From left to right, Silvia Furmanovich’s “Horse Mane” earrings, Cece Fein-Hughes of Cece Jewellery’s “Underworld Triptych” necklace, and Catherine Sarr of Almasika’s “Invictus Flower” brooch
Who are you rooting for at the 2026 Gem Awards?
Tonight, the winners will be revealed, and ahead of the gala we are celebrating the three nominees for a Gem Award for Jewelry Design with our Pieces of the Week.
Silvia Furmanovich, Cece Fein-Hughes of Cece Jewellery, and Catherine Sarr of Almasika are all in the running to receive the award honoring their exceptional work.
Silvia Furmanovich’s “Horse Mane” earrings with a bird motif embroidered on a leaf-shaped design made of horse mane and accented by diamonds, sky blue topaz, and London blue topaz set in 18-karat yellow gold ($10,100)
Furmanovich is known for incorporating techniques from various global cultures like marquetry, lacquer, and miniature paintings, in her work.
She has won four Couture Design Awards and was nominated for a Gem Award for Jewelry Design in 2019.
Her pieces feature alternative materials like bamboo, silk, wood, and, in the case of our Piece of the Week, horse mane, alongside gemstones and precious metals.
The “Horse Mane” earrings feature a bird motif embroidered on a leaf-shape design made of woven horse mane that hangs from diamonds, sky blue topaz, and London blue topaz set in 18-karat yellow gold.
This piece debuted in Furmanovich’s “Kashmir” collection last September and features a technique she discovered while on a trip to Chile.
In a rural Chilean village, a community of female artisans use centuries-old techniques to weave horse mane.
The process starts by grooming a horse to collect its hair. Then the mane is dyed and a frame is created with a plant fiber called “ixtle” or “tampico” before the mane is weaved.
“I try to emphasize that this is not just my idea and my work. It is the collective creativity of many people coming together,” said Furmanovich.
“When a person buys a piece of my jewelry, it carries the story of all the people involved in its creation.
The Horse Mane earrings retail for $10,100.
View Furmanovich’s offerings utilizing horse mane on the brand’s website.
Cece Jewellery’s “Underworld Triptych” pendant necklace in 18-karat yellow gold with hand-painted champlevé enamel accented by brilliant-cut diamonds ($26,657). The locket opens to reveal an illustration flanked by “Sacred Love” engraved on the doors.
Storytelling is the main theme running through Fein-Hughes’ work, and it’s often expressed through the hand-painted champlevé enamel designs that her brand is known for.
Our Piece of the Week from Cece Jewellery is the “Underworld Triptych” pendant necklace in 18-karat yellow gold with hand-painted champlevé enamel and brilliant-cut diamonds.
The triptych-turned-pendant is a wearable object d’art, explained Fein-Hughes.
For this piece she reimagined a classic locket, with double doors that open to reveal a story about the underworld in three parts.
“Pry open the door market with a heart caged in thorns, and you’ll reveal a world of mystery and shadow,” said Fein-Hughes.
“Under the guiding light of the full moon, a coiled serpent guards the sacred pomegranate, its bejeweled heart spilling onto a hoard of glittering diamonds. The swollen fruit, a symbol of life, invites us to celebrate the dark side of nature in all its abundance.”
The necklace is part of her “Triptych” collection, which debuted last May. It is comprised of three distinct “realms” represented as triptychs—the underworld, earthly delights, and the realm of dreams.
The Underworld Triptych necklace is styled on a “Belcher” chain with a key charm and retails for $26,657.
Almasika’s “Invictus Flower” brooch featuring 6.50 carats of diamonds from Botswana set in black rhodium finished 18-karat gold (price upon request)
When creating for her brand Almasika, Sarr is often inspired by the symbols and stories that connect people across cultures, as her pieces bridge art, heritage, and shared human experience.
The same can be said for her “Invictus Flower” brooch, the third jewel in this special edition of Piece of the Week, which features 6.50 carats of diamonds from Botswana set in black rhodium finished 18-karat gold.
Its design continues Sarr’s exploration of universal symbols by expanding on the themes in her “Sagesse” collection, in which the flower is a symbol of resilience, a bloom that persists despite adversity.
This also inspired the brooch’s name, Invictus, which is Latin for “invincible.”
“A bloom that endures the storm yet remains intact. The petals are sculpted to capture the tension between softness and strength, while the diamonds, nature’s most enduring gemstone, reinforce the idea of beauty that persists through time and adversity,” said Sarr.
The brooch debuted in the “Invictus Flower” set last year, which includes the brooch and a pair of cufflinks.
It was first seen on editor and stylist Edward Enninful at the 2025 Met Gala.
“I was contacted by Susan Bender, Edward Enninful’s creative director, who asked if I would design a flower brooch for the Met Gala and gave me complete carte blanche,” said Sarr.
“I began researching flowers across different mediums and traditions, drawn to the idea of the flower as a quiet symbol of resilience.”
The Invictus Flower brooch is price upon request. While the original was designed for Enninful, it can be made to order.
View Almasika’s other offerings on the brand’s website.
