The Brazilian jeweler’s latest book marks her namesake brand’s 25th anniversary and tells the tale of her worldwide collaborations.
MJSA Announces Winner of Responsibly Sourced Design Competition
The designs had to incorporate stones from the challenge’s sponsor, Columbia Gem House.

New York—Emily Kuvin is the winner of the 2020 MJSA Responsibly Sourced Design Challenge.
MJSA’s annual competition asks designers to render a piece for a fictional client, reflecting her background and interests.
This year, the trade organization’s “client” was a mother and college professor, whose children wanted a piece of jewelry to commemorate her gaining U.S. citizenship.
Another competition stipulation was incorporation of several responsibly sourced gemstones from sponsor Columbia Gem House, based in Vancouver, Washington, which focuses on building mine-to-market supply chains for ethically sourced stones.
New York City-based Kuvin rose to the occasion with a rendering of a 14-karat yellow gold mesh necklace featuring a large 26 mm by 24 mm Mexican mabe pearl, accented with flush-set Montana sapphire melee in a variety of colors from Columbia Gem House.
“The pearl represents Maria’s Mexican heritage and birth family, and anchors the piece,” Kuvin explained of her winning design, “just as her strength anchors her family.”
“The sapphires to the left of the pearl are her three children … while the nine sapphires joyously emanating to the right stand for the love, beauty, excitement and knowledge Maria puts forth into family and the world.”
Kuvin went on to explain she chose gold mesh to honor the fictional client’s hometown, where her father was a fisherman, as well as the “wide net that Maria has cast” in her personal and professional life.
Though she’s designed jewelry since high school, Kuvin has degrees in journalism and law and worked as a TV news anchor, reporter and legal counsel before opening her own studio, Emily Kuvin Jewelry, in New York City.
Kuvin was one of nine designers to enter the competition.
See all the entries at MJSA.org.
The Latest

The Submariner Ref. 1680 with a Tiffany & Co. dial came from the original owner, who won it as a prize on the game show in the 1970s.

At Converge 2025, Editor-in-Chief Michelle Graff attended sessions on DEI, tariffs, security, and more. Here are her top takeaways.

With their unmatched services and low fees, reDollar.com is challenging some big names in the online consignment world.

Six people were shot last week at an Oakland cash-for-gold shop as employees exchanged gunfire with individuals trying to rob the store.


The jeweler has expanded its high jewelry offering, which launched last year, with new pieces featuring its cube motif that debuted in 1999.

Ben Bridge Jeweler and Lux Bond & Green were a part of the pilot program.

Jewelers of America is leading the charge to protect the industry amidst rising economic threats.

Associate Editor Natalie Francisco shares eight of her favorite jewelry looks from the 77th annual Primetime Emmy Awards, held Sunday night.

It’s predicting a rise in retail sales this holiday season despite economic uncertainty and elevated inflation.

It included the sale of the 11,685-carat “Imboo” emerald that was recently discovered at Kagem.

The newly elected directors will officially take office in February 2026 and will be introduced at the organization’s membership meeting.

Associate Editor Lauren McLemore headed out West for a visit to Potentate Mining’s operation hosted by gemstone wholesaler Parlé Gems.

Fordite is a man-made material created from the layers of dried enamel paint that dripped onto the floors of automotive factories.

A decision likely won’t come until January 2026 at the earliest, and the tariffs remain in effect until then.

Located in the revamped jewelry hall at the retailer’s New York City flagship, this opening is Tabayer’s first shop-in-shop.

The new, free app offers accessible educational content, like games and podcasts, for U.S. retailers.

As the gold price rises, the manufacturer is offering a 100 percent payout through Sept. 30 for gold clean scrap.

Jacob & Co. partnered with the German technology company on two pairs of headphones, one set with diamonds and the other with sapphires.

Guillermo del Toro’s 2025 “Frankenstein” will feature 27 jewels and objects from the storied brand, including pieces from its archives.

The Waldorf Astoria New York’s grand reopening this past summer means a homecoming for the industry group’s annual event.

Anglo plans to merge with Teck Resources Ltd. to form Anglo Teck. The deal changes nothing about its plans to offload De Beers.

The 9.51-carat fancy vivid blue diamond, which set two world auction records at Sotheby’s in 2014, is estimated to fetch up to $30 million.

The industry veteran joins the auction house as it looks to solidify its footprint in the jewelry market.

The nonprofit awarded four students pursuing a professional career in jewelry making and design with $2,250 each.

The Texas-based jeweler has also undergone a brand refresh, debuting a new website and logo.

The two organizations have finalized and signed the affiliation agreement announced in May.