EditorsNov 06, 2026
The Spectrum Pieces I Can’t Stop Thinking AboutFrom a Betta fish brooch to a “dragon’s trove” of zircon eggs, here are seven pieces that’ve stuck with Associate Editor Lauren McLemore.
Events & AwardsJul 28, 2014
TAP by Todd Pownell snags New Designer award
Todd Pownell has been recognized with the 2014 Mort Abelson New Designer of the Year Award, presented to him Monday at the JA New York Summer Show.
Cindy Edelstein, who runs the Jeweler’s Resource Bureau and also is a consultant for the New Designer Gallery, presented the New Designer of the Year Award to Todd Pownell on Monday afternoon at the JA New York Summer Show.
New York--Todd Pownell has been recognized with the 2014 Mort Abelson New Designer of the Year Award, presented to him Monday at the JA New York Summer Show.
Pownell’s Cleveland-based brand, TAP by Todd Pownell, creates organic, rustic jewelry in 18- and 14-karat gold and silver with black, white and green diamonds, sapphires and other gemstones. He also creates engagement rings and wedding bands.
“I’m honored, this experience could not have been better,” Pownell told National Jeweler after accepting the award. “The New Designer Gallery is a great platform, and experience, for new designers. I’ve had a lot of nice conversations with retailers, and being (at JA New York) has introduced all of us (in the pavilion) to the inner workings of a show like this.”
The New Designer of the Year Award is named for the late Mort Abelson, who was a prominent figure in the jewelry industry and is credited with coming up with the idea of creating a platform that introduces up-and-coming designers to the mainstream market.
From Abelson’s idea JA’s New Designer Gallery was born in 1977, and has helped to jump-start the careers of many designers, including David Yurman, Penny Preville and Steven Kretchmer, among others.
This year’s New Designer Gallery featured 10 brands, including Pownell. The pavilion is limited to jewelry-makers that have never before participated in a trade show.
RELATED CONTENT: 10 designers who’ll debut at JA New York Summer
Holly Dyment was the winner of last year’s New Designer of the Year Award. She presented her off-beat, colorful jewelry collection, which since has been seen on singer Rihanna.
The JA New York Summer Show will run through this afternoon at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York.
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