The upcoming JA New York Summer show will feature 10 emerging brands that are either exhibiting for the first time or are still new to the jewelry trade show circuit as part of the show’s New Designer Gallery.
Each brand will be eligible to win the Mort Abelson New Designer of the Year Award, which is voted on by show-goers and bestowed upon the brand that is most popular with the crowd.
While JA New York’s New Designer Gallery was featured in the JA New York spring show for the first time earlier this year (in the past, the gallery only took place at the summer show), the Mort Abelson award is still relegated to the summer edition only.
Last year, Alexis Kletjian took home the coveted honor, which has been bestowed upon a who’s who of contemporary design talent over the years.
Let’s meet this year’s contenders.
Justin Brown Jewelry’s recycled, “ethically mined” 14-karat yellow gold earrings with African moonstone and “reclaimed” diamonds ($2,350 retail)
Justin Brown Jewelry
Designer: Justin A. Brown
Location: Rockland, Massachusetts
Launched: 2015
Retail Price Range: $150 - $3,000
Instagram: @justinbrownjewelry
Beloved NYC’s 18-karat gold locket bracelet with black enamel and black diamonds ($7,400 retail)
Beloved NYC
Designer: Masha Shapiro
Location: New York City
Launched: 2017 at the JA New York summer show
Retail Price Range: $960-$8,000
Instagram: @belovednyc
Sam Woehrmann’s hand-fabricated 22-karat gold, 18-karat gold and sterling silver ring with Montana agate and rubies ($1,000)
Sam Woehrmann
Designer: Sam Woehrmann
Location: San Francisco
Launched: 2011
Retail Price Range: Anywhere from $80 for small silver studs to $6,000 for large, one-of-a-kind pieces; generally in the $400 to $1,000 range
Instagram: @SamWoehrmann
East Fourth Street’s 14-karat recycled yellow gold ring with a diamond ($3,880)
East Fourth StreetDesigner: Susan Crow
Location: Northfield, Minnesota
Launched: 2010
Retail Price Range: $110-$4,800
Instagram: @east_fourth_street
JeweLyrie’s 18-karat gold ring with an oval, rose-cut diamond solitaire and brilliant-cut white diamonds
JeweLyrie
Designer: Huan Wang
Location: Paterson, New Jersey
Launched: 2016
Retail Price Range: $500 for small pendant and studs to $4,000 for wide cigar bands and statement earrings; average price range is $1,000 to $3,000
Instagram: @jewelyrie
Diane Dorsey Designs 18-karat gold cuff with natural color gray diamonds ($3,608)
Diane Dorsey Designs
Designer: Diane Dorsey
Location: Los Olivos, California
Launched: 2015
Retail Price Range: $140-$8,500
Instagram: @dianedorseydesigns
Onirikka’s 18-karat gold earrings with chalcedony, citrine and diamonds ($3,800)
Onirikka Designer: Gloria Rank
Location: El Salvador and New York City
Launch: 2013
Retail Price Range: $475 to $15,000
Instagram: @onirikkajewelry
Moratorium’s 14-karat gold pendant with pavé diamonds ($7,878)
Moratorium
Designer: Jeanette Lai Thomas
Location: New York City
Launched: 2011
Retail Price Range: $1,400 to $14,500 and up
Instagram: @moratorium.nyc
Loriann Jewelry’s 14-karat rose gold earrings with moonstone, tanzanite and diamonds ($2,100)
Loriann Jewelry
Designer: Lori Friedman
Location: Westport, Connecticut
Launched: 2016
Retail Price Range: $800-$5,000
Instagram: @loriannjewelry
Erin DeLuca Jewelry’s hand-pierced 18-karat gold ring with a diamond ($2,275)
Erin DeLuca Jewelry
Designer: Erin DeLuca
Location: Redding, Connecticut
Launched: 2011
Retail Price Range: $70-$6,000
Instagram: @erindelucajewelry
