PodcastsMay 20, 2026
Episode 5: Sotheby’s Frank Everett Puts the Auction Market in PerspectiveEverett covers colored stones’ surging popularity, the mellow return of the “Mellon Blue,” and his “The Devil Wears Prada” doppelgänger.
EditorsJul 11, 2017
JA New York’s New Designer Gallery At a Glance
Ten emerging brands will be featured at the show later this month.
Beloved NYC, a line of modern-day mourning jewelry like this “Forget Me Not” locket bracelet, is debuting at JA New York this month.
The upcoming JA New York Summer show will feature 10 emerging brands that are either exhibiting for the first time or are still new to the jewelry trade show circuit as part of the show’s New Designer Gallery.
Each brand will be eligible to win the Mort Abelson New Designer of the Year Award, which is voted on by show-goers and bestowed upon the brand that is most popular with the crowd.
While JA New York’s New Designer Gallery was featured in the JA New York spring show for the first time earlier this year (in the past, the gallery only took place at the summer show), the Mort Abelson award is still relegated to the summer edition only.
Last year, Alexis Kletjian took home the coveted honor, which has been bestowed upon a who’s who of contemporary design talent over the years.
Let’s meet this year’s contenders.
Justin Brown Jewelry
Designer: Justin A. Brown
Location: Rockland, Massachusetts
Launched: 2015
Editors' Picks
Sponsored by
Retail Price Range: $150 - $3,000
Instagram: @justinbrownjewelry
Beloved NYC
Designer: Masha Shapiro
Location: New York City
Launched: 2017 at the JA New York summer show
Retail Price Range: $960-$8,000
Instagram: @belovednyc
Sam Woehrmann
Designer: Sam Woehrmann
Location: San Francisco
Launched: 2011
Retail Price Range: Anywhere from $80 for small silver studs to $6,000 for large, one-of-a-kind pieces; generally in the $400 to $1,000 range
Instagram: @SamWoehrmann
East Fourth Street
Designer: Susan Crow
Location: Northfield, Minnesota
Launched: 2010
Retail Price Range: $110-$4,800
Instagram: @east_fourth_street
JeweLyrie
Designer: Huan Wang
Location: Paterson, New Jersey
Launched: 2016
Retail Price Range: $500 for small pendant and studs to $4,000 for wide cigar bands and statement earrings; average price range is $1,000 to $3,000
Instagram: @jewelyrie
Diane Dorsey Designs
Designer: Diane Dorsey
Location: Los Olivos, California
Launched: 2015
Retail Price Range: $140-$8,500
Instagram: @dianedorseydesigns
Onirikka
Designer: Gloria Rank
Location: El Salvador and New York City
Launch: 2013
Retail Price Range: $475 to $15,000
Instagram: @onirikkajewelry
Moratorium
Designer: Jeanette Lai Thomas
Location: New York City
Launched: 2011
Retail Price Range: $1,400 to $14,500 and up
Instagram: @moratorium.nyc
Loriann Jewelry
Designer: Lori Friedman
Location: Westport, Connecticut
Launched: 2016
Retail Price Range: $800-$5,000
Instagram: @loriannjewelry
Erin DeLuca Jewelry
Designer: Erin DeLuca
Location: Redding, Connecticut
Launched: 2011
Retail Price Range: $70-$6,000
Instagram: @erindelucajewelry
Instagram: @justinbrownjewelry
Beloved NYC
Designer: Masha Shapiro
Location: New York City
Launched: 2017 at the JA New York summer show
Retail Price Range: $960-$8,000
Instagram: @belovednyc
Sam Woehrmann
Designer: Sam Woehrmann
Location: San Francisco
Launched: 2011
Retail Price Range: Anywhere from $80 for small silver studs to $6,000 for large, one-of-a-kind pieces; generally in the $400 to $1,000 range
Instagram: @SamWoehrmann
East Fourth Street
Designer: Susan Crow
Location: Northfield, Minnesota
Launched: 2010
Retail Price Range: $110-$4,800
Instagram: @east_fourth_street
JeweLyrie
Designer: Huan Wang
Location: Paterson, New Jersey
Launched: 2016
Retail Price Range: $500 for small pendant and studs to $4,000 for wide cigar bands and statement earrings; average price range is $1,000 to $3,000
Instagram: @jewelyrie
Diane Dorsey Designs
Designer: Diane Dorsey
Location: Los Olivos, California
Launched: 2015
Retail Price Range: $140-$8,500
Instagram: @dianedorseydesigns
Onirikka
Designer: Gloria Rank
Location: El Salvador and New York City
Launch: 2013
Retail Price Range: $475 to $15,000
Instagram: @onirikkajewelry
Moratorium
Designer: Jeanette Lai Thomas
Location: New York City
Launched: 2011
Retail Price Range: $1,400 to $14,500 and up
Instagram: @moratorium.nyc
Loriann Jewelry
Designer: Lori Friedman
Location: Westport, Connecticut
Launched: 2016
Retail Price Range: $800-$5,000
Instagram: @loriannjewelry
Erin DeLuca Jewelry
Designer: Erin DeLuca
Location: Redding, Connecticut
Launched: 2011
Retail Price Range: $70-$6,000
Instagram: @erindelucajewelry
More on Editors
The Latest
CrimeMay 20, 2026
NYPD Warns of Jewelry Swap Scams Targeting SeniorsThe NYPD is warning elderly New Yorkers to keep their jewelry hidden when walking outside to avoid being a target.
IndependentsMay 20, 2026
Adornment & Theory’s New Store Feels Like Home Designer Viviana Langhoff has realized her dream of owning a space for her Chicago jewelry store that looks and feels like her brand.
Brought to you by
All Eyes on Gold Prices. Alternatives to Look For. And What to BEWARE of in VegasAs gold prices rise, today’s retailers are looking for alternatives at prices that will appeal to wider audiences.
Events & AwardsMay 20, 2026
Here Is Couture’s 2026 Education Lineup The sessions will run from Friday, May 29, to Sunday, May 31, with one being a live taping of an episode of Couture’s podcast.
Weekly QuizMay 14, 2026
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
Lab-GrownMay 20, 2026
Savannah Friedkin Jewelry Names New CEOFormer Stephanie Gottlieb Fine Jewelry executive Morgan P. Richardson is joining the lab-grown diamond jewelry brand.
WatchesMay 19, 2026
Here’s the AP x Swatch Pocket Watch That Caused PandemoniumThe $400 pocket watch is a blend of Audemars Piguet’s iconic eight-sided Royal Oak and Swatch’s unserious Pop watches from the ‘80s.
Brought to you by
How Modern Training Is Becoming a Competitive Advantage for Jewelry RetailersWith the trade and customer trust in mind, GIA® developed NextGem™ – on-demand training designed specifically for retail.
CollectionsMay 19, 2026
Chris Ploof’s New Collection Makes an Ancient Medal ModernWith gold prices on the rise, the “Modern Electrum” collection uses an alternative, non-tarnishing metal alloy composed of gold and silver.
IndependentsMay 19, 2026
Ellen and Michael Fruchtman Retire, Sell Marketing Agency Fruchtman Marketing has new owners, Erin Moyer-Carballea and Manuel Carballea, and will relocate to Miami.
ColumnistsMay 19, 2026
Peter Smith: The (Mostly) Immutable Sales TruthsIn a column for the 2026 State of the Majors issue, Smith lists 10 time-tested principles about sales that still ring true.
ColumnistsMay 18, 2026
Edahn Golan: What a K-Shaped Economy Means for Fine JewelryIn a column for the 2026 State of the Majors issue, Golan spells out how the growing economic divide in the U.S. is reshaping the market.
CollectionsMay 18, 2026
Foundrae’s New Collection Taps Into JoyThe “Limitless Expansion of Joy and Hope” collection evokes summer through colored gemstones and motifs of butterflies and florals.
CollectionsMay 18, 2026
Hancocks London Acquires Historic ‘Inchiquin’ EmeraldThe jewel, circa 1890, is from the late Victorian era and was owned by descendants of the last high king of Ireland.
Events & AwardsMay 18, 2026
Here Are the 2026 JCK Industry Fund Grant Recipients This is what the nine recipients plan to do with the funds.
AuctionsMay 15, 2026
American Collector Ponies Up Almost $17K for John Wayne’s RingThe Western star’s 14-karat gold signet ring sold for six times its low estimate following a bidding war at U.K. auction house Elmwood’s.
Events & AwardsMay 15, 2026
JA, MJSA To Sponsor Roundtable at TJSThe discussion, "Rebuilding the Jewelry Workforce," will take place on Saturday, May 16, in Troy, Michigan.
SourcingMay 15, 2026
State of Diamonds: The Way Forward for Natural DiamondsThe jewelry industry is reassessing its positioning as Gen Z reshapes the retail landscape and lab grown continues to gain market share.
AuctionsMay 14, 2026
White Diamonds Lead Sotheby’s Auction, Blue Diamond Does Not SellA matching pair of 18.38-carat, D-color diamonds from Botswana’s Jwaneng mine sold for $3.3 million, the top lot of the jewelry auction.
Supplier BulletinMay 14, 2026
A Diamond Is Forever Continues Desert Diamonds – Bridal ReinvigoratedSponsored by A Diamond Is Forever
SourcingMay 14, 2026
State of Colored Stones: The Spirit of Young American Gemstone CuttersThe next generation of lapidarists are entrepreneurial, engaged online, and see the craft as a means for artistic expression.
AuctionsMay 14, 2026
‘Ocean Dream’ Makes Waves at Christie’s, Fetching $17MIt was the second auction appearance for the fancy vivid blue-green diamond, which sold for $7.8 million at Christie’s Geneva 12 years ago.
CrimeMay 14, 2026
Second Man Arrested in Florida Pawn Shop Shooting Members of the U.S. Marshals Task Force took a 22-year-old man into custody. He was charged with tampering with evidence.
CrimeMay 13, 2026
JSA’s 2025 Crime Report Shows ‘Concerning’ Rise in ViolenceWhile the overall number of crimes was down, there were more incidences in which robbers pulled out guns, mace, or rammed cars into stores.
IndependentsMay 13, 2026
New Orleans Jeweler Closing Canal Place StoreJack Sutton Fine Jewelry is closing its store inside the downtown shopping center after 40 years in business.
SourcingMay 13, 2026
Smithsonian Acquires ‘Winston Red’ Diamond PaintingReena Ahluwalia’s painting of the rare red diamond is the first contemporary painting to join the National Gem Collection.
TrendsMay 13, 2026
State of Design: Only the Innovative Will SurviveThe price of gold has risen, affecting the number of pieces designers make, the materials they use, and how they position themselves.
