2026 Gem Awards Honor Ana Khouri, London Jewelers, and Emerging Talent

Linda Evangelista took the stage at Cipriani 42nd Street on March 13 to present Ana Khouri with the GEM Award for High Jewelry Excellence, one of the defining moments of Jewelers of America's 24th annual GEM Awards. The sold-out black-tie gala also crowned Mark and Candy Udell of London Jewelers with the Lifetime Achievement Award and recognized Johnny Nelson with the David Yurman GEM Awards Grant for emerging designers.

Khouri's selection had been telegraphed months earlier, when Jewelers of America announced her honor in January. What makes her practice distinctive, and what clearly compelled the nominators, is the convergence of fine-art rigor and material ethics: all of her jewelry is crafted in Fairmined 18k gold and platinum with ethically and responsibly sourced gemstones. She has mounted solo exhibitions at Phillips, Sotheby's, and Christie's, and shown at TEFAF New York; her work has also been carried by The Row. Amanda Gizzi, senior vice president of corporate affairs for Jewelers of America, framed the recognition plainly: "Through a sculptural approach rooted in fine art, Ana Khouri has established a distinct and influential voice within high jewelry, defined by exceptional craftsmanship and ethical materials."

The evening's final award belonged to the Udells, whose acceptance remarks brought the room to a standstill. Jim Haag of Verdura introduced the couple with characteristic directness: "I always have gotten the feeling that their hearts prevail over all decisions. They just know what to do and when to do it." Candy Udell's response was equally unadorned. "We didn't build this company thinking about recognition — we built it thinking about people and relationships," she said. "Our relationships are built on mutual trust and respect, something we hold dearly in our hearts."

The other category winners were determined live during the ceremony. Sylvia Furmanovich took the GEM Award for Jewelry Design, with the award presented by 2025 winner Beth Hutchens of FoundRae; nominees Cece Fein-Hughes and Catherine Sarr were also in contention. Thomas Waller received the GEM Award for Media Excellence, presented by 2025 winner Sam Broekema, over nominees Nicole Martine Chapoteau and Emili Vesilind. Jessica McCormack won the GEM Award for Retail Innovation, beating out Day's Jewelers and Emily Chelsea Jewelry; the award was presented by 2025 recipients Yael Reinhold and Mildred Marcano of Reinhold Jewelers and accepted onstage by Leonie Brantberg.

The David Yurman GEM Awards Grant went to Johnny Nelson. David Yurman, in remarks reported by Rapaport, described the grant as "our commitment to the next generation of extraordinary talent," adding that Nelson's "designs fuse his own heritage, identity, and artistry, creating pieces that spark conversation and invite reflection." WWD's March 15 roundup of the ceremony characterized the grant as inaugural and reported the amount at $50,000.

The 2026 awards were chaired by Marion Fasel of The Adventurine. The committee included representatives from JCK & Luxury, the Natural Diamond Council, COUTURE, CHANEL, De Beers Group, Greenwich St. Jewelers, National Jeweler, Harwell Godfrey, and Jewelers of America, among others.

The breadth of the honoree list, from Khouri's Fairmined-gold sculptures to Nelson's heritage-driven emerging practice, suggests the industry's awards apparatus is increasingly interested in recognizing not just longevity but the values embedded in how jewelry is made and why.