Celebrating Creativity and Legacy in the World of Fine Jewelry

Recognizing Industry Pillars: Tributes to Cindy Edelstein and Jan Mohr

The 2026 COUTURE Design Awards ceremony, held at the esteemed Encore Theater, began with heartfelt tributes to two significant personalities in the jewelry world. Mildred Marcano of Reinhold Jewelers was the recipient of the inaugural Jan Mohr Award for Excellence, acknowledging her profound impact and dedication. Mildred expressed her gratitude, attributing her success to her mentor, Marie Helene Reinhold, and commending the designers for their artistic endeavors. Following this, Elizabeth Bonanno of The Gems Project was honored with the Cindy Edelstein Award. Elizabeth spoke passionately about the designers who inspire her work, emphasizing the privilege of sharing their artistic creations with a wider audience, noting that her passion and profession are deeply intertwined with their artistry.

Pen Mané's Dual Triumph and Other Esteemed Winners

Pen Mané, a newcomer to the COUTURE scene, achieved remarkable success by securing two prestigious awards: Best in Innovative and the highly coveted Editors' Choice. Vincent Guy-Raffin, representing Pen Mané, shared his excitement about their inaugural COUTURE experience, praising the supportive community, fellow exhibitors, retailers, and the COUTURE organizational team. In the Bridal category, David Farrugia of Uniform Object accepted the Best in Bridal award, extending his thanks to the community and retailers whose support is integral to their success.

The Esteemed Panel of Judges and a Glimpse at the Winners

The challenging task of selecting the award winners was entrusted to a distinguished panel of judges. This year's panel included Carla Carter from G. Marie Luxuries, Corina Madilian of Single Stone, Jon Kaiser from Bloomingdales, Miguel Enamorado of Harper's Bazaar, and renowned writer Smitha Sadanandan. Their expertise and discerning eyes ensured a fair and comprehensive evaluation process. A comprehensive list of finalists and winners across all 12 categories, along with visual representations of their remarkable entries, can be accessed through a dedicated link, offering a detailed overview of the exceptional designs celebrated at the event.

Celebrating Diverse Talent Across Numerous Categories

The awards honored excellence across a broad spectrum of categories, showcasing the diversity and richness of contemporary jewelry design. Winners in categories such as "Best in Below $10,000 Retail" featured innovators like İTÄ and Yvonne Léon, alongside FerriFirenze. In the "Bridal" section, Uniform Object, KAMYEN, and Harwell Godfrey were celebrated. The "Color" categories saw Jorge Adeler and Karina Choudhrie shine for pieces below a certain value, while Jared Lehr and MINDI MOND were recognized for their creations above. Platinum, Diamonds, Gold, and Pearls also had their own distinguished winners, highlighting superior craftsmanship and design. Notably, PEN MANÉ also took home an award for "Best in Innovative," further solidifying their impact. The "Editors' Choice" award went to PEN MANÉ, Mariani, and Juliana Xerez Fine Jewelry, while Crisscut, Daniel Yu, and AG MEHTA were lauded in the "Best in Debuting" category. The "People's Choice" award, reflecting public adoration, was bestowed upon Helena Rose, Chantecler Capri, and HARRY KOTLAR, demonstrating the wide appeal of their artistry.