Johnny Nelson Wins Inaugural David Yurman GEM Awards Grant

Johnny Nelson has been named the winner of the inaugural David Yurman GEM Awards Grant and will receive a one-time $50,000 award along with mentoring meetings with David Yurman executives and consultative sessions with other industry leaders. Amanda Gizzi, a member of the GEM Awards Grant Committee, posted on LinkedIn: “Please join me in congratulating the recipient of the 2026 David Yurman GEM Awards Grant - Johnny Nelson! Jewelers of America, the GEM Awards Committee and David Yurman established the Grant program to provide valuable resources to a jewelry designer in fine jewelry. We had five incredible finalists and selecting one winner wasn't easy. Johnny is an exceptional talent and human being. It is with pleasure that we make this announcement!”

The grant program was created by the David Yurman company in partnership with the GEM Awards Committee and Jewelers of America to support an emerging fine jewelry designer who has been in business for at least three years and shows exceptional promise. The prize package explicitly includes the $50,000 cash award, mentoring meetings with David Yurman executives, and consultative meetings with other industry executives; the program stated that the recipient would be presented during the 24th Annual GEM Awards on March 13, 2026 in New York City. Sybil Yurman framed the initiative as a long-term investment in talent: “We believe so deeply in mentorship and in giving emerging designers real tools and capital to help their growth and development. The David Yurman GEM Awards Grant is our commitment to the next generation of extraordinary talent. It serves as a clear expression of our long-term vision and belief in nurturing what’s next.”

Five finalists were selected from a field of 90 submissions. The finalists named by the committee were Hiba Husayni of ZAHN-Z / Zahn-Z, Jules Kim of Bijules, Johnny Nelson of Johnny Nelson Jewelry, Dorian Webb of Dorian Webb, and Lorraine West of Lorraine West Jewelry. JCK’s profile of Nelson described his work as “focusing on statement pieces that spark conversation among consumers,” noting that his designs draw from punk, hip-hop, and spirituality. SouthernJewelryNews described Dorian Webb’s practice as creating intentional jewelry that celebrates women and African American culture while raising awareness of social justice organizations.

Each finalist delivered an in-person presentation to David and Sybil Yurman and the GEM Awards Grant Committee; the committee that evaluated candidates included David Yurman, Sybil Yurman, Marion Fasel, Sam Broekema, Annie Doresca, Jennifer Gandia, Amanda Gizzi, Lauren Harwell Godfrey, and Jill Newman. While the GEM Awards program materials and event listings indicated the recipient would be presented at the March 13, 2026 ceremony in New York City, the selection was publicly announced in early March with a March 3 statement naming Johnny Nelson and a confirming LinkedIn post from Amanda Gizzi.

The grant’s combination of capital and planned mentorship aims to accelerate business development for an emerging designer who meets the program’s three-year-in-business eligibility. With the $50,000 award and scheduled consultative access to David Yurman executives and other industry leaders, Johnny Nelson moves from finalist to fund recipient with a platform intended to support growth and visibility in the fine jewelry sector.