Jewelers of America Reveals 2026 GEM Award Winners at Sold-Out New York Gala

When Linda Evangelista stepped to the podium at Cipriani 42nd Street on March 13 to present Ana Khouri with the GEM Award for High Jewelry Excellence, the moment communicated something no press release could: the jewelry commanding the industry's highest attention right now is the kind that feels made for one person.

That current ran through every category at Jewelers of America's 24th annual GEM Awards, a sold-out black-tie gala in New York where the winner list doubled as a pre-vetted guide to designers whose work already survived scrutiny from a committee spanning De Beers Group, CHANEL, JCK & LUXURY, and the Natural Diamond Council. For anyone commissioning custom work, that roster is worth knowing by name.

The most direct signal for personalization-minded buyers came from the David Yurman GEM Awards Grant, which David Yurman personally presented to emerging designer Johnny Nelson. "What truly sets Johnny apart is the meaning embedded in his work," Yurman said. "His designs fuse his own heritage, identity, and artistry, creating pieces that spark conversation and invite reflection." Yurman framed the grant as "our commitment to the next generation of extraordinary talent" and "our long-term vision and belief in nurturing what's next for innovative jewelry design." That language, from a founder whose sculptural aesthetic became one of the 20th century's most recognizable jewelry signatures, signals clearly where the industry's creative investment is flowing: toward designers who build autobiography into objects.

Sylvia Furmanovich took the GEM Award for Jewelry Design over nominees Cece Fein-Hughes and Catherine Sarr. Jessica McCormack won Retail Innovation, beating Day's Jewelers and Emily Chelsea Jewelry. That a Retail Innovation award went to McCormack over two established retail operations reveals where the service bar has moved: individuality now counts as much as volume. Thomas Waller received Media Excellence, with Nicole Martine Chapoteau and Emili Vesilind also nominated. Mark and Candy Udell of London Jewelers received the Lifetime Achievement award, honoring a career building one of American fine jewelry retail's most respected names.

The gala was chaired by Marion Fasel of The Adventurine, with a committee whose composition is itself a quality signal: members included Sarin Bachmann of JCK & LUXURY, Jennifer Gandia of Greenwich St. Jewelers, Michelle Graff of National Jeweler, and Dorit Engel of CHANEL, among others.

Here is how to shop against this list. Ask any jeweler whether they have been recognized by Jewelers of America or shown at platforms represented on the GEM Awards committee, including COUTURE and JCK & LUXURY. Ask specifically how a designer translates personal narrative into a commission: vagueness at that question is a red flag. The nominee pool extends the shortlist well beyond winners; Cece Fein-Hughes, Catherine Sarr, Day's Jewelers, and Emily Chelsea Jewelry all cleared the committee's consideration threshold and represent work worth investigating. If a jeweler cannot articulate how your story, heritage, or specific aesthetic would shape a piece, the result will feel catalogued regardless of the price.

The 2026 GEM Awards did not simply celebrate what already exists. They named who is building the next decade of custom jewelry worth owning.