Held just before the Oscars, the jewelry industry’s big awards show had its share of standout jewelry, gowns, and acceptance speeches.

Michelle Graff

Our Pieces of the Week honor the 2026 nominees for the Gem Award for Jewelry Design, Silvia Furmanovich, Cece Fein-Hughes, and Catherine Sarr.

Natalie Francisco

Nelson will be honored as the inaugural grant winner at the Gem Awards gala on Friday.

Natalie Francisco

Awards were given to four students, one apprentice, and an emerging jeweler.

Lauren McLemore

The “Innovative Design” category and award will debut in the Spectrum division of this year’s AGTA Spectrum & Cutting Edge Awards.

Lauren McLemore

Foerster is this year’s Stanley Schechter Award recipient.

Lenore Fedow

Catherine Aulick, a GIA graduate, received the ninth and final Gianmaria Buccellati Foundation Award for Excellence in Jewelry Design.

Natalie Francisco

Rachel Bennett, a senior jeweler who has been with Borsheims since 2004, earned the award.

Lauren McLemore

The AGTA Spectrum and Cutting Edge “Buyer’s Choice” award winners were announced at the Spectrum Awards Gala last week.

Lauren McLemore

The “Kering Generation Award x Jewelry” returns for its second year with “Second Chance, First Choice” as its theme.

Natalie Francisco

Entries for the jewelry design competition will be accepted through March 20.

Natalie Francisco

The grant is in its first year and was created to recognize an exceptional fine jewelry designer whose star is on the rise.

Lenore Fedow

The program recognizes rising professionals in the jewelry industry.

Lenore Fedow

Edge Retail Academy honored Burnell’s Fine Jewelry in Wichita, Kansas, with its annual award for business excellence.

Lenore Fedow

Founded by jeweler and sculptor Ana Khouri, the brand is “expanding the boundaries of what high jewelry can be.”

Lauren McLemore

The annual report highlights how it supported communities in areas where natural diamonds are mined, crafted, and sold.

Lauren McLemore

The LVMH-owned brand has partnered with the costume design union to revamp its award for 2026.

Natalie Francisco

Two awardees will receive free tuition for an educational course at the Swiss lab, with flights and lodging included.

Lauren McLemore

The honorees include a notable jewelry brand, an industry veteran, and an independent retailer.

Lenore Fedow

This year's theme is “Unveiling the Depths of the Ocean.”

Natalie Francisco

Silas Smith of Meridian Metalworks won the challenge with his pendant that blends Australian and American landscapes.

Natalie Francisco

Laurs is the editor-in-chief of Gem-A’s The Journal of Gemmology and an expert on the formation of colored gemstone deposits.

Michelle Graff

GIA’s former president and CEO was presented with the Richard T. Liddicoat Award for Distinguished Achievement.

Lenore Fedow

Pink and purple stones were popular in the AGTA’s design competition this year, as were cameos and ocean themes.

Lauren McLemore

Katty Villapando Lyte and Mica Rencher received a $10,000 grant for their business, Shimmer Culture LLC.

Michelle Graff