost unexpectedly in the last year—Alex Sepkus and Steven Kaiser.
Sepkus, a longtime Couture designer described by one retailer as a “brilliant talent,” died in September 2021 from a sudden complication related to lymphoma.
Kaiser was a watch industry veteran who consulted for Couture and served as a friend and mentor to many in the industry. He died unexpectedly on May 20.
Brousseau also welcomed a group of newcomers to the show this year—the 13 BIPOC designers who comprise The Radiance by Couture, a product of the inaugural mentorship program of Couture’s Diversity Action Council and De Beers Group.
After the introductions, it was time for the awards, starting with Best in Colored Gemstones Under $20,000, which went to Sutra for its pink sapphire and diamond earrings.
Sepkus, a longtime Couture designer described by one retailer as a “brilliant talent,” died in September 2021 from a sudden complication related to lymphoma.
Kaiser was a watch industry veteran who consulted for Couture and served as a friend and mentor to many in the industry. He died unexpectedly on May 20.
Brousseau also welcomed a group of newcomers to the show this year—the 13 BIPOC designers who comprise The Radiance by Couture, a product of the inaugural mentorship program of Couture’s Diversity Action Council and De Beers Group.
After the introductions, it was time for the awards, starting with Best in Colored Gemstones Under $20,000, which went to Sutra for its pink sapphire and diamond earrings.
Independent designer Emily P. Wheeler took home the Couture Design Award for Best in Colored Gemstones Above $20,000 for her 18-karat yellow gold “Audrey” choker with aquamarines, crystal quartz, and diamonds.
Kavant & Sharart won the 2022 Couture Design Award for Best in Bridal for their innovative diamond ring, which also received the show’s Instagram Choice Award.
Nashville, Tennessee-based designer Vincent Peach took home the Best in Silver award for his diamond-set silver necklace.
Silvia Furmanovich won two awards for the earrings seen below: Best in Innovative as well as the People’s Choice Award, which audience members voted on during the awards ceremony.
Women weavers in Uzbekistan created the tiny tapestries, which the Brazilian designer set in 18-karat gold with diamonds, tanzanites, and rubellites.
Women weavers in Uzbekistan created the tiny tapestries, which the Brazilian designer set in 18-karat gold with diamonds, tanzanites, and rubellites.
For Future Reference had three nominees in the Couture Design Awards this year—Kirsty Stone, the designer behind Retrouvai; Matthew Harris of Mateo New York; and Catherine Sarr, the creator of Almasika Fine Jewellery.
The brand development agency came away with two winners—Retrouvai won Best in Platinum while Mateo’s pearl and diamond earrings topped the Best in Pearls category.
The brand development agency came away with two winners—Retrouvai won Best in Platinum while Mateo’s pearl and diamond earrings topped the Best in Pearls category.
Barbara Heinrich Studio won Best in Men’s for her necklace.
Best in Diamonds Below $20,000 went to Mariani 1878 for their necklace.
The award for Best in Diamonds Above $20,000 went to Gismondi 1754 for the “Raggio di Sole” necklace featuring white and fancy yellow diamonds.
Ileana Makri won Best in Gold for her cuff.
The Best in Haute Couture award went to designer Elsa Jin for her LIFE2021 brooch.
Fernando Jorge won the Editor’s Choice Award for his diamond cuff.
Best in Debuting, given to a designer exhibiting at Couture for the first time, went to Marie Lichtenberg; one of the designer’s signature lockets is pictured below.
Rounding out the evening was the presentation of the Cindy Edelstein Award, given annually to an individual in the Couture community who is dedicated to the success of designers and brands and serves as an inspiration to others.
This year’s winner was Tony Goldsberry, the founder of showroom Rock House who was lauded by friends and colleagues in a tribute video as being humble, passionate, kind, and stylish.
“Cindy was very passionate about the design community, and it was never about her,” Brousseau said in the video. “And that’s the same with Tony.”
Goldsberry kept his acceptance speech brief but did tell the audience how happy he was to be back in person at Couture.
“It is our community that keeps us all together during these times,” he said. “This is a big group of my friends.”
Related stories will be right here …
This year’s winner was Tony Goldsberry, the founder of showroom Rock House who was lauded by friends and colleagues in a tribute video as being humble, passionate, kind, and stylish.
“Cindy was very passionate about the design community, and it was never about her,” Brousseau said in the video. “And that’s the same with Tony.”
Goldsberry kept his acceptance speech brief but did tell the audience how happy he was to be back in person at Couture.
“It is our community that keeps us all together during these times,” he said. “This is a big group of my friends.”
More on Events & Awards
The Latest
MajorsJul 26, 2024
Diamonds Direct Opens Store in AtlantaIt’s the Signet-owned banner’s first location in Georgia.
TrendsJul 26, 2024
Piece of the Week: Bea Bongiasca’s ‘Double Loop’ EarringsCommemorate “brat summer” with these green hoops.
EditorsJul 26, 2024
Out & About: A Dispatch from the Nation’s Smallest StateEditor-in-Chief Michelle Graff returns from Rhode Island with thoughts about in-store shopping and a trends report.
Brought to you by
The End of an Era? Lab-Grown Diamonds' Journey Towards Price StabilityAs the demand for lab-grown diamond jewelry may still be increasing, the most notable change we are likely to see is price stabilization.
Supplier BulletinJul 25, 2024
Meet Gemology’s Next Generation Microscope: GIA® Gemolite® NXT Professional EditionSponsored by Gemological Institute of America
Weekly QuizJul 25, 2024
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
TechnologyJul 25, 2024
Amazon, BBB Sue Website Allegedly Peddling Fake Reviews They claim ReviewServiceUSA.com was selling both positive and negative reviews of products and businesses.
SourcingJul 25, 2024
De Beers’ H1 Revenue Falls 21% in ‘Weak’ MarketLab-grown diamond sales in the United States and ongoing economic challenges in China are impacting natural diamond demand.
Brought to you by
Meet Gemology’s Next Generation Microscope: GIA® Gemolite® NXT Professional EditionGIA®’s most advanced microscope has new features to optimize greater precision and comfort.
IndependentsJul 25, 2024
Store Designer Ruth Mellergaard DiesA longtime member of IJO, she’s remembered for her passion for design, learning, and environmentalism.
FinancialsJul 25, 2024
Boucheron, Pomellato Post Double-Digit Growth in Q2 The gains come amid a tough time for parent company Kering, which saw sales slide 11 percent in the first half of the year.
MajorsJul 25, 2024
Shane Co. Partners With Kids In Need Foundation to Donate 7,200 BackpacksThe fine jewelry retailer filled backpacks with back-to-school essentials for students in 13 states.
FinancialsJul 24, 2024
LVMH’s First-Half Jewelry, Watch Sales Dip 5%Tiffany & Co. is focusing on its “iconic” collections while the company has made changes at the top at TAG Heuer and Hublot.
MajorsJul 24, 2024
See Chaumet’s Paris Olympic Medals Inspired by its High JewelryThe Parisian brand is the first jewelry company in the history of the Olympic and Paralympic Games to design the medals.
MajorsJul 24, 2024
Jewelers Mutual Acquires Pawnbroker Insurance ProviderUnion Life & Casualty will join JM Insurance Agency Partners, expanding the provider’s pawnbroker coverage.
MajorsJul 24, 2024
Ben Bridge Announces 2024 Lonia Tate Scholarship WinnerLos Angeles-based Bradlei Smith was selected for this year’s award.
ColumnistsJul 23, 2024
Peter Smith: The Case for Optimism in Sales In his latest column, Smith shares multiple reasons why people who look at the glass as being hall full often make better salespeople.
SourcingJul 23, 2024
De Beers’ Production Drops 15% in Q2The company also reported the $150 million sale of an iron ore royalty right, part of its ongoing effort to divest “non-core” assets.
IndependentsJul 23, 2024
Long’s Jewelers Is Giving Away a Luxury Cape Cod VacationThe giveaway is part of the New England jeweler’s summer bridal event.
CollectionsJul 23, 2024
Guzema Debuts ‘Flower Power’ CampaignThe ad features three celebrity florists creating floral sculptures while wearing jewelry by Guzema.
Policies & IssuesJul 23, 2024
Diamonds Do Good Announces Its 2024 Entrepreneurship Grant WinnersThe grant provided a total of $100,000 to support 13 entrepreneurs from diamond communities in Africa and India.
CrimeJul 22, 2024
Florida Jeweler Shot, Killed Following Argument With CustomerGhazi Michel Osta, or “Gus,” was killed Friday by an 83-year-old man said to be a frequent customer at his store, Volusia Gold & Diamond.
Policies & IssuesJul 22, 2024
JVC’s Elyssa Jenkins-Pérez Joins RJCThe organization also announced Effie Marinos as its new specialist advisor for technical standards, as well as four other appointments.
SourcingJul 22, 2024
AWDC Names Karen Rentmeesters as CEORentmeesters has served as interim CEO since April following former CEO Ari Epstein’s resignation.
IndependentsJul 19, 2024
Longtime D.C. Jeweler Brian Mann Dies at 70Mann, whose family’s jewelry store was located inside the Pentagon, is remembered for being a thoughtful champion of the industry.
IndependentsJul 19, 2024
The 1916 Company Opens New Tudor BoutiqueThe 500-square-foot boutique is located in Denver’s Cherry Creek Shopping Center.
CollectionsJul 19, 2024
Piece of the Week: Messika’s ‘So Move Max’ NecklaceDance all night long with the “So Move Max” set’s necklace.
WatchesJul 18, 2024
TAG Heuer, Hublot Will Have New CEOs Luxury giant LVMH is reshuffling the leadership in its watches division.
