THE INSTORE DESIGN AWARDS 2019 – Winners Announced!

Published

7 years ago

May 9, 2019

Jewelry design is the lifeblood of our industry, and those on its forefront are constantly challenging the status quo, pushing boundaries in creativity and wowing jewelry lovers with their skill and passion. These are the creators we seek to honor with the INSTORE Design Awards.

For 2019, we expanded our categories from eight to 25, allowing designers more freedom to enter the best category for each piece. And we received more than 171 entries as a result. In order to determine the best of the best, we recruited a judges panel composed of nine retailers, all of whose businesses carry multiple designer lines, to vote on their favorite jewelry in a “blind voting” process. We also opened voting to all North American jewelry retailers online at instoremag.com, where more than 9,300 votes were cast to decide the “Retailer’s Choice” winner in each category.

And finally, as we have since our competition began, we recognize one up-and-coming designer who embodies the inventive spirit so long encouraged by our former colleague Cindy Edelstein, who passed away in 2016.

Now, turn the page and see the very best that our industry has to offer. Who knows, maybe you’ll find your next hot-selling line right here in this story!

The 2019 INSTORE Design Awards Grand Prize Winner

The Cindy Edelstein Memorial Emerging Designer Award

Best Diamond Jewelry
(Under $10,000)

Best Diamond Jewelry
(Over $10,000)

Best Colored Stone Jewelry
(Under $10,000)

Best Colored Stone Jewelry
(Over $10,000)

Best Pearl Jewelry
(Under $5,000)

Best Pearl Jewelry
(Over $5,000)

Best Gold Jewelry
(Under $5,000)

Best Gold Jewelry
(Over $5,000)

Best Silver Jewelry
(Under $1,000)

Best Silver Jewelry
(Over $1,000)

Alternative Materials

Best Platinum Jewelry

Best Engagement and Wedding Jewelry
(Under $5,000)

Best Engagement and Wedding Jewelry
(Over $5,000)

Best Ring
(Under $5,000)

Best Ring
(Over $5,000)

Best Necklaces
(Under $5,000)

Best Necklaces
(Over $5,000)

Best Bracelet
(Under $5,000)

Best Bracelet
(Over $5,000)

Best Earring
(Under $5,000)

Best Earring
(Over $5,000)

Best Men’s Jewelry

Best Statement Piece

Best Colored Diamond Jewelry

THE JUDGES

THE INSTORE DESIGN AWARDS 2019 – Winners Announced!

Honoring a Legacy: How Smith & Son Jewelers Exceeded Every Goal With Wilkerson

When Andrew Smith decided to close the Springfield, Massachusetts location of Smith & Son Jewelers, the decision came down to family. His father was retiring after 72 years in the business, and Andrew wanted to spend more time with his children and soon-to-arrive grandchildren. For this fourth-generation jeweler whose great-grandfather founded the company in 1918, closing the 107-year-old Springfield location required the right partner. Smith chose Wilkerson, and the experience exceeded expectations from start to finish. "Everything they told me was 100% true," Smith says. "The ease and use of all their tools was wonderful." The consultants' knowledge and expertise proved invaluable. Smith and his father set their own financial goal, but Wilkerson proposed three more ambitious targets. "We thought we would never make it," Smith explains. "We were dead wrong. We hit our first goal, second goal and third goal. It was amazing." Smith's recommendation is emphatic: "I would never be able to do what they did by myself."