When the winners and finalists of the Jewelers’ Choice Awards are announced each year, it’s a pleasure to flip through the pages of Best of the Best and revel in the uniqueness each designer’s piece brings to its category. From bold design to remarkable craftsmanship to captivating stones and more, there are numerous reasons the retailer, editor, and influencer judges chose to honor these jewels.
How about picking only one of the winners that really stands out to you? We asked JCK editors to do just that, and to share what drew them to the piece they selected. Enjoy this peek into the minds of some Jewelers’ Choice Awards judges—and feast your eyes on the jewels that enthralled them.
Karen’s Pick:
Nelson Jewellery, winner of Best Statement Piece ($10,000–$50,000 price point)
“Jewelry should move you, and jewelry that seems to have a sense of life immediately appeals to me. When I saw this delightful praying mantis from Nelson Jewellery [pictured at top], I responded not only with a smile on my face but a sense of awe and wonder. Awe because of its craftsmanship and beauty. Wonder for its playfulness and character. You can almost see its inquisitive eyes looking your way, wondering if you admire both its grace and its impressive 93.68 ct. tourmaline treasure. I am smitten with this wry creature, and it just brings me joy. That, to me, is jewelry’s greatest accomplishment.”
—Karen Dybis, contributing editor
Melissa’s Pick:
Trésor, winner in Colored Stone Jewelry ($2,501–$5,000)
“The first issue of JCK I worked on—16 years ago!—featured one of Trésor’s multicolored bracelets, and I’ve been a fan ever since. These earrings—featuring 15.23 cts. t.w. blue, pink, orange, and yellow sapphires—showcase what the Miami-based brand does best: groovy color combinations, mixed-shape gems arranged into eye-catching patterns, and fluid 18k gold settings that allow the stones to reflect and radiate light.”
—Melissa Rose Bernardo, managing editor
Victoria’s Pick:
Khepri Jewels, Editors’ Choice winner in Colored Diamond Jewelry
“Khepri Jewels earned the Editors’ Choice award in the Colored Diamonds category for good reason. Its necklace of multi-shaped diamond drops evokes the opulence of something Cleopatra might have worn to a lavish banquet, while feeling unmistakably current. Set with natural fancy colored diamonds in warm, desert-inspired hues, the piece features a palette that is both sophisticated and of the moment—setting it apart in a market saturated with look-alike lab-grown stones.”
—Victoria Gomelsky, editor-in-chief
Amy’s Pick:
Vanessa Fernández, winner of Editors’ Choice and Influencers’ Choice in Diamond Jewelry (over $10,000)
“I recognized this ring as the work of Vanessa Fernández immediately—quietly sensual, refined, with this wonderful slinky goldwork. She also has an incredible eye for stones, particularly pear shapes, which are perfectly suited to this toi et moi design. I love how the cognac diamond adds a bit of softness and mystery here, too.”
—Amy Elliott, contributing editor
Brittany’s Pick:
Frederick Goldman, winner in Diamond Jewelry ($10,000 and under)
“What immediately struck me about Frederick Goldman’s diamond band was its quiet power. A true hero piece in both versatility and design, it delivers that elusive, everyday ‘it’ factor. It may not make a bold statement like high-carat earrings or a cocktail ring, but that’s precisely its appeal. Its draw lies in the details: The sculptural form and subtle diamond shimmer invite a closer look, revealing a piece that feels both considered and enduring.”
—Brittany Siminitz, contributing editor
This is a small sampling of the Jewelers’ Choice Award winners. See the full force of design talent on display in our Best of the Best flip-book.
Top: Mantis brooch with 93.68 ct. tourmaline, 5.85 cts. t.w. sapphires, 1.4 cts. t.w. diamonds, and 1.22 cts. t.w. emeralds, $27,000; Nelson Jewellery
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