Jewelers of America Names 2027 GEM Awards Nominees in Jewelry Design, Media Excellence and Retail Innovation
NEW YORK, NY — Jewelers of America (JA) and the GEM Awards Committee have announced the nominees for the 2027 GEM Awards in three categories. Winners will be announced live Friday, March 12, 2027, at Cipriani 42nd Street in New York City.
Jewelry Design
Hiba Husayni, ZAHN-Z: Founder and designer of ZAHN-Z, an architect by training who left Syria in 2012 to pursue jewelry design. In 2026 she was a David Yurman GEM Awards Grant finalist and won the Couture Award for Best in Diamonds Below $40K.
Vram Minassian, VRAM: Founder and designer of VRAM, whose pieces are handcrafted by a small team in his Los Angeles studio. His ongoing Continuum collection unfolds across ten installments called “Moments.”
Francesca Villa, Francesca Villa: Founded her eponymous brand in 2007 after serving as creative director of an atelier. Her line combines Italian craftsmanship with vintage finds and is sold through boutiques and department stores internationally.
Media Excellence
Miguel Enamorado: Accessories director of Harper’s Bazaar, overseeing jewelry and accessories coverage.
Caroline Grosso: Editor-in-chief of L’OFFICIEL USA and L’OFFICIEL Hommes since 2022, with nearly two decades in fashion media, including Vanity Fair, Elle and W.
Sonia Esther Soltani: Jewelry writer and former editor-in-chief of Rapaport who hosted the Jewelry Connoisseur podcast. She co-authored “Jewelry Creators: Dynamic Duos and Generational Gems” (2026) and founded The Portrait Cut on Substack.
Retail Innovation
MUSE @ Nordstrom: A partnership that brings independent fine jewelry from MUSE’s West Village store into Nordstrom.
Starboard: A Miami-based cruise-ship retailer with more than 65 years in business, operating across 87 ships and 14 cruise lines and reaching more than 14 million guests annually, according to the company.
The 1916 Company: Operates more than 20 boutiques and Collector’s Lounges in the U.S., Switzerland and Asia, combining Govberg, WatchBox, Radcliffe and Hyde Park Jewelers. It is the majority investor in De Bethune.