Events & AwardsNov 03, 2026
David Yurman Gem Awards Grant Opens 2027 ApplicationsEvents & AwardsNov 09, 2026
Here Are the 2027 Gem Award Nominees
These nine individuals and brands are up for a Gem Award in the Jewelry Design, Media Excellence, and Retail Innovation categories.
The 2027 Gem Awards are scheduled to take place on March 12 at Cipriani 42nd Street in New York City. Jewelers of America and the Gem Awards Committee announced the slate of nominees on Monday afternoon.
New York—Jewelers of America and the Gem Awards Committee have revealed the nominees for the 2027 Gem Awards.
The event, now in its 25th year, honors individuals and brands whose work raises the visibility and status of fine jewelry and watches, with each nominee achieving excellence in their respective field.
For 2027, there are nine nominees in three categories: Jewelry Design, Media Excellence, and Retail Innovation. The Gem Awards Committee selected the nominees, while a larger pool of industry experts votes to determine the winners.
The results are confidential until the winners are announced live during the Gem Awards gala, which is slated for March 12, 2027, at Cipriani 42nd Street in New York City.
As previously announced, Matt Stuller will receive the Gem Award for Lifetime Achievement at the gala.
The winner of the second David Yurman Gem Awards Grant will be announced at the event as well.
These are the 2027 Gem Award nominees.
Jewelry Design Nominees
The event, now in its 25th year, honors individuals and brands whose work raises the visibility and status of fine jewelry and watches, with each nominee achieving excellence in their respective field.
For 2027, there are nine nominees in three categories: Jewelry Design, Media Excellence, and Retail Innovation. The Gem Awards Committee selected the nominees, while a larger pool of industry experts votes to determine the winners.
The results are confidential until the winners are announced live during the Gem Awards gala, which is slated for March 12, 2027, at Cipriani 42nd Street in New York City.
As previously announced, Matt Stuller will receive the Gem Award for Lifetime Achievement at the gala.
The winner of the second David Yurman Gem Awards Grant will be announced at the event as well.
These are the 2027 Gem Award nominees.
Jewelry Design Nominees
Hiba Husayni, Zahn-Z. Architect-turned-jewelry designer Husayni brings a distinct perspective to her brand, Zahn-Z, through designs that merge technical precision with artistic expression. Amidst the ongoing conflict in Syria, Husayni graduated with a bachelor’s degree in architecture in 2011. Her jewelry sketchbook became a refuge for creativity and imagination during this time and by 2012, she had left Syria, determined to pursue her passion by dedicating herself fully to jewelry design. In 2026, Husayni was a finalist for the David Yurman Gem Awards Grant and won the Couture Award for Best in Diamonds Below $40,000.
Vram Minassian, Vram. Minassian is the founder and designer behind Vram, creating both fine and high jewelry. Each of his designs are handcrafted by a small team in his Los Angeles studio. Minassian’s work translates conceptual ideas into sculptural, layered, and wearable forms. His “Continuum” collection is a meditation on time, space, and existence, which unfolds across 10 installments known as “Moments” and combines unexpected forms with seamless pavé settings, sweeping surfaces, and kinetic elements.
Francesca Villa, Francesca Villa. Villa has spent her career immersed in the world of fine jewelry, working as creative director for some of the most prestigious international jewelry brands before founding her eponymous brand in 2007. Villa creates pieces that celebrate individuality, storytelling, and the emotional connections we form with treasured objects. She combines Italian craftsmanship with vintage discoveries and unexpected materials for jewels that are infused with imagination, humor, and nostalgia. Her designs are collected internationally and sold through leading boutiques and department stores worldwide.
Media Excellence Nominees
Miguel Enamorado. As accessories director at Harper’s Bazaar, Enamorado oversees the magazine’s jewelry and accessories coverage. He has spent his career shaping the way people discover, understand, and covet jewelry and accessories by championing the work of both storied houses and the emerging designers redefining jewelry today. As a collector himself, Enamorado brings a dual perspective to his work: an editor’s eye for what makes a piece resonate culturally and a wearer’s understanding of how great jewelry lives on the body. At Harper’s Bazaar, he has helped establish a fresh, modern vision of jewelry as an essential expression of personal style, making him an influential voice in the field.
Caroline Grosso. New York City-based editor Caroline Grosso is a creative leader with nearly two decades in fashion media. She has served as editor-in-chief of L’Officiel USA and L’Officiel Hommes since 2022, overseeing content strategy across all platforms. Under her leadership, the title has introduced new franchises, deepened relationships with leading luxury brands, and expanded its national newsstand presence. Prior to L’Officiel, Grosso wrote for Harper’s Bazaar and Elle and spent five years as the fashion editor and digital fashion director at W. Her background has shaped her eye for imagery and her commitment to craftsmanship and emerging talent, which is evident in the roster of photographers and writers behind L’Officiel’s celebrity covers and fashion and still-life editorials.
Sonia Esther Soltani. Soltani is a jewelry writer whose fascination with extraordinary jewels matches her curiosity about the people behind them. She is the former editor-in-chief of Rapaport, where she led an award-wining editorial team, edited the monthly magazine, hosted the “Jewelry Connoisseur” podcast, and launched its jewelry-focused Instagram profile. Her work appears in the Financial Times, Forbes, GemGuide, VO+, Gem-T, and Retail Jeweller. Soltani’s coverage spans market analysis, emerging trends, craftsmanship, jewelry history and stories on established brands and rising design talent. She co-authored the book “Jewelry Creators: Dynamic Duos and Generational Gems” and founded The Portrait Cut Substack.
Retail Innovation Nominees
Muse @ Nordstrom. Stemming from the success of Muse’s New York City store in the West Village neighborhood, the Muse @ Nordstrom space represents a modern take on fine jewelry retail. For the partnership, Muse brought a gallery-style approach to the Nordstrom audience, introducing independent designers to the public in a way that feels elevated and accessible. The space is a world within a world, curated with intention, styled with sophistication, and executed with expertise from every side of the jewelry business. It supports Nordstrom’s mission to bring continued newness while inspiring a sense of discovery for the customer as the space is not only about selling jewelry, but about creating a retail environment that feels editorial, modern, and Muse.
Starboard. Miami-based cruise, resort, and retail company Starboard connects hundreds of leading luxury jewelry and watch brands with more than 14 million guests annually, with spaces across 87 ships and 14 cruise lines. It is reimagining vacation retail through experiential selling, destination-inspired storytelling, and the power of personalization. From exclusive Swiss timepieces and certified pre-owned watches to fine jewelry and one-of-a-kind pieces, Starboard transforms shopping into an integral part of the vacation experience by tapping into travelers’ desire to commemorate special moments. With more than 65 years in business, Starboard serves as a bridge between the cruise line and jewelry and watch industries.
The 1916 Company. The 1916 Company is a leading destination for collectible watches, fine jewelry, and pre-owned handbags. It bridges new and pre-owned markets through trusted expertise, deep market knowledge, and an unmatched selection for the most discerning collectors, bringing together the legacies of Govberg, WatchBox, Radcliffe, and Hyde Park Jewelers. The retailer operates more than 20 stores and collector’s lounges across the United States, Switzerland, and Asia. The 1916 Company’s dedicated client advisors, in-house watchmakers, and editorial team support every stage of discovery and collecting. It is also a majority investor in independent manufacture De Bethune, holding a singular position at the intersection of retail, editorial, and community.
To support the honorees by purchasing an ad and to secure a ticket for the 2027 Gem Awards gala, visit the event’s website.
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