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Here Are the Nominees for the 2024 Gem Awards
Jewelers of America has revealed the names of the individuals and companies up for awards in the design, media, and retail categories.
Designer Marla Aaron, left, and journalist Tanya Dukes are among the 2024 Gem Award nominees. See who else was nominated below.
New York—The Gem Awards, known as the “Oscars of the jewelry industry,” is set to return in March 2024 with a fresh slate of nominees and honorees.
Held annually in New York, the Gem Awards gala honors individuals and brands whose work raises the profile and status of fine jewelry and watches.
While some awards are announced ahead of time—like the Gem Award for Lifetime Achievement, which will go to GIA President and CEO Susan Jacques next year—others are revealed live at the show, including the nominees in the three categories below, Jewelry Design, Media Excellence and Retail Excellence.
Read on to see who was nominated for a 2024 Gem Award. For more on the ceremony, visit the event website.
Gem Award for Jewelry Design Nominees
Held annually in New York, the Gem Awards gala honors individuals and brands whose work raises the profile and status of fine jewelry and watches.
While some awards are announced ahead of time—like the Gem Award for Lifetime Achievement, which will go to GIA President and CEO Susan Jacques next year—others are revealed live at the show, including the nominees in the three categories below, Jewelry Design, Media Excellence and Retail Excellence.
Read on to see who was nominated for a 2024 Gem Award. For more on the ceremony, visit the event website.
Gem Award for Jewelry Design Nominees
Marla Aaron. Aaron takes a functional maximalism approach to fine jewelry. What began in 2012 with the iconic recasting of the carabiner lock into precious metals quickly expanded into a universe of mechanism-inspired “hard-working” fine jewelry that is fun to play with. Made by hand in small artisanal workshops in New York’s Diamond District, everything by Aaron is more than the sum of its parts—rings creatively open and close, shapeshifting into necklaces, bracelets, and charms; earrings snap together and are infinitely buildable; diamonds are cut into cylindrical balls to roll around one's finger inspired by the mechanism of ball bearings. “Jewelry’s only job is to bring joy to as many people as possible” are the words she lives by. The brand’s playfully personal point of view has carved a unique place in the jewelry world with devout collectors of all ages and identities.
Marie Lichtenberg. Lichtenberg started her career as a fashion editor at French Elle magazine. Over 12 years, she meticulously crafted a formidable reputation and forged collaborations with numerous celebrated photographers. In February 2019, she made a pivotal decision to channel her creative energies into her own jewelry line. Drawing inspiration from her upbringing alongside a mother with a penchant for collecting antique jewelry, she delved deep into her personal history. This profound exploration served as the wellspring for her modern heirloom creations, meticulously designed in Paris and enriched with narratives from distant lands. The result is a collection of exquisite, meticulously crafted jewels imbued with a profound sense of love and heritage.
Jean Prounis. Prounis founded her eponymous brand in 2017 to create thoughtful jewelry with reverence to history. Inspired by her Greek heritage and by the visual language of her great-grandparents’ New York nightclub, the Versailles, Prounis’ designs are an ode to origins. She reimagines ancient artifacts, like those she discovered in her bibliophile grandfather’s book collection, as objects that are elegant, wearable, and enduring. Each piece is handwrought in a signature recycled 22-karat gold and finished with “sustainably and responsibly sourced” gemstones, diamonds, pearls, and corals. Shaped alongside expert craftspeople in Manhattan’s Jewelry District, Prounis’ museum-quality modern heirlooms preserve the integrity of handmade jewelry in New York City. Formed with purpose, Prounis objects accumulate life’s knicks and imprints over the years, becoming part of the wearer’s own legacy.
Gem Award for Media Excellence Nominees
Milena Lazazzera. Lazazzera is the luxury editor at British Vogue where she covers jewelry, watches, and arts. For the past six years, she has worked as a freelance journalist for The New York Times, Financial Times, Vogue Business, Vanity Fair, and Tatler. Her work has consistently explored the intricate connections between jewelry, history, and the arts, while also delving into the ongoing transformations within the jewelry industry. As a jewelry historian, she frequently delivers lectures on the history of jewelry. Her prior senior roles within the LVMH and Richemont luxury groups provide her with a unique vantage point to conduct in-depth analyses of the shifts and developments within the luxury market.
Tanya Dukes. Dukes is a New York City-based writer and editor. She’s covered the jewelry and watch markets for nearly 20 years, beginning at Elite Traveler magazine, where she served as the publication’s first style editor. Later, she became accessories editor of Brides magazine and senior editor for jewelry industry magazines InDesign and InStore. Her freelance writing has appeared in titles including The International New York Times, Elle Decor, Robb Report and The Business of Fashion, and she is a contributor to Watchionista. She has received the Women’s Jewelry Association Award for Excellence in Editorial and a Folio: Eddie Award for her jewelry journalism.
Alexis Wolfe. Wolfe is currently Elle’s fashion and accessories market director, covering all of the luxury markets; however, jewelry is her passion. Her career in media began over 25 years ago interning at magazines while attending The Fashion Institute of Technology. She has covered the jewelry market for different publications during her career and her love of jewelry continues to shine through in the features and articles at Elle. Wolfe enjoys traveling and exploring the world with her two boys and husband and discovering local and vintage jewelry designers along the way.
Gem Award for Retail Excellence Nominees
Ben Bridge Jeweler. For more than 110 years, Ben Bridge Jeweler has had a singular mission: to be your personal jeweler and help you celebrate your special moments with a commitment to quality jewelry, the highest values, and exceptional personal service. They care deeply about sustainability and protecting both the people and the environment in every stage of the supply chain. They strive to maintain the highest ethical and quality standards in the industry, including collaborating with respected partners and manufacturers that adhere to its stringent guidelines for quality control and responsible sourcing. Ben Bridge Jeweler proudly serves its customers as their personal jeweler for special moments and milestones in its many retail locations and online at BenBridge.com.
Irene Neuwirth. Irene Neuwirth is an independent fine jewelry company based in Los Angeles. Founded in 2003 by designer Irene Neuwirth, the company has emerged as a leading jewelry brand, recognized by the designer’s whimsical-yet-ultra-fine design sensibility. The jewelry has generated tremendous editorial attention and is a red-carpet favorite. In 2014, Neuwirth opened her flagship store on Melrose Place in West Hollywood, California. The jewel box space was designed by Pam Shamshiri and marked the first time the designer’s vision was realized in a full brand experience. In 2022, Neuwirth opened a second flagship on Madison Avenue, a fantastical ode to magical surrealism.
Ylang 23. A labor of love and a family business, Ylang 23 is owned and operated by founders Joanne and Charles Teichman and their daughter Alysa Teichman. The couple started their business in 1985 (born Ylang-Ylang) and transitioned to luxury in the late ‘90s. For almost 40 years, Ylang 23 (pronounced “ee-long”) has supported emerging designers and introduced its discerning clients to them through its store in Dallas and at Ylang23.com. Ylang 23 has created a space for its clients to feel joyful through connection to designers and their jewelry. Central to that is the owners’ close personal relationship with the designers Ylang 23 represents. The company’s team and owners have always been active in the Dallas community, particularly with organizations that focus on women’s health, human rights, and food insecurity.
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