Articles and News
2015 COUTURE Design Awards Celebrates 20 Years of Design and Distinction | June 10, 2015 (0 comments)
Las Vegas, NV—Nearly 1,000 retailers, editors and designers filled the Encore ballroom at the Wynn to celebrate the results of this year’s Couture Design Awards.
“When we cut through all of the pageantry and ceremony of Couture, we are left with the reason we all came together in the first place—the designs,” said Gannon Brousseau, Couture show director. He also applauded the show’s designers for the excellence in design that making the choices for winners so difficult.
Judges for the 2015 competition included renowned author and editors Marion Fasel (InStyle) and Maria Doulton (The Jewellery Editor), jeweler Lou Guarino of Louis Anthony Jewelers in Pittsburgh, PA; Paul Schneider of Portland, OR-based Twist, and award-winning jewelry designer Irene Neuwirth.
In addition to the winners in each of the categories—including People’s Choice and the new Editor’s Choice Awards—Colorado-based designer Todd Reed was presented with this year’s Human Spirit Award. The award celebrates his commitment to the environment, ethical sourcing, and giving back. He is a supporter of industry charitable organizations like Jewelers for Children and the Diamond Development Initiative, and he also is very active in philanthropy in his native Colorado, especially for the arts and culture. To watch a profile video about Reed and what inspired the judges to choose him for the award, click here. (Video production: PromoHouse.)
Todd Reed accepting his 2015 Human Spirit Award.
Here are the product winners in each category.
Best in Bridal: winner, Nikos Koulis; first runner up, Jemma Wynne; second runner up, Jade Trau.
Best in Colored Gemstone Above $20,000: winner, Etho Maria (below); first runner up, Fernando Jorge; second runner up, Buccellati
Best in Colored Gemstone Below $20,000: winner, Tomasz Donocik; first runner up, Federica Rettore; second runner up, Brooke Gregson
Best in Diamonds Above $20,000: winner, Pleve (below); first runner up, Stephen Webster; second runner up, Harry Kotlar
Best in Diamonds Below $20,000: winner, Reho; first runner up, JJewels Milano; second runner up, Astley Clarke
Best in Gold: winner, Spinelli Kilcollin; first runner up, Ray Griffiths; second runner up, Bizzotto Gioielli
Best in Haute Couture: winner, Hearts On Fire (below); first runner up, New Italian Art; second runner up, Arunashi
Best in Innovative: winner, Silvia Furmanovich; first runner up, Amrapali; second runner up, Alison Lou
Best in Pearls: winner, Autore (shown top of page); first runner up, Yvel; second runner up, Savanna Stranger
Best in Platinum: winner, Christian Tse; first runner up, Kuwayama; second runner up, Yunis and Eliza
Best in Silver: winner, Majoral; first runner up, Arman Sarkisyan; second runner up, Atelier Zobel
Debuting at COUTURE: winner, Spinelli Kilcollin; first runner up, Dezso Sara Beltran; second runner up, Kuwayama
Editor’s Choice: winner, Jorg Heinz; first runner up, Monique Pean; first runner up, Elena Votsi
People’s Choice: winner, Yeprem; first runner up, Reho; second runner up, Stenzhorn
All jewelry photos, Sandro Art + Photography.