Meet the 2023 Couture Design Award Winners
The jewelry trade show awarded brands and individuals across 14 categories.

Held Saturday at the Encore Theater, the annual event recognized brands and individuals across 14 categories.
Among the winners, French brands had a strong showing with companies including Marie Lichtenberg, Viltier, and Maison Alix Dumas taking home Couture’s signature black marble statues.
Consistent with past years, the Cindy Edelstein Award, given to a person who helps positively move the industry forward, was an emotional one.
The 2023 recipient, retailer John Green of fifth-generation jewelry store Lux Bond & Green, underscored the importance of community in the jewelry industry.
“There’s a lot of people here I don’t know but I promise you, I love all of you,” he said. “I love this industry; I’ve been very blessed.”
See the full array of winners and runners-up below.
The “Best in Gold” winner was French brand Viltier.
Cadar was the second-place finalist, and Isabelle Fa was the third-place finalist.
In the “Best in Colored Gems Above $40,000 Retail” category, the first-place winner was Aletto Brothers.
Tangarart, which showed at the Julls booth, was a second-place finalist and Couturemark was the third-place finalist.
The “Best in Colored Gems Under $40,000 Retail” winner was Kamyen.
Cicada was the second-place finalist and Sylva & Cie was the third-place finalist.
For “Best in Bridal,” Retrouvaí, showing at For Future Reference, won the top spot, marking its third consecutive Couture Design Award win.
Bea Bongiasca, a Muse exhibitor, was the second-place finalist and Phillips House was the third-place finalist.
In the “Best in Diamonds Below $40,000 Retail” category, Ondyn was the winner.
Eva Fehren was the second-place finalist and 64Facets was the third-place finalist.
For the “Best in Diamonds Above $40,000” award, Etho Maria was the first-place winner.
Busatti 1947 was the second-place finalist and Mattioli was the third-place finalist.
First-time exhibitor Maison Alix Dumas won the award for “Best in Haute Couture.”
Messika was the second-place finalist and Victor Velyan was the third-place finalist.
Continuing the French wave, Persée Paris won for “Best in Pearls.”
The category’s second-place finalist was Nomis. The third-place finalist was Amrapali London.
Sorellina took home the top honors in the “Best in Platinum” category.
The second-place finalist was Henrich & Denzel GmbH and the third-place finalist was TenThousandThings.
In the “Best in Below $10,000 Retail” category, NeverNoT was the winner.
Stephen Webster was the second-place finalist and Van, showing at Muse, was the third-place finalist.
In the “Best in Innovative” category, Marie Lichtenberg won for her “Magic 8 Ball” design, the result of a collaboration with Mattel.
Studio Renn was the second-place finalist and Peruffo was the third-place finalist.
The “Best in Debuting” winner was Peruffo.
Maison Alix Dumas was the second-place finalist and Alexandra Rosier was the third-place finalist.
TenThousandThings was the winner of the “Best in Editors’ Choice” award for its platinum and pearl necklace, pictured below.
The second-place finalist was Gismondi1754 and the third-place finalist was Peruffo.
Finally, in the “Best in People’s Choice” category, voted on by text during the awards ceremony, Peruffo won its second award of the night for the gold and lapis collar pictured above.
The second-place finalist was Vendorafa and the third-place finalist was David Oscarson.
The Latest

The “River of Heaven” necklace, our Piece of the Week debuting at Couture, combines 26 salt and pepper diamonds spaced by Tahitian pearls.

This year’s inductees include second-, third-, and fourth-generation jewelers.

Signet will integrate the online-only, natural diamond-focused jeweler into Blue Nile, which it wants to position as a higher-end retailer.

As gold prices rise, today’s retailers are looking for alternatives at prices that will appeal to wider audiences.

These up-and-coming jewelry brands are bringing their distinct aesthetic and unique point-of-view to the Design Atelier for the first time.


The lab’s proprietary diamond cut grade has been expanded to include the popular fancy shape.

This year, it’s what could happen outside of show hours that worries JSA Executive Vice President Scott Guginsky.

With the trade and customer trust in mind, GIA® developed NextGem™ – on-demand training designed specifically for retail.

High-end fashion houses know how to emotionally connect with customers online. Retail jewelers should take note, Emmanuel Raheb writes.

The designers are the third cohort of mentees from the show’s Belonging @ Couture mentorship program.

Buying discipline at trade shows starts with clarity about your inventory levels, Smith writes.

The trade show’s education series returns, with sessions on retail trends, AI, watches, marketing, corporate responsibility, and more.

The Curated Designer Project has expanded to highlight eight independent jewelry designers during CBG’s Las Vegas show.

Bring a cool tone to your summer jewelry with these white metal pieces.

The deal closed this week, which means Instore will produce the JA NY show slated to take place this fall.

The company’s jewelry sales were up in Q4 and the fiscal year, with Richemont raising prices in part because of the cost of gold.

The “Bauble” capsule collection of colorful one-of-a-kinds includes our Piece of the Week, the “Bauble” earrings, featuring rose zircon.

The updated catalog has a newly dedicated section for gift wrapping.

Everett covers colored stones’ surging popularity, the mellow return of the “Mellon Blue,” and his “The Devil Wears Prada” doppelgänger.

Fourth-generation CEO Lilly Mullen wants to emphasize experience, connection, and personalized service.

The new award, created in partnership with Henne Jewelers, honors the late designer’s legacy through supporting jewelry education.

The addition of the diamond-producing countries as nation affiliated members broadens the federation’s global representation, WFDB said.

The NYPD is warning elderly New Yorkers to keep their jewelry hidden when walking outside to avoid being a target.

Designer Viviana Langhoff has realized her dream of owning a space for her Chicago jewelry store that looks and feels like her brand.

The sessions will run from Friday, May 29, to Sunday, May 31, with one being a live taping of an episode of Couture’s podcast.

Former Stephanie Gottlieb Fine Jewelry executive Morgan P. Richardson is joining the lab-grown diamond jewelry brand.

The $400 pocket watch is a blend of Audemars Piguet’s iconic eight-sided Royal Oak and Swatch’s unserious Pop watches from the ‘80s.


























