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Gem Awards, David Yurman Introduce $50K Grant for Emerging Designers
The winner of the inaugural David Yurman Gem Awards Grant will be announced live at the 2026 Gem Awards gala.
The application period for the new David Yurman Gem Awards Grant is open now through Oct. 7. The grant will go to an emerging fine jewelry designer and includes a $50,000 financial award plus mentorship opportunities.
New York—Jewelers of America and the Gem Awards committee announced the launch of the David Yurman Gem Awards Grant, a $50,000 grant and mentorship program created specifically for emerging jewelry designers.
The application period for the grant opened today, Aug. 4, and will close Oct. 7.
The grant recipient will be revealed live at the 24th annual Gem Awards, scheduled for March 13, 2026, at Cipriani 42nd Street in New York.
“Everyone involved in creating this grant passionately believes supporting emerging talent is a great path to strengthening our jewelry community in the future,” Gem Awards Chair Marion Fasel said.
“We are all looking forward to the selection process and the presentation of the David Yurman Gem Awards Grant, which promises to add another memorable moment to the always moving and emotional Gem Awards ceremony.”
Related stories will be right here …
The application period for the grant opened today, Aug. 4, and will close Oct. 7.
The grant recipient will be revealed live at the 24th annual Gem Awards, scheduled for March 13, 2026, at Cipriani 42nd Street in New York.
“Everyone involved in creating this grant passionately believes supporting emerging talent is a great path to strengthening our jewelry community in the future,” Gem Awards Chair Marion Fasel said.
“We are all looking forward to the selection process and the presentation of the David Yurman Gem Awards Grant, which promises to add another memorable moment to the always moving and emotional Gem Awards ceremony.”
JA and David Yurman created this new grant to support and foster an emerging fine jewelry designer who has been in business for at least three years and shows “exceptional promise,” JA said.
The recipient of the grant will receive a one-time financial award of $50,000, mentoring meetings with executives at David Yurman, and consultative meetings with other industry executives.
To qualify for the grant, applicants must demonstrate “unique talent” in fine jewelry design and have a solid business plan for expansion; have operated their own jewelry design company for at least three years; and be based and manufacture in the United States.
A selection committee will review all applications and select five finalists, who will be notified in December.
The finalists must deliver in-person presentations to the committee, after which the committee will select the grant recipient. The winner of the grant will be announced publicly at the 2026 Gem Awards.
For more information on the Gem Awards and the David Yurman Gem Awards Grant, visit the event’s website.
Information on the grant is listed under “The Event.”
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