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Fope, Oscar Heyman, More Honored At 2021 COUTURE Design Awards August 31, 2021 (0 comments)
Las Vegas, NV—The 2021 COUTURE Design Awards took place last week with a sense of excitement as the industry gathered in Las Vegas for the first full jewelry market week since 2019.
COUTURE director and Emerald Expositions executive vice president Gannon Brousseau opened the event, comparing the atmosphere to the first COUTURE show, held in 1995 in Newport Beach, CA.
“While I obviously wasn’t at the first COUTURE, I’ve heard all the stories. I’m told it was an intrepid band of misfits who came together to define the industry, united by a shared love of beauty and design and a deep appreciation for one another. What I see here tonight reminds me a lot of those stories. All of you, against all odds, coming together, believing in this event, believing in each other and showing up, because this is COUTURE and that’s what we do.”
The winners and finalists of the 12 primary competition categories were selected by a panel of judges, while the two remaining categories—Editors’ Choice and People’s Choice—are voted upon by attending media and retailers. This year’s judges were Kareem Rasheed of Robb Report, fashion correspondent Lynn Yaeger, designer Silvia Furmanovich, Liebe Gamble of June Simmons Jewelers in Sarasota, FL, and Yael Reinhold Lipnik of Reinhold Jewelers in San Juan, PR.
Along with the winners and finalists in the 14 design categories, COUTURE also presented the Cindy Edelstein Award to Larry Pelzel (top image) vice president of Neiman Marcus.
The late Cindy Edelstein was one of the industry’s most passionate designer advocates and who ran the Design Center for the JCK Show before moving over to COUTURE and organizing its new designer area. The award in her memory honors an individual who is a true industry leader who is dedicated to the success of designers and brands, has demonstrated a longstanding commitment to COUTURE, and who is an inspiration to others through an enthusiastic attitude and unabated vitality.
All of these are qualities for which Pelzel has been widely revered throughout his 40-year career at Neiman Marcus, and the standing ovation he received upon being surprised with this acknowledgement demonstrated the appreciation the entire COUTURE community feels for his many contributions.
Below are the winners and finalists in each of the COUTURE Design Awards Categories.
Best in Innovative:
First Place: Studio Renn
Second Place: Capolavoro
Third Place: Persée
Best in Diamonds Below $20K:
First Place: Ondyn
Second Place: 64Facets
Third Place: Harika
Best in Diamonds Above $20K:
First Place: Sutra
Second Place: BAYCO
Third Place: Oscar Heyman
Oscar Heyman's white and yellow gold reverse pattern earrings.
Best in Pearls:
First Place: Assael
Second Place: Rosa Van Parys
Third Place: Moksh
Assael's "Winter Branches" earrings with rare blue Akoya pearls won first place in both the pearl category and the People's Choice category.
Best in Haute Couture:
First Place: Lotus Arts de Vivre
Second Place: Yeprem
Third Place: Elsa Jin
Best in Men’s:
First Place: ArtyA
Second Place: Fope
Third Place: Jorge Adeler
Fope's 18k men's bracelet.
Best in Silver:
First Place: Tane Mexico 1942
Second Place: Sheryl Lowe
Third Place: Onirikka
Best in Bridal:
First Place: Retrouvai
Second Place: Busatti
Third Place: Campbellian
Best in Colored Gemstones Below $20K:
First Place: Harwell Godfrey
Second Place: Meredith Young
Third Place: Venyx
Best in Colored Gemstones Above $20K
First Place: VRAM
Second Place: Fernando Jorge
Third Place: Graziela
Best in Gold:
First Place: Mariani
Second Place: Buddha Mama
Third Place: Shimansky
Best in Debuting:
First Place: Elsa Jin
Second Place: Rosa Van Parys
Third Place: Almasika
Editors’ Choice:
First Place: BAYCO
Finalist: Gismondi1754
Finalist: VENDORAFA
People’s Choice:
First Place: Assael
Finalist: Gismondi1754
Finalist: VENDORAFA