New York, NY — Jewelers of America (JA), the national trade association for businesses serving the fine jewelry marketplace, has announced the GEM Award nominees in the categories of Jewelry Design, Marketing & Communications, Media Excellence and Watch Excellence. The GEM Award nominees were announced via Facebook Live on September 29, 2016. The winners in these categories will be announced live during the 15th Annual GEM Awards on Friday, January 13, 2017, at Cipriani 42nd Street in New York.

The GEM Awards honors individuals and brands whose work raises the visibility and status of fine jewelry and watches. Each nominee has achieved excellence in their field and awards category. They are:

GEM Award for Jewelry Design Nominees

Arun Bohra

A native of Jaipur, India, Arun Bohraís family has been in the jewelry business since 1841. Arun draws on the rich heritage in own signature line Arunashi. Each Arunashi piece is one-of-a-kind and weaves together art, fantasy, tradition, innovation, drama and subtlety, bringing a fresh voice to an antique craft.

Suzanne Kalan

With over 28 years of experience designing fine jewelry, Suzanne Kalan is renowned for her innovative designs that have created a new meaning for modern and timeless jewelry. Suzanneís award-winning Fireworks and Vitrine collections, showcase her signature use of baguette diamonds, asymmetrical placements and beautiful custom-cut gemstones.

Lucia Silvestri

Lucia Silvestri is Bulgariís Jewellery Creative Director, a lifelong dream position that she realized in June 2013. She began her career in Bulgariís gemmological department when she was just 18 years old. Instantly enamoured by precious stones, she left her biology studies and dedicated all her passion and enthusiasm to a career in gemstones.

GEM Award for Marketing & Communications Nominees

Hearts On Fire®

Hearts On Fire®, The World's Most Perfectly Cut Diamond®, is a luxury diamond jewelry brand celebrated around the world. Recognized for its exclusive diamond cut, Hearts On Fire set a new industry standard for craftsmanship and, today, offers beautiful designer fashion and bridal collections that stand alone in their brilliance.

Kay® Jewelers

The Kaufmann brothers opened the first Kay® Jewelers in 1916, beginning a journey of delivering the perfect gift that has spanned a century. Kay has since grown to be the number one jewelry store in America and is operated by Signet Jewelers Limited, the worldís largest retailer of diamond jewelry.

Monica Rich Kosann

Monica Rich Kosann's fine jewelry collections are rooted in the idea that every woman has a story to tell. Her styles are created as modern heirlooms for a new generation and are offered in the brandís lifestyle shop at Bergdorf Goodman and more than 100 fine jewelry stores.

GEM Award for Media Excellence Nominees

Amanda Alagem

Amanda Alagem is the Executive Accessories Editor of Harperís BAZAAR, overseeing jewelry and watches. Since joining in 2012, she has infused jewelry and watches into the pages ñ dedicating more editorial coverage to the category than any other fashion magazine. Her work celebrates high jewelry and the transformative power of accessories.

Grace Fuller

In just four years since graduating from the University of Miami, Grace Fuller has earned the role of Jewelry Editor at W Magazine. Grace is responsible for all jewelry-related editorial content at W, where she also writes on the subject. Grace was previously an Associate Accessory Editor at Vogue.

Stephen Watson

Stephen Watson has more than 20 yearsí experience covering menswear fashion and luxury timepieces. He is the Contributing Watch Editor for Town & Country, and his watch reporting can be found online at Hearst Digital Media websites including townandcountrymag.com, esquire.com and harpersbazaar.com. Previously, he was Fashion Director of Menís Vogue and Associate Fashion Editor of Vogue.

GEM Award for Watch Excellence Nominees

A. Lange & Söhne

In 1845, Dresden watchmaker Ferdinand Adolph Lange laid the cornerstone of Saxony's precision watchmaking industry. Today, A. Lange & Söhne watches are endowed exclusively with proprietary movements, lavishly decorated and assembled by hand. In only 25 years, A. Lange & Söhne developed 54 manufacture calibres and secured a top-tier position among the worldís finest watch brands.

Jaeger-LeCoultre

Since its founding in 1833, Jaeger-LeCoultre has been delighting connoisseurs of fine watchmaking. Jaeger-LeCoultre artisans are heirs to the inventive spirit of the manufacture founder, Antoine LeCoultre. Their expertise and artistry creates collections that are as surprising as they are sophisticated: Reverso, Master, Rendez-Vous, DuomËtre, Geophysic®, Atmos, Hybris Mechanica® and Hybris Artistica®.

Patek Philippe

Founded in 1839, Patek Philippe is Genevaís oldest independent family-owned watch manufacturer. Patek Philippe pushes watchmaking art through its achievements at the cutting edge of innovation. It has filed over 80 patents, including 20 of major importance to the history of horology, and continues to develop and manufacture only watches that reflect its quest for the exceptional.

The 2017 GEM Awards will also honor Jim Rosenheim, Chairman of Tiny Jewel Box, with the prestigious GEM Award for Lifetime Achievement award. To support the honorees, find tickets, sponsorship and advertising opportunities at www.jewelers.org/gemawards.