Couture Show: Must-See Brands

Described as “the world’s most exceptional curation of designer fine jewellery and luxury timepieces,” COUTURE is a show whose presence has been missed during the dark depths of the pandemic. Now, with its return scheduled for August 24-26 at Wynn Las Vegas, I am pleased to highlight some Couture Show debutants and returning brands who should be on the radar of anyone in attendance.

Elsa Jin

Contemporary jewellery artist, Elsa Jin is an exciting addition to the Couture line-up in 2021. Those who visit her booth will discover meticulously crafted miniature artworks, most of which are completely one-of-a-kind, incorporating precious gemstones and pearls and imbued with traditional Chinese themes that reveal her personal origins Elsa says, “I can never be absent,” when describing her approach to high jewellery and it’s easy to see why – her pieces are the culmination of many hundreds of hours of painstaking care and attention.

Gems of Note

From bright pinks to crisp apple greens and alluring blues, Gems of Note is a newcomer to the Couture Show offering natural, fancy coloured diamond jewels and coloured gemstones cocktail rings crafted in the United States. The brand’s passion is all things colour, so expect to see Ceylon sapphires, fancy pink diamonds, Paraiba tourmalines and rubies set in an array of statement ring designs, ranging from Art Deco to floral fancies.

Luvor

Luvor was established in 2019 and will make 2021 the year it debuts at Couture Las Vegas. The Italian brand’s philosophy is to create jewellery for cosmopolitan women, whose days are spent rushing and racing from one moment to the next, captured using bold shapes and fluid silhouettes dusted with diamonds and coloured gems. The geometry of its Central Park collection is a complete contrast to its Mandala collection, which is just fine… modern women are full of contrasts too.

Goshwara

No stranger to the bright lights of the Couture Show, Goshwara is back for 2021 with its signature gemstone decadence, led by designer and president Sweta Jain. The brand is infused with the energy of its New York City home and offers sophisticated, classic yet trendy designs with fine quality coloured gemstones that will add a pop of colour to any look. Juicy cabochons, sleek faceted or fancy cut gems embellish both luxury jewels for any occassion as well as boldly unique one-of-a-kind pieces. You can find the brand’s collections in retail stores around the US as well as select online boutiques.

Joon Han

I defy you not to fall in love with a pair of Joon Han’s earrings, which somehow manage to combine baroque pearls, diamonds, opals and coloured gemstones in ways that few can mimic. The designer is inspired by her global travels to create colourful pieces that she describes as having a “singular character” and you are invited to meet these personalities at the Couture Show, where Joon Han has previously garnered attention.

Mark Henry

When a house is showcasing one of nature’s rarest gemstones – colour change alexandrite – it’s no wonder it returns to the international Couture stage year-after-year. Mark Henry founder and CEO, Mois Medine, has been spotlighting alexandrite since 2004 and has been a sightholder and partner to a Brazilian alexandrite mine since 1987. The vast majority of this alexandrite is gem quality and exhibits a medium-dark tone with strong colour saturation and 90-100% colour change! Elsewhere, Mark Henry will present its Paraiba tourmaline collections in Las Vegas, alongside its wider offer of contemporary jewels.

Onirikka

Onirikka offers a collection of fine jewellery with bold, symmetrical silhouettes for an elegant customer… and perhaps those with a perfectionist nature. Its pieces are characterised by ‘balance’ and simple geometric shapes that are brought to life with brightly coloured gemstones – a nod to the designer’s childhood roots in El Salvador. Its designs are contemporary and edgy but with a dose of fun. Look to its Trunk Travel and colourful Finch collections to see what we mean.

Despite the stresses of the last 18-months, we know the world keeps turning and beautiful jewellery continues to be designed, invented, and brought to life. I hope you enjoy seeking out these brands at Couture later this month and find inspiration in the new, the unique and the artfully adorned.