Events & Awards

18 New-to-Couture Brands Not To Miss

Events & AwardsMay 18, 2017

18 New-to-Couture Brands Not To Miss

This year, there are a number of show newcomers worth setting aside time for.

20170518_COUTUREPreview-Molu1.jpg
Turkish jewelry house Molu, the brand behind this ring, has been in business since 1956, but is making its Couture debut this year.

Las Vegas--This year, 71 new booths will populate the ballrooms of the Wynn during the annual Couture show, taking place June 2 to 6.

While a veteran attendee may think they’ve seen it all, there’s no dearth of creativity from the following Couture newcomers whom we recommend meeting (and that’s not even counting the new class entering the Design Atelier; stay tuned for a future article on that.)

Some of the designers highlighted are early on in their careers, while others are industry legends. Both will have plenty to offer buyers and press come June.

Lord Jewelry
Booth 127

Designer Sinork Agdere honed his craft over years of both design study and practical application in Istanbul, Turkey. In 2002, he founded Lord Jewelry in Los Angeles.

Agdere’s work reveals his fascination with antique and vintage jewelry, as well as his love of vivid shades of enamel.



Oscar Heyman
Booth 148

Two storied American jewelry houses are making Couture debuts in 2017, one is David Webb and the other is Oscar Heyman.

Oscar Heyman has been a trade show fixture for years, but is making the leap from JCK to Couture this year, reacquainting a different audience with the spectacular gems for which the house is known.

Fresh off a book charting the brand’s history, consider this a time of elevation for Oscar Heyman.



Noudar
Booth 154

Qatari designer Noor Alfardan hails from a jewelry retail family but has ventured into the design world with her own line, Noudar.

Fashion-forward pieces meet intricate, Islamic-inspired design motifs in Alfardan’s collections, which are produced entirely in her home country.



Sarah Hendler
Booth 601

A couple of noticeable multi-brand showroom booths are missing at this year’s show but sales and public relations agency For Future Reference is filling that void with its very own space.

Sarah Hendler will be showing for the first time among For Future Reference’s clientele. The eponymous brand combines antique glamour, like a Victorian star motif, with a modern insouciance via enamel and gemstone pops of color.



Retrouvaí
Booth 601

Joining Hendler is new brand-to-know, Retrouvaí by designer Kirsty Stone. Stone’s vivacious multi-stone drop earrings and elegant medallions have made a big splash in the industry since the designer won the inaugural edition of “The Next Now,” an emerging designer competition from Ylang23.

Couture seems like the logical next step for the designer, who offers pieces at a variety of price points sure to please retailers.



Julez Bryant
Booth 610

Julez
Bryant delivers a refined and elegant take on everyday fine jewelry that is conversely wearable and bold.

The California-based designer, who has been in business over a decade, manages to make major amounts of gold and diamonds feel relaxed and unfussy.



Hoorsenbuhs
Booth 1100

Established in 2005 in Santa Monica, California, Hoorsenbuhs’ signature tri-link design has caught the attention of cultural influencers across industries. The brand, helmed by Robert Keith and Kether Parker, has partnered on projects with everyone from Jay-Z to Damien Hirst.

Last year, they opened a flagship store in New York City. The best thing about the buzzy brand? Most of their pieces can be worn by women or men.



Yael Sonia
Booth 419

Brazilian designer Yael Sonia has exhibited at Couture before but is making her return this year, equipped with her signature kinetic, graphic jewels.

Sonia’s oeuvre exemplifies the idea of “wearable art.” There are strong ties to sculpture throughout her work, and pieces that move just beg to be played with.



Bayco
Booth #214

Bayco is well known for its handling of exquisite and rare gems, such as the “Muzo Spectacular” emerald necklace or the “Crimson Ruby” ring.

Run by the Hadjibay family, who collected gems prior to producing their own jewelry in New York in the 1990s, expect to see numerous iterations of “the big three.” Their emeralds, in particular, are a must-see.



Karma El Khalil
Booth 429

New York-based Karma El Khalil has a diverse body of work, but the young designer to watch is most known for her sophisticated geometric designs that give femininity an edge.

El Khalil has successfully done what every young brand must do to survive in the long-run--develop a signature. She moves seamlessly between her more wearable works and stunning, one-of-a-kind masterpieces.



Pamela Huizenga
Booth 158

Pamela Huizenga’s background in the lapidary arts overwhelmingly informs her eponymous fine jewelry line.

Officially launched in 2009, Huizenga incorporates interesting gem elements into her otherwise classic collections; think traphiche emeralds and fossils.



VanLeles
Booth 320

VanLeles is the brainchild of Vania Leles, a GIA graduate and former employee of Sotheby’s jewelry department, Graff Diamonds and De Beers.

Focused on using responsibly sourced materials, VanLeles doesn’t forfeit glamour for ethics. The brand specializes in high jewelry pieces that utilize an abundance of diamonds and color gemstones.



Leyla Abdollahi
Booth #1006

A graduate of the famed Central Saint Martins University of the Arts in London, Leyla Abdollahi creates technically intricate pieces that seem to defy the human limits of design.

Abdollahi’s work features flowing, curving abstractions as well as pieces inspired by nature. In the vein of a Wendy Yue or Wallace Chan, Abdollahi is a designer to keep an eye on.



Page Sargisson
Booth #514

As a child, Page Sargisson was taught wood carving by her grandfather, which later inspired her to continue working with her hands at the jeweler’s bench.

Based in Brooklyn, New York, Sargisson’s organic-feeling and tactile designs are all made using recycled materials.



Molu
Booth #209

Turkish brand Molu is making a U.S. push with their presence at Couture this year. Like several Middle Eastern brands of note, they deftly handle magnificent gemstones and diamonds in innovative ways.

Their Ballerina ring, pictured below, is reason enough to stop in and see what other creations they have to offer.



Repossi
Booth Petrus 1

Since Gaia Repossi, the fourth generation designer of the heritage brand, took the creative reigns in 2007, she has sculpted the brand into one of the most influential in contemporary jewelry today.

Playing with scale, proportion, asymmetry and even how and where jewelry can be worn, Repossi manages to make luxury cool for a generation that eschews it.



Celine D’Aoust
Booth 1105

Celine D’Aoust cites nature as the influence behind her namesake line of jewelry.

The Belgium-based designer lends an elegant touch to organic slices of colorful gemstones. Tourmalines in particular seem to be D’Aoust’s number-one muse.



Maria Canale
Booth #144

Maria Canale spent decades designing behind the scenes at Tiffany & Co., Harry Winston, Richard Krementz and Carvin French.

Now, she creates elaborate pieces under her own moniker. Expect to see major one-of-a-kind pieces that carry the thread of classic glamour Canale inherited during her tenure at renowned design houses.

Ashley Davisis the senior editor, fashion at National Jeweler, covering all things related to design, style and trends.

The Latest

Mike Alexander
MajorsAug 01, 2025
Jewelers Mutual Names Mike Alexander as President

The insurance company’s previous president and CEO, Scott Murphy, has split his role and will continue as CEO.

 Gemfields rough rubies
SourcingAug 01, 2025
Gemfields’ Auction Revenue Drops 50% in H1

The nearly six-month pause of operations at its Kagem emerald mine earlier this year impacted the miner’s first-half results.

Signet Jewelers logo
MajorsAug 01, 2025
Helzberg President Julie Yoakum Moves Over to Signet Jewelers

The addition of Yoakum, who will lead Kay and Peoples, was one of three executive appointments Signet announced Thursday.

rio-article photo-diamond.jpg
Brought to you by
Taking the Moment Head On: How Rio Grande Champions the Present & Future of Fine Jewelry

As a leading global jewelry supplier, Rio Grande is rapidly expanding and developing new solutions to meet the needs of jewelers worldwide.

Hernsdorf Tears of Aphrodite Necklace
CollectionsAug 01, 2025
Piece of the Week: Hernsdorf’s ‘Tears of Aphrodite’ Necklace

The necklace uses spinel drops to immortalize the moment Aphrodite’s tears mixed with her lover Adonis’ blood after he was fatally wounded.

Weekly QuizJul 31, 2025
This Week’s Quiz
Test your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
Take the Quiz
Stock image of a polished diamonds being held by tweezers
SourcingJul 31, 2025
De Beers Records $189M First-Half Loss

The diamond miner and marketer warned last week that it expected to be in the red after significantly cutting prices in Q2.

Matthew Tratner, new president of Continental Buying Group
IndependentsJul 31, 2025
Matthew Tratner Takes Over as CBG President

Tratner succeeds Andie Weinman, who will begin stepping back from the buying group’s day-to-day operations.

an instructor and a student in a bench jewelry classroom
Brought to you by
Investing in the Next Generation of Bench Jewelers

The Seymour & Evelyn Holtzman Bench Scholarship from Jewelers of America returns for a second year.

Stock image of rough diamonds from the Kimberley mine
Policies & IssuesJul 30, 2025
Tariff on India Will Be 25%, Trump Says

The president made the announcement via Truth Social Wednesday, adding that India also will face a penalty for its dealings with Russia.

Pomellato Mini London blue topaz and diamond bracelet
FinancialsJul 30, 2025
Kering's Jewelry Brands Resilient As H1 Sales Slide 16%

The luxury titan’s star brand Gucci continued to struggle amid a "tough" environment.

Zadok Rolex Austin
WatchesJul 30, 2025
Peek Inside Zadok Jewelers’ New Rolex Showroom in Austin

Its opening marks the completion of the retailer’s new 11,000-square-foot store in the Texas capital.

Crowd of people in a shopping mall
SurveysJul 30, 2025
Consumer Confidence Ticks Up in July

Respondents shared concerns about tariffs and commentary on the “Big Beautiful Bill.”

Making a Killing in Diamonds by Rob Bates
SourcingJul 30, 2025
Rob Bates to Release Latest Book in His ‘Diamond District Mystery’ Series

“Making a Killing in Diamonds” tells the story of Mimi Rosen, the disappearance of a scientist, and the murder of lab-grown diamond CEO.

Tacori bezel-set diamond bands
EditorsJul 29, 2025
Out & About: Visiting Tacori’s Design Studio in LA

Senior Editor Lenore Fedow learned a lot when she took a behind-the-scenes factory tour with the jewelry brand earlier this year.

Auctim emerald auction
SourcingJul 29, 2025
Auctim to Offer 7.3M+ Carats of Rough Emeralds

The online auction house’s September sale will feature rough Brazilian emeralds of various qualities.

AGS Board President for 2025-2026 Alexis Padis
MajorsJul 29, 2025
Alexis Padis Re-Elected AGS Board President

She’ll lead an executive committee consisting of President-Elect Bryan Moeller, Mitchell Clark, Bill Farmer, and Larry Rickert.

Stock image of shipping containers
Policies & IssuesJul 28, 2025
U.S.-EU Come to Agreement on Tariffs

Announced Sunday, the deal will set the tax on goods imported into the United States from the European Union at 15 percent.

Nanis Ipanema Collection Campaign
CollectionsJul 28, 2025
Nanis Brings a New Palette to ‘Ipanema’

A new edition of the Italian brand’s “Ipanema” collection has debuted with gemstones that evoke Brazil’s breathtaking views.

Kevin O’ Leary and George Mayer of The 1916 Company
MajorsJul 28, 2025
The 1916 Company Partners with ‘Shark Tank’ Star’s Watch Insurance Platform

The retailer will refer its customers to WonderCare, founded by venture capitalist and watch collector Kevin O’Leary.

Sissy’s new Little Rock store
IndependentsJul 28, 2025
Sissy’s Log Cabin to Open Flagship in Arkansas

The jeweler’s largest store yet is set to open in Little Rock next fall.

Jemma Wynne Forme Toggle Necklace
CollectionsJul 25, 2025
Piece of the Week: Jemma Wynne’s ‘Forme’ Necklace

Anne Hathaway was seen wearing the toggle necklace three times while filming scenes for “The Devil Wears Prada 2.”

September Hong Kong jewelry show
Events & AwardsJul 25, 2025
Pre-Registration Open for September Hong Kong Show

Jewellery & Gem World Hong Kong is scheduled for Sept. 15 to 21, and buyer pre-registration will be available until Sept. 7.

Bulgari Celestial Mosaic spinel necklace
FinancialsJul 25, 2025
LVMH Sales Slip in H1 Amid ‘Prevailing Uncertainties’

Renovations at Tiffany & Co. stores ate into profits in the company’s watch and jewelry division.

Mark and Candy Udell
Events & AwardsJul 24, 2025
2 Retailers to Receive 2026 Gem Award for Lifetime Achievement

Mark and Candy Udell of London Jewelers will receive the honor at the 24th annual Gem Awards next March.

De Beers marine mining vessel the SS Nujoma
SourcingJul 24, 2025
De Beers Sees Diamond Production Sink 36% in Q2

While struggles continue at the mining and trading end of the pipeline, consumer demand for diamond jewelry is holding steady.

Francesca Villa Fantasia Collection The Crab Pendant, The Mermaid Pendant, Keep Dancing Seahorse Pendant, Keep Dancing Ladybug Pendant, Secret Dreams Pendant, The Puffer Fish Takes Flight Pendant
CollectionsJul 24, 2025
Francesca Villa Adds Dimension to Her Intaglio Characters

The “Fantasia” jewelry collection turns the intaglio animals from her “Close Encounters” collection into 3D characters.

Breitling’s special Eagles Super Bowl watch on gold bracelet
WatchesJul 24, 2025
Breitling Drops Super Bowl Watch Honoring the Philadelphia Eagles

The special Classic Avi Chronograph 42 with an Eagles-green dial is limited to 59 pieces, a nod to the Super Bowl Philadelphia just won.

×

This site uses cookies to give you the best online experience. By continuing to use & browse this site, we assume you agree to our Privacy Policy