Daria de Koning’s Estuary earrings win INSTORE’s small-batch colored stones prize

Daria de Koning’s Estuary earrings won over judges by doing more than displaying color. In 18k yellow gold, the one-of-a-kind pair uses azurite-malachite, iolite, and mint green tourmaline in a detachable construction that changes the equation from a single jewel to multiple wearing options.

The earrings took First Place in INSTORE’s 2026 Best Small Batch Colored Stones category, a new division created for makers with five or fewer employees. That addition landed in the 11th annual INSTORE Design Awards, which drew 229 entries, the same number as the previous year. Judges evaluated the competition through blind voting, with six retailers and three media personalities on the panel, while hundreds of additional retailers later voted online for Retailer’s Choice honors.

The appeal of the Estuary earrings rested in the way the stones were allowed to lead. Catherine Fitzgibbon praised the design for letting the natural character of the gems remain the focus. Mary Murray said the veining in the azurite-malachite reminded her of seeing the Earth from above, with the iolite providing contrast. John Mead called it probably the prettiest example of malachite he had ever seen and singled out the pairing with mint green tourmaline. Those reactions make clear why the piece stood out: the color story is not decorative filler, but the structure itself.

That matters in a market where buyers increasingly want jewelry that feels collectible and adaptable, not merely ornamental. Daria de Koning lists the earrings at $16,500, a price that sits in serious high-jewelry territory, but the design gives that investment more than one mode of wear. The clip-and-post back includes a removable post on request for a non-pierced ear, and the detachable drop means the silhouette can shift from more elaborate to more restrained. At 18 x 65 mm, the proportion is dramatic without losing precision.

The designer also offers the Estuary earrings as a bespoke model, with custom color combinations or remounting for inherited stones. That flexibility helps explain why a pair like this resonates now. It answers the collector’s desire for something singular, while also giving the buyer a practical reason to justify the splurge: one thoughtful design, multiple looks, and a gem palette that feels as individual as the person wearing it.