Jewelers of America Announces 2026 Gem Awards Nominees

By Karen Dybis | October 28, 2025

Jewelers of America (JA) today announced the nominees for its 2026 Gem Awards, honoring individuals and brands whose work boosts the appreciation for fine jewelry and watches.

In addition to nominations in the categories of jewelry design, media excellence, and retail innovation, JA announced that Mark and Candy Udell of London Jewelers will receive the Gem Award for lifetime achievement.

The Gem Awards will take place March 13, 2026, at Cipriani 42nd Street in New York City. Proceeds from the event directly benefit valuable programs that enhance JA’s mission to improve consumer confidence in the industry.

Gem Award for Jewelry Design

The nominees in jewelry design are Cece Fein-Hughes, Cece Jewellery; Silvia Furmanovich; and Catherine Sarr, Almasika.

Fein-Hughes, founder and designer of Cece Jewellery, began goldsmithing in 2018 and discovered enameling at the British Academy of Jewellery. She now reimagines that ancient technique for today’s collectors. Her creations—hand-engraved and enameled in recycled 18k gold and adorned with pearls and star-set diamonds—fuse fairy tale imagery, tattoo motifs, and timeless symbolism. Fein-Hughes says she has always been fascinated by how art carries stories through time. Drawing on her father’s stories about his deep-sea diving adventures, her jewels brim with nautical emblems, animal totems, and mythic creatures. Prior to starting her own brand, Fein-Hughes studied art history at Exeter University and worked at Christie’s and Sotheby’s.

Brazilian designer Furmanovich, previously nominated for a Gem Award in 2019, is renowned for transforming global traditions and materials into wearable art, according to JA. Descended from Italian goldsmiths—her great-grandfather crafted ornaments for the Vatican—Furmanovich established her namesake brand in 1998 and now works from her São Paulo atelier with her three sons. They use marquetry, lacquer, miniature painting, and natural materials like bamboo, silk, and wood with precious gems, reflecting a deep respect for craftsmanship and cultural collaboration. Furmanovich’s work appears in museum collections in New York and Minneapolis. She has partnered with such renowned institutions as the Metropolitan Museum of Art and Houston’s Museum of Fine Arts, and has earned four Couture design awards.

Paris-born Sarr is the founder and CEO of Almasika, a Chicago-based fine jewelry brand whose pieces have been worn by Michelle Obama, Alicia Keys, and Reese Witherspoon. Inspired by universal symbols and stories that connect cultures, Sarr creates jewelry that bridges art, heritage, and human experience, embodying elegance with depth. Beyond jewelry, Sarr runs the Sarr Collection with her husband, championing emerging artists with initiatives including a prize awarded in collaboration with Les Beaux-Arts de Paris and a U.S. residency with Villa Albertine. She serves on the board of the Terra Foundation for American Art and was named Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres by the French government in 2022.

Gem Award for Media Excellence

Nominees in this category are Nicole Martine Chapoteau, Emili Vesilind, and Thomas Waller.

Chapoteau is Vanity Fair’s fashion director, described by JA as a creative visionary whose work embodies inclusivity, artistry, and narrative depth. Chapoteau’s previous roles at Marie Claire, InStyle, and Allure established her as a leader in accessories and styling, a stylist who unites fashion with cultural resonance. She has styled Regina King, Bad Bunny, Simone Biles, Angela Davis, and other celebrities, and has collaborated with such photographers as Mickalene Thomas and Mark Seliger on shoots for Elle, Harper’s Bazaar, The Cut, and Ebony. A graduate of NYU and member of Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority, Chapoteau began her career in architecture before moving into fashion, bringing her know-how with structural design to editorial storytelling.

Currently the editor-in-chief of Gem + Jewel, a glossy magazine and website produced by Jewelers Mutual Group, Vesilind has been writing about jewelry as a business and an art form since 2012. She was senior editor at JCK magazine for nearly a decade. Prior to pivoting to jewelry journalism, Vesilind covered the fashion industry, serving as a staff writer for the Los Angeles Times and West Coast retail editor at WWD. She’s been a cohost of the jewelry podcast Rough Cut and has contributed articles and personal essays to CNN, The Cut, Vogue Australia, Curator, and Vox, among other outlets.

The senior fashion market editor for accessories at WWD, Waller covers everything from handbags to heels—but says his true obsessions are watches and fine jewelry. Drawn to the craft, precision, and storytelling behind these pieces, he explores how design, heritage, and innovation shape the way we adorn ourselves. Waller’s work spans collection critiques, business and retail features, industry trend analysis, and collaborating on WWD’s visual storytelling through fashion and accessory editorials. Before joining WWD, Waller held editorial jobs at InStyle and Allure. Outside of the office, he is a self-professed culture and travel nerd and Real Housewives historian.

Gem Award for Retail Innovation

JA’s nominees in the category of retail innovation are Day’s Jewelers, Emily Chelsea Jewelry, and Jessica McCormack.

Day’s Jewelers has nine locations across Maine and New Hampshire, evolving from a small Maine family business opened in 1914 to a 100% employee-owned company as of 2021. Day’s is celebrated for quality jewelry, fair value, and exceptional service that spans generations, and champions responsible sourcing, community involvement, and lasting value for customers. Drawing on both tradition and innovation, Day’s offers immersive in-store experiences, advanced digital tools, and heartfelt customer care. The retailer’s motto, “Sparkle Everyday,” captures the brand’s enduring mission—to bring joy, connection, and timeless beauty to life’s most meaningful moments.

Founded by designer Emily Phillippy in 2015, Emily Chelsea Jewelry of Philadelphia is redefining retail excellence through inclusivity, transparency, and values-driven innovation, says JA. What began with a single bench has grown into a nationally recognized destination for meaningful, identity-affirming jewelry. The brand is known for its gender-free fine jewelry, traceable sourcing, and deeply personal design process. A passionate advocate for LGBT+ representation, Phillippy has challenged the industry to ensure every client feels seen and celebrated. Under her leadership, Emily Chelsea Jewelry continues to expand its team, showroom, and impact—driving a movement toward authenticity, accountability, and representation in modern jewelry.

Jessica McCormack is a London-based fine jewelry brand recognized for its signature antique-meets-modern aesthetic. Female-led and rapidly expanding, the company has grown from £9 million in 2020 to over £30 million in 2024, earning a global following of collectors, entrepreneurs, and celebrities. In 2025, Jessica McCormack opened its first U.S. store, on Madison Avenue in New York City, and a concession in London’s Harrods department store. From its Mayfair workshop, the jeweler creates heirloom-quality pieces designed for everyday wear (she has a popular collection called Day Diamonds), with exceptional craftsmanship and timeless appeal.

Top: A past Gem Awards gala (photos courtesy of Jewelers of America)