Jewelers of America Names Nine 2027 Gem Awards Nominees
The nominees include independent designers Hiba Husayni, Vram Minassian and Francesca Villa, alongside retail and industry honorees.
Updated on Nov. 10, 2026 in Jewelry
Jewelers of America announced nine nominees for the 2027 Gem Awards on Nov. 9, 2026. Among them are Hiba Husayni, founder and designer of ZAHN-Z, Vram Minassian, founder and designer of Vram, and Francesca Villa, founder and designer of her eponymous brand.
Why it matters
The awards spotlight independent and emerging jewelry designers alongside established industry figures, offering recognition that can shape visibility for smaller brands in the United States market. The announcement also signals the return of the David Yurman Gem Awards Grant, which provides financial and mentoring support to early-stage designers.
The David Yurman Gem Awards Grant offers $50,000 plus mentoring to eligible designers with at least three years in business, and applications close Dec. 2, 2026. A selection committee will narrow entries to five finalists before choosing the winner, who will be introduced at the March 12, 2027 ceremony.
The players
Jewelers of America
Jewelers of America is a trade association representing the American jewelry industry, which administers the Gem Awards and the David Yurman Gem Awards Grant.
Hiba Husayni
Hiba Husayni is the founder and designer of the jewelry brand ZAHN-Z and was a finalist for the inaugural 2026 David Yurman Gem Awards Grant.
Vram Minassian
Vram Minassian is the founder and designer of the jewelry brand Vram, known for sculptural pieces produced from his Los Angeles studio.
Francesca Villa
Francesca Villa is the founder and designer of her eponymous jewelry brand and is among the nominees for the 2027 Gem Awards.
Matt Stuller
Matt Stuller is the founder and executive chairman of Stuller, a major jewelry manufacturing and supply company, and will receive the 2027 Gem Award for Lifetime Achievement.
The details
Jewelers of America announced the nominees on Nov. 9, 2026, and the list spans independent designers, retail concepts and industry leaders. The awards ceremony, the 25th annual Gem Awards, will take place March 12, 2027 at Cipriani 42nd Street in New York City.
Timeline
Nov. 9, 2026: Jewelers of America announces the 2027 Gem Awards nominees.
Dec. 2, 2026: Deadline for David Yurman Gem Awards Grant applications.
March 12, 2027: 25th annual Gem Awards ceremony at Cipriani 42nd Street in New York City.
Culture Shift
The 2027 nominee slate extends the inaugural 2026 David Yurman Gem Awards Grant, which recognized emerging designers like Hiba Husayni, marking a continued push toward independent makers in a traditionally corporate-dominated fine jewelry market. Retail concepts such as Muse @ Nordstrom, which brings independent fine jewelry into department stores through a gallery format, reflect the same shift in how consumers encounter small brands.
Shoppers looking for independent fine jewelry may find the recognized designers, including Husayni, Minassian and Villa, through retail spaces like Muse @ Nordstrom. Designers with at least three years in business who apply by Dec. 2, 2026 may qualify for the grant's $50,000 award and mentoring.
The takeaway
Recognition programs like the Gem Awards and grant can give emerging designers visibility and resources that are otherwise hard to reach in the fine jewelry industry. Designers who meet the three-year eligibility threshold should review the Dec. 2, 2026 application deadline.
What happens next
The five grant finalists will make in-person presentations before the David Yurman Gem Awards Grant winner is named and introduced at the March 12, 2027 ceremony.
Further reading
Explore more on independent designers and trends in the Jewelry section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by JCK.
