ONGRATULATIONS to the 2026 JCK Jewelers’ Choice Award winners!
Bravo to designer Vanessa Fernández on winning the grand prize for her masterful Curva necklace of handcrafted gold set with 32.14 cts. of lemon-yellow chrysoberyls! In all honesty, we’re not surprised that the Miami jeweler, who handmakes every piece of jewelry at her bench, earned the JCA’s top honor. In just a few years, her singular body of work has captivated retailers and editors alike.
To be fair, we could say the same thing about plenty of jewelers highlighted in these pages. From Pompos, whose otherworldly opal ring, winner of the best colored stone jewelry (over $30,000) category, is the perfect example of the brand’s bewitching use of color, to Rahaminov, the Los Angeles diamond jewelry house that can make a $725,000 colorless diamond necklace (best statement piece over $50,000) feel at once chic and original, the brands that consistently win the JCAs have one thing in common: They’re not afraid to take risks.
To wit: Khepri Jewels’ $286,000 Cleopatra-esque charm necklace of brown diamonds in varying cuts, a winner in the colored diamond jewelry category; Parlé’s constellation-like blue Yogo sapphire earrings, winners in the platinum jewelry ($20,000 and under) category; and Frederick Goldman’s sleek bracelet of matte black ceramic with gold-plated accents, which took the top prize in the fashion/bridge jewelry ($700 and under) category—proof that great design can be found at all points of the price spectrum.
Just ask the stellar team of judges who weighed in on this year’s awards: JCK ’s trusted editors (Amy Elliott, Karen Dybis, Brittany Siminitz, Melissa Bernardo, and yours truly) and four social media superstars, including Severine Ferrari (@engagement101), Bebe Bakhshi (@champagnegem), Agata Jankowiak (@blingsiscom), and Grant Mobley (@thegrantmobley).
Congratulations again—not only to grand-prize winner Vanessa Fernández but to all the companies that continue to test the limits of fine jewelry design. We need you now more than ever!
VICTORIA GOMELSKY EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
PHOTO: JULIA GOMELSKY
Meet the Judges of the Editors’ Choice Awards
EDITORS
VICTORIA GOMELSKY
EDITOR - IN - CHIEF
Victoria has been the EIC of JCK since 2010 and is a frequent contributor to The New York Times. She graduated from UCLA with a B.A. in political science and earned her MFA in nonfiction writing from Columbia University. She is based in Los Angeles.
Editors’ Choice
MELISSA ROSE BERNARDO
MANAGING EDITOR
At JCK , Melissa spends her time searching for Stores We Adore, scouting red-carpet trends, and penning punny headlines. Three nights a week, you’ll find her at the theater, reviewing shows for outlets such as New York Stage Review
KAREN DYBIS
CONTRIBUTING EDITOR
Karen reports daily for JCKonline on independent jewelers, designer stories, family-owned stores, and the lighter side of jewelry. Her work has also appeared in U.S. News & World Report, Time’s Assignment: Detroit blog, and The Detroit News. She is the author of five local-history books.
BRITTANY SIMINITZ
CONTRIBUTING EDITOR
Britt got her start in the industry working for a family-owned retailer after college. She loves exploring the work of both emerging and new-to-her jewelry designers. She lives in the Washington, D.C., area with her husband and daughters.
AMY ELLIOTT
CONTRIBUTING EDITOR
Amy is the author of JCKonline’s style- and culturefocused All That Glitters blog, known for its lively curations, designer spotlights, and vintage jewelry–related topics. Her work has also appeared in The New York Times, Galerie, Martha Stewart Weddings, and 1stDibs’ editorial platforms.
Meet the Judges of the Influencers’ Choice Awards
INFLUENCERS
BEBE BAKHSHI @CHAMPAGNEGEM
Champagne Gem founder Bebe has built a digital platform offering rare access to exceptional gemstones, refined craftsmanship, and insider perspective for 13+ years. An advocate for natural diamonds, she collaborates with jewelry houses and sits on industry panels, shaping conversations on education, cultural relevance, and the future of fine jewelry.
GRANT MOBLEY @THEGRANTMOBLEY
Grant is the Jewelry & Watch Editor for the Natural Diamond Council. With 18 years in the industry, he has worked in manufacturing, diamond sightholding, and grew up in his family’s retail jewelry business. A GIA grad and recognized diamond expert, he’s featured across major media and reaches 210K+ on Instagram.
Influencers’ Choice
AGATA JANKOWIAK @BLINGSISCOM
The founder and EIC of blingsis.com has 10+ years of industry experience. With an MA in sculpture, she is a jewelry stylist and specialist in PR, social media, diamonds, pearls, and colored stones. Known for her distinctive voice and expressive approach to jewelry, Agata collaborates with luxury jewelry brands and is a speaker at global jewelry events.
SEVERINE FERRARI @ENGAGEMENT101
Severine is the founder and editor-in-chief of Engagement 101, a digital platform that celebrates couples planning their commitment and the jewelers crafting the symbols of their love.
Diamonds
Diamonds
WINNER
Lab-Grown
ALL PRICE POINTS
FINALIST
Influencers’ Choice WINNER Editors’ Choice WINNER
ANYE DESIGNS
WINNER ANGARA
FINALIST
ALAMEA HAWAII
Best Ring
OVER $30,000
FINALIST RAHAMINOV DIAMONDS
FINALIST NEON GEMS Influencers’ Choice WINNER
Meet The Designer Behind Mergin
Mehragin Rahmati, founder of Mergin, is a Dubai-based jewelry designer who began her career in 2011. Her background in painting, graphic design, and clinical psychology informs her work, which blends artistic expression with emotional depth. She creates distinctive, story-driven pieces and has earned 22 international awards for her jewelry designs.
What’s the inspiration behind your designs?
I am interested in creating pieces that are more than wearable objects; jewelry with a story that’s emotional, rooted in psychology, or reflects a social idea. My designs invite people to think, feel, and ask questions.
Tell us about your latest collection.
Once Upon a Time is a storytelling collection centered on the concept of love. One ring inspired by Beauty and the Beast, which holds deep personal meaning for me. It features a heart protected by a cover, inspired by the rose that is enclosed and preserved. It conveys a message of love, loyalty, and the importance of protecting it.
What pieces are you most proud of?
The Spring Dance necklace was inspired by a ballerina who, after a period of deep despair, rediscovers hope and returns to dance—symbolizing renewal and emotional strength. The design can be worn in six different ways. This combination of storytelling, concept, and functionality defines my work.
Another piece I value is my multifunctional Queen of Lake ring. Inspired by Monet’s paintings and unique perception of color— partly shaped by a vision condition—the design symbolizes transforming weakness into strength. It can be worn as a brooch, pendant, or ring.
What are your goals for the next year?
To create a bridge between painting and jewelry design. Throughout my work, I have drawn from psychology and graphic design, and painting will play a significant role next. Combining these disciplines is part of my long-term vision, allowing me to express ideas across artistic mediums.
Best piece of advice you ever received: Believe in yourself. It is never too late to begin. Always move forward and compare yourself only to who you were yesterday.
instagram: @mergin_co
website: mergin-co.com
email: brjewelry2@gmail.com
Beauty and the Beast ring, winner of multiple awards at Milan Jewelry Week 2025 and Best Ring Design in JCK’s 2026 Jewelers’ Choice Awards.
Queen of Lake ring: Silver A’ Design Award recipient.
Spring Dance necklace: Platinum A’ Design and JMA Award-winner.
Best Ring
$2,501–$6,000
FINALIST CROWNRING
WINNER BRILLIANT EARTH
$2,500 & UNDER
FINALIST SHY CREATION
FINALIST GABRIEL & CO.
Platinum
FINALIST YAEL DESIGNS
MARISA PERRY
WINNER GABRIEL & CO. UNEEK JEWELRY Influencers’ Choice
This company index is published as a convenience and not as part of the Jewelers’ Choice Awards contract. Every care has been taken to index companies correctly. No allowance will be made for errors due to spelling, incorrect page numbers, or failure to insert or include information.
