Jewelers of America opens self-nominations for 25th Gem Awards
Self-nominations are open through July 31 for the 25th Gem Awards, with Retail Innovation and Media Excellence on the ballot at Cipriani 42nd Street.
Jewelers of America has opened self-nominations for the 25th annual Gem Awards, with submissions due July 31 in Jewelry Design, Media Excellence and Retail Innovation. The black-tie ceremony is scheduled for March 12, 2027, at Cipriani 42nd Street in New York City.
The category mix says a great deal about where the jewelry business is placing its attention. The Gem Awards were conceived in 2001 by the Jewelry Information Center to celebrate the people and companies telling the story of jewelry best, and over the years the program has recognized excellence in jewelry design, watch design, journalism, marketing, communications and style. At its 25-year mark, the presence of Media Excellence and Retail Innovation alongside Jewelry Design shows that the industry now treats storytelling and customer experience as seriously as it does stones, settings and collections.
Jewelers of America says companies and individuals may submit themselves or others for consideration, and the Gem Awards Committee reviews the submissions to determine the final nominees. The organization says the self-nomination format has remained in place in recent years because it allows entrants to present their full body of work and achievements directly to the committee. An independent firm tabulates the results, which stay confidential until the live reveal.
The awards are also being used to widen support for emerging talent beyond the gala itself. In 2025, Jewelers of America and the Gem Awards Committee launched the David Yurman GEM Awards Grant, a one-time $50,000 award with mentoring for an emerging jewelry designer who has been in business at least three years. The first recipient was Johnny Nelson of Johnny Nelson Jewelry.
Jewelers of America describes the Gem Award as one of the highest honors in the fine jewelry and watch industries, with honorees ranging from designers and editors to respected media personalities and legendary brands. With the 2027 gala set for New York and the awards entering their 25th year, the program is leaning harder than ever into the work that gives jewelry its audience, its credibility and its place in culture.
This article was produced by Prism’s automated news system from verified source data, official records, and press releases, then run through automated quality and moderation checks before publishing. The system is built and supervised by the people who set the standards it runs under. Read our full AI policy.
Did this article answer your question?
