Amáli wins INSTORE necklace award with black opal tassel design

Amáli Jewelry took first place in INSTORE’s Necklace Under 5K category with a tassel necklace that turned a 2.21 TCW black opal into the clear center of the story. Priced at $3,980, the piece paired 18K yellow gold with a bezel-set opal and a sweep of gold fringe, a combination that gave the necklace movement, texture and enough drama to read as far more expensive than the category allowed.

What separated it from the field was not just the materials, but the way they were handled. Viviana Langhoff highlighted the contrast between the fringe and the opal, saying that the stone shone because of that tension. Ellie Thompson pointed to the way the tassel design kept the opal moving, while Smitha Sadanandan saw art deco vibes in the necklace’s dramatic links. Those are exactly the kinds of details that can make a jewel feel finished: the stone is never isolated, and the setting is doing as much expressive work as the gem itself.

The award landed in a notably strong year for colored stones. INSTORE said the 2026 Design Awards were the 11th edition of the competition, published on May 21, 2026, and drew 229 entries, matching the prior year’s total. The magazine also noted that colored gemstones were hotter than ever, which makes Amáli’s win feel especially apt. A black opal depends on contrast, and this necklace used that darkness to full advantage, letting the gold fringe act almost like a moving frame.

That fit matters because Amáli has built its identity around craft rather than flash. The New York-based brand says its fine jewelry is hand-crafted in 18K yellow gold, with pieces made to feel like art. Founder Sara Freedenfeld launched the company 25 years ago, and the brand and its retail partners describe her work as shaped by travel through South America and by the technique she taught herself to make gold behave like fabric. That textile sensibility explains why the fringe never feels decorative for its own sake; it softens the metal, gives the stone air, and keeps the whole necklace alive on the body.

Amáli’s winning necklace is a useful reminder that emotional luxury does not require high-jewelry pricing. A strong gem, a disciplined bezel, and handcrafted fringe can create a jewel with presence, narrative and motion, all within a price point that remains within reach.