

Couture Design Awards 2016 Round-Up:
Another Couture exhibition in Las Vegas – the only event of its kind that emphasises on jewellery design – has come to its end. It is accompanied by the Couture Design Awards jewellery contest where participants ‘fight’ for the best jewellery design in different categories. To receive a Couture Design Awards means to gain the recognition of professionals from the jewellery industryas well as the public (there is a special ‘People’s Choice’ category). Each year, about 200 contestants compete for the award by presenting their most intriguing jewellery pieces to the panel comprising five elite judges.
This year, the winning designs were selected by the multiple award-winning jeweller Arun Bora from Arunashi. Other judges who assessed the designs were Adam Glassman, Creative Director of O-The Oprah Magazine, jeweller and gemmologist John Green, American journalist Rachel Garrahan and Soraya Cayen, owner of the multi-brand Cayen Collection boutique. I can imagine how difficult it was for the panel to make their choice, as each piece submitted at the competition was beautiful and special in its own way. However, the best work in each category has already been selected and the results of the competition have been announced. Here are the winners and runner-ups of the Couture Design Awards.
Best in Bridal

Winner: Polly Wales // 1st Runner Up: John Apel; 2nd Runner Up: Kataoka Jewelry & Objects d’art
Best in Colored Gemstones Above 20K

Winner: Selim Mouzannar // 1st Runner Up: K. Brunini Jewels; 2nd Runner Up: Lydia Courteille
Best in Colored Gemstones Below 20K

Winner: Tomasz Donocik // 1st Runner Up: Inbar; 2nd Runner Up: Roule & Co.
Best in Diamonds Above 20K

Winner: Stephen Webster // 1st Runner Up: Exstravaganze by Labor & Co.; 2nd Runner Up: Roberto Demeglio
Best in Diamonds Below 20K

Winner: Yannis Sergakis Adornments // 1st Runner Up: Qayten; 2nd Runner Up: J. Jewels Milano
Best in Gold

Winner: Imogen Belfield // 1st Runner Up: Elena Votsi; 2nd Runner Up: Shaill Jhaveri
Best in Haute Couture

Winner: Nikos Koulis // 1st Runner Up: Vhernier; 2nd Runner Up: Neha Dani
Best in Innovative

Winner: Silvia Furmanovich // 1st Runner Up: Pesavento; 2nd Runner Up: Deakin & Francis
Best in Pearl

Winner: Mizuki // 1st Runner Up: Riviere & Co.; 2nd Runner Up: Paul Morelli
Best in Platinum

Winner: Kuwayama // 1st Runner Up: Isabelle Fa ; 2nd Runner Up: Alishan
Best in Silver

Winner: Anthony Lent // 1st Runner Up: Annie Fensterstock; 2nd Runner Up: Nancy Newberg
Best in Debuting

Winner: Kavant & Sharart // 1st Runner Up: Roule & Co.; 2nd Runner Up: Neha Dani
Editor’s Choice Award

Winner: Tomasz Donocik // 1st Runner Up: Nancy Newberg; 2nd Runner Up: Vhernier
People’s Choice Award

Winner: Anita Ko // Finalist: Jorg Heinz; Finalist: Schaffrath

WORDS
Katerina Perez is a jewellery insider, journalist and brand consultant with more than 15 years’ experience in the jewellery sector. Paris-based, Katerina has worked as a freelance journalist and content editor since 2011, writing articles for international publications. To share her jewellery knowledge and expertise, Katerina founded this website and launched her @katerina_perez Instagram in 2013.
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