Creativity Triumphs at the 2026 COUTURE Design Awards

Jewels that bagged top honours in the Haute Couture category (L–R): Winner: Ashna Mehta; Second prize was awarded to Saboo Fine Jewels; and Third prize went to Austy Lee.

The 2026 edition of the COUTURE Design Awards was a gala celebration of creativity, ingenuity, and the distinct points of view that define the COUTURE community. With awards presented across 12 categories and determined by a distinguished panel of judges, the Editors’ Choice Award selected by attending media, and the People’s Choice finalists chosen by attending retailers, the work of a diverse roster of talent was celebrated before an enthusiastic crowd at the Encore Theater. The evening also paid tribute to two women whose influence has helped shape the guiding principles of COUTURE, the late Cindy Edelstein, a renowned jewellery industry mentor, editor and champion of independent design, and Jan Mohr, COUTURE’s longtime Retailer Liaison.

“Tonight is a very special night. It’s a night where we recognize the best in design, and where we honour the hard work and brilliant creativity of some of the finest designers in the world,” enthused Gannon Brousseau, Executive Vice President and COUTURE Director, when he kicked off the evening. Recognising the 10^th anniversary of Cindy Edelstein’s death and the first ever Jan Mohr Award for Excellence named in honour of COUTURE’s long-time Retailer Liaison, he added, “Tonight is also a celebration of some of the remarkable individuals whose dedication, passion and commitment to our community are held in the highest esteem by their peers.”

Mildred Marcano, Director of Sales and Marketing at Reinhold Jewelers, was presented the Jan Mohr Award for Excellence.

Accepting the award for Best in Bridal was David Farrugia of returning brand, Uniform Object, and Elizabeth “Beth Anne” Bonanno of The Gems Project was presented with the Cindy Edelstein Award.

This year’s judging panel was made up of Carla Carter from G. Marie Luxuries, Corina Madilian from Single Stone, Jon Kaiser of Bloomingdales, Miguel Enamorado from Harper’s Bazaar, and writer Smitha Sadanandan.

Here are the winners in some of the categories.

BEST IN BELOW $10,000 RETAIL