The Town & Country 2018 Jewelry Awards
A look back on the year's most notable moments in jewelry.
With its first annual Jewelry Awards, Town & Country recognizes the unparalleled talent at work in the contemporary jewelry world, and excellence in the following categories: Red Carpet Award of the Year, Fashion House High Jewelry of the Year, Collections of the Year, Stones of the Year, Diamonds of the Year, Watches of the Year, Gold Designs of the Year, Pearls of the Year, Rediscovery of the Year, Jewelry Legends of the Year, Philanthropists of the Year, the Green Award for Sustainability, Retail Innovation of the Year, Breakthroughs of the Year, Collaborations of the Year, Jewelry Champions of the Year, Innovators of the Year, and Events of the Year.
THE JUDGING COMMITTEE: Stellene Volandes Editor-in-Chief, T&C; Will Kahn Fashion Market & Accessories Director, T&C; Frank Everett Senior VP, Sales Director, Sotheby's Luxury Division; Lisa Pomerantz Jewelry Collector; Jennifer Tilly Jewelry ollector; Lauren Santo Domingo Co-Founder, Moda Operandi; Marion Fasel Editorial Director of the Adventurine; Rachel Garrahan Jewelry Writer; Cara Barrett Editor at Hodinkee; Lizzie Tisch Jewelry Collector; Kate Young Celebrity Stylist; Claibourne Poindexter Christie's Specialist, Jewelry Instagrammer.
Red Carpet Award: Tiffany & Co.
The one-of-a-kind necklace from the Blue Book Art of the Wild collection that Jessica Biel chose for the Oscars took almost a year to make.
Red Carpet Award: Irene Neuwirth
The tiara and matching earrings worn by Ruth Negga were custom made by L.A.-based Neuwirth from Gemfields rubies.
Red Carpet Award: Nirav Modi
The 103-carat diamond necklace worn by Taraji P. Henson showcased the Indian jeweler’s expertise in procuring rare stones.
Collection of the Year: Bulgari
The 33-piece New York collection marked the triumphant reopening of the Fifth Avenue flagship and the return of some of the house’s most iconic colors and motifs.
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Collection of the Year: Temple St. Clair
The American designer, creator of the wildly imaginative Golden Menagerie collection, became only the third American to have her jewelry in the permanent collection at the Louvre.
Collection of the Year: Silvia Furmanovich
The hand-painted details of the Brazilian designer’s widely lauded India collection created wearable mini-masterpieces.
Fashion House High Jewelry Award: Chanel
The house’s Flying Cloud collection—named after Coco Chanel’s lover’s yacht—expanded Chanel’s palette into rare Afghani lapis.
Fashion House High Jewelry Award: Louis Vuitton
The house underscored its commitment to fine craftsmanship with the High Jewelry workshop at the new Paris Maison and with a series of exclusive rare stone pieces.
Fashion House High Jewelry Award: Dior
Victoire de Castellane has earned adulation with her signature sense of color. This year’s Versailles-inspired pieces proved her imagination equally remarkable.
Stone of the Year: The Assael Pearls
Perfectly matched pearls assembled over 40 years by one Tahitian pearl farmer. They are a testament to the power of nature—and to patience.
Stone of the Year: 4 De Fevereiro Diamond
The 163-carat de Grisogono stone was the largest D flawless ever to be auctioned. It was sold for $33.7 million at Christie’s, a record.
Stone of the Year: Red Spinel (No Heat)
Rare, and sometimes mistaken for ruby, it’s a jewelry secret no more. But an unheated 16-carat Burmese spinel could only come via an expert stone hound like Martin Katz.
Diamond of the Year: Harry Winston
When the “King of Diamonds” comes into possession of a perfect 101-carat stone, what’s next? A 22-piece Legacy collection, all with D-color internally flawless diamonds.
Diamond of the Year: Repossi
Gaia Repossi grew up in the jewelry world but made her particular mark in diamonds. The ear cuff trend that has brought the stone to a new audience? Credit goes to her.
Diamond of the Year: Fernando Jorge
The Brazilian designer’s Brilliant series features his sensual lines, though not his signature colors. It was a worthwhile design risk—Brilliant has already won several awards.
Watch of the year: Cartier Panthere
After decades of passionate requests that Cartier bring the iconic watch of the 1980s back, the Panthère made its return this year. The passion has not abated.
Watch of the Year: Rolex Paul Newman Daytona
The mythic timepiece (2017 model, left; original, right) made history this year, selling for $17.8 million in 12 minutes at Phillips in October.
Watch of the Year: Omega 1957 Trilogy Trio
How to mark the 60th anniversary of the Seamaster, Railmaster, and Speedmaster? Present them to collectors as one.
Gold Design of the Year: David Webb
Webb’s stone-studded animal bracelets can be daunting, but the company has been committed to equally bold yellow gold pieces for decades.
Gold Design of the Year: Michal Kadar
Michal Kadar’s European and North African heritage is evident in the sculptural lines of her collection. Her work has added new dimension and boldly unexpected shapes to design in gold.
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27 Timeless Women's Watches to Wear and Collect
![new york december 14 madeleine albright promotes read my pins at the museum of art and design on december 14, 2009 in new york city photo by andy kropagetty images](https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod/images/gettyimages-94432867-660457594f6f6.jpg?crop=0.667xw:1xh;center,top&resize=360:* "Madeleine Albright Promotes "Read My Pins"")
