Middleton Jewelers wins with Pokémon card necklace in gem frame
A 14K yellow-gold frame turns a Pokémon card into a $67,500 gem-set heirloom, earning Middleton Jewelers the top statement-piece prize.
A Pokémon card became a $67,500 jewel at Middleton Jewelers, where a custom 14K yellow-gold Grail Frame necklace set with rubies totaling 11.52 TCW and G-color, VS-clarity diamonds totaling 8.0 TCW won first place in INSTORE’s 2026 Best Statement Piece category. The piece turns fandom into fine jewelry with a literal frame around the collectible, treating the card as both object and keepsake.
The judges responded to that collision of pop culture and precious materials. Viviana Langhoff called it “playful, contemporary and kitschy in the best way,” a description that fits the necklace’s mix of nostalgia and polish. Ellie Thompson praised the ornate frame for making the collectible card feel more precious while also aiming at a niche market. Smitha Sadanandan described it as a playful and precious necklace that transforms a Pokémon card into a gem-outlined statement.
What makes the Grail Frame more than novelty is the discipline of the setting. The yellow-gold architecture is not simply decorative; it elevates the card into a mounted centerpiece, with ruby color and diamond brightness doing the work that a classic necklace might assign to a center stone. In that sense, the piece behaves like a modern heirloom, one built around memory, fandom and identity rather than inherited convention.
The win arrived in a competitive year for statement jewelry. INSTORE said the 2026 Design Awards marked the 11th edition of the competition, with 229 entries, matching the previous year. Colored gemstones stood out in particular, with entries in that category surging, a sign that bold color and more personal design language are moving deeper into mainstream fine jewelry.
Middleton Jewelers, based in Middleton, Wisconsin, is a family-owned shop known for custom design, repairs, vintage and estate jewelry, diamond buying, gold buying and trade-ins. Its MJ Vault collection calls the Grail Frame its signature architectural design for iconic trading cards and graded slabs, and Esh Cardz says it works in conjunction with Middleton Jewelers on custom-crafted Pokémon card holders designed to protect, showcase and elevate a collection. Together, the businesses point to a clear shift: the new statement piece is increasingly personal, built not only to sparkle but to hold a story people already love.
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