Awards Process

We're accepting nominations for the 24th annual GEM Awards through August 13, 2025. As the fine jewelry and watch industry’s premier awards gala, the GEM Awards recognizes the outstanding achievements of individuals and companies whose work raises the visibility and status of fine jewelry and watches. Those who receive GEM Awards have achieved excellence in their field.

All submissions must be self-nominated. The GEM Awards Committee wants to hear from designers, editors and retailers directly.

The GEM Awards Nominations Process

You may submit yourself for consideration in the GEM Awards categories below through July 30, 2025. All submissions will be judged for their body of work from September 1, 2024 – present.

• The GEM Awards Committee reviews the qualified individuals and companies that are submitted to determine three GEM Award Nominees in each category.
• Jewelers of America celebrates and promotes the three selected nominees in each category prior to the GEM Awards gala.
• After a confidential judging period by industry experts, the winners are revealed live at the GEM Awards ceremony on March 13, 2026.

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GEM Award for Jewelry Design

The GEM Award for Jewelry Design is awarded to an individual, not a brand, for excellence in jewelry design. The jewelry designer must have an extraordinary design aesthetic and create jewelry that shapes the future of design.
Submit a Jewelry Design Nominee

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GEM Award for Media Excellence

The GEM Award for Media Excellence is awarded to an individual, not a publication, for their excellence in covering fine jewelry and watches. The award may be given to editors, freelance writers, content creators and broadcast personalities who cover jewelry or watches.
Submit a Media Excellence Nominee

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GEM Award for Retail Innovation

The GEM Award for Retail Innovation is awarded to a jewelry retailer, online or brick-and-mortar, who specializes in selling fine jewelry and/or watches and uses innovative strategies to create positive change to how jewelry and/or watches are sold.
SUBMIT A RETAIL INNOVATION NOMINEE

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GEM Awards winners are determined by a panel of industry experts and influencers. The judging process is completely confidential: the panel reviews the nominees' submissions and submits ballots anonymously to an independent firm that calculates the winners, keeping results confidential until the gala.

2018 GEM Awards Judges

• Sarin Bachmann
  LUXURY Events – Reed Jewelry Group
  
• Hyla Bauer
• Ryan Berg
  Lee Michaels Fine Jewelry
• David Bouffard
  Signet Jewelers
• Marc Bridge
  Ben Bridge Jeweler
• Sam Broekema
  InStyle 
• Gannon Brousseau
  The Jewelry Group - Emerald Expositions
• Kristina Buckley
  Van Cleef & Arpels
• Cathy Calhoun
  Calhoun Jewelers
• Caryl Capeci
  Hearts On Fire
• Coleman Clark
  B.C. Clark, Inc.
• Denise De Luca
  David Webb
• Maria Doulton
  The Jewellery Editor
• Grace Fuller
  W
• Rachel Garrahan
• Grace Givens
  Vogue
• Victoria Gomelsky
  JCK
• Karen Goracke
  Borsheims
• Cheryl Kremkow
  GemObsessed.com
• Greg Kwiat
  Kwiat
• Jenny Luker
  Platinum Guild International
• Norman Miller
• Sally Morrison
  The Pool
• Marie Helene Morrow
  Reinhold Jewelers
• Roberta Naas
  ATimelyPerspective.com
• Jill Newman
  Robb Report
• Marta Nowakowski
  Saks Fifth Avenue
• Russell Pagliughi
  Atelier Swarovski
• Larry Pelzel
  Neiman Marcus
• Michelle Peranteau
  Harry Winston
• Katerina Perez
  KaterinaPerez.com
• Michael Pollak
  Hyde Park Jewelers
• Nancy Robey
  The Nancy Robey Partnership, Inc.
• Jim Rosenheim
  Tiny Jewel Box
• Kara Ross
  Kara Ross NY
• Ippolita Rostagno
  Ippolita
• Trace Shelton
  InDesign
• Lucia Silvestri
  Bulgari
• Temple St. Clair
  Temple St. Clair
• Olivier Stip
  CHANEL
• Cathy Tivol
  Tivol
• Candy Udell
  London Jewelers
• Stephen Webster
  Stephen Webster