You’ve got to hand it to JCK’s readers: They know a good ring when they see it.
For the third straight year, that style has nabbed top honors in our retailer-voted Jewelers’ Choice Awards. In 2014, it was a sweet morganite cocktail ring by Yael Designs. In 2015, a luminous Lightning Ridge opal ring from Omi Privé. And this year, the grand-prize winner is Rahaminov Diamonds’ dazzling Rosé ring.
Varied as they are, each of those rings has had one thing in common: an indisputably stunning center stone. “The diamond dictates the design,” says Rahaminov owner-designer Tamara Rahaminov Goldfiner. In this case, it’s a 2.32 ct. natural fancy pink VVS1 GIA oval diamond, which went on the wheel “several times,” she explains, “to maximize its beauty, shape, color, and clarity.” Trust us when we tell you the gem generated enough sparkle to stop traffic. (Don’t worry, Tamara—we didn’t actually take it outside into traffic.)
Of course, there’s plenty of sparkle coming from all of our honorees—47 winners in 20 categories (including one timely addition for 2016: Lab-Grown Diamond and/or Gemstone Jewelry). Which should be more than enough to throw yourself one blinding ring party.
BEST BRIDAL DESIGN
Under $2,500
14k white gold and diamond split shank engagement ring; $2,320 (center stone not included); Gabriel & Co., NYC; 800-886-5422; gabrielny.com
$2,501–$5,000
Lori collection halo engagement ring with 0.33 ct. t.w. diamonds and signature filigree and milgrain edging; $3,050 (center stone not included); Kirk Kara, Northridge, Calif.; 800-874-0181; kirkkara.com
$5,001–$10,000
Split-shank halo pavé three-stone L’Amour Crisscut engagement ring with 1.65 cts. t.w. diamonds in 18k white gold; $8,200 (center stone included); Christopher Designs, NYC; 800-955-0970; christopherdesigns.com
Over $10,000
L’Amour Crisscut diamond engagement ring (2.38 cts. t.w.) set in 18k white gold; $11,950 (center stone included); Christopher Designs, NYC; 800-955-0970; christopherdesigns.com
BEST BRACELET DESIGN
Under $2,500
Monaco bangle in 18k rose gold–plated sterling silver with pavé-set white CZ; $750; Belle Étoile, Emeryville, Calif.; 415-626-9223; belleetoilejewelry.com
$2,501–$10,000
Scalloped filigree cuff bracelet in matte- and hammer-finished 14k yellow gold with 0.14 ct. t.w. bezel-set diamonds; $4,750; I. Reiss, Great Neck, N.Y.; 516-482-7900; ireiss.com
Over $10,000
18k rose gold cuff with 2.51 cts. t.w. marquise- and round-shape brilliant-cut diamonds; $18,700; Merida, Houston; 713-396-6956; meridadiamonds.com
BEST EARRING DESIGN
Under $2,500
14k white gold diamond drop earrings; $1,230; Gabriel & Co., NYC; 800-886-5422; gabrielny.com
$2,501–$10,000
18k yellow gold earrings with 13 cts. t.w. deep aqua black opal cabochons, a 1.45 ct. tanzanite, a 1.4 ct. tsavorite, and 0.85 ct. t.w. round white diamonds; $9,600; Terry Snider Jewelry, Los Angeles; 855-766-4368; terrysniderjewelry.com
Over $10,000
Convertible earrings with 7.02 cts. t.w. diamond melee, round brilliant and marquise mint tourmaline, and two pear-shape London blue topazes; $32,000; Laurence Bruyninckx, Chicago; 800-344-6605; lx-antwerp.com
BEST NECKLACE DESIGN
Under $2,500
14k white gold Serpent’s Egg pendant with a 15.5 ct. blue topaz and 0.24 ct. t.w. white diamonds; $1,540; Zeghani, Glendale, Calif.; 818-500-4173; zeghani.com
$2,501–$10,000
14k rose gold pendant with a 42.51 ct. red rutilated quartz, 1.5 ct. rubellite pink tourmaline, and 0.35 ct. t.w. diamonds; $5,500; Frank Reubel Designs, South Daytona, Fla.; 386-761-6945
Over $10,000
18k white gold diamond choker; $12,320; Gabriel & Co., NYC; 800-886-5422; gabrielny.com
BEST RING DESIGN
Under $2,500
Wave ring in 14k rose gold with 0.5 ct. t.w. white diamonds; $1,300; Shy Creation, Los Angeles; 213-623-8900; shycreation.com
$2,501–$10,000
18k yellow gold Living Heirloom ring with a 16 mm Tahitian pearl and 1.62 cts. t.w. diamonds; $4,045; Maui Divers Jewelry, Honolulu; 800-253-6016; mauidivers.com
Over $10,000
Daydream ring set with a 5.15 ct. center oval Paraiba tourmaline, 0.52 ct. t.w. heated round blue diamonds, and 0.84 ct. t.w. round white diamonds in hand-engraved 18k white gold; $33,695; Dallas Prince Designs, Los Angeles; 310-625-0200; dallasprincedesigns.com
PEARL JEWELRY
Under $2,500
14k rose gold ring with a 10.5 mm chocolate pearl, 0.2 ct. t.w. white diamonds, and 0.33 ct. t.w. dark cocoa diamonds; $2,495; Frank Reubel Designs, South Daytona, Fla.; 386-761-6945
$2,501–$10,000
Sea collection red gold and lavender pearl ring with high-polish finish and round brilliant diamond frame; $6,980; Jorge Adeler, Great Falls, Va.; 877-915-8967; jorgeadeler.com
Over $10,000
Masterpiece collection necklace with 10 mm–13 mm radiant orchid freshwater pearls and blue Tahitian pearls, 8.45 cts. t.w. diamonds, 8.01 cts. t.w. sapphires, and 3.99 cts. t.w. amethysts in 18k black gold; $77,000; Yoko London, London; 44-207-589-1564; yokolondon.com
GOLD JEWELRY
Under $2,500
Leaf motif ring in 18k yellow gold with 0.19 ct. t.w. diamonds; $1,500; Jye’s International Inc., San Francisco; 415-621-8880; jyescorp.com
Over $2,500
Handmade 18k gold necklace; $10,500; Thyreos Vassiliki, Athens, Greece; 30-210-323-1701; thyreosvassiliki.com
DIAMOND JEWELRY
Under $2,500
Graduating emerald-cut fashion ring with tapered baguettes in 14k rose gold; $1,935; Asher, NYC; 800-726-0706; asherjewelry.com
$2,501–$10,000
18k white gold pendant with a 12 mm Tahitian pearl and 1.68 cts. t.w. diamonds; $7,795; Maui Divers Jewelry, Honolulu; 800-253-6016; mauidivers.com
Over $10,000
Cuff in 18k rose gold with 2.51 cts. t.w. marquise- and round-shape brilliant-cut colorless diamonds; $18,700; Merida, Houston; 713-396-6956; meridadiamonds.com
COLORED DIAMOND JEWELRY
Under $2,500
Swirl ring with 1.25 cts. t.w. brown and white diamonds in 14k rose gold; $2,250; Asher, NYC; 800-726-0706; asherjewelry.com
$2,501–$10,000
Elongated ring with 1.5 cts. t.w. blue and white diamonds micro-pavé set in 14k rose gold; $3,495; Asher, NYC; 800-726-0706; asherjewelry.com
Over $10,000 (Grand Prize Winner)
Ring with a 2.32 ct. fancy pink oval diamond surrounded by 0.79 ct. t.w. half-halos and trapezoid diamonds in platinum and 18k rose gold; price on request; Rahaminov Diamonds, Los Angeles; 800-742-8864; rahaminov.com
COLORED STONE JEWELRY
Under $2,500
Handmade 14k rose gold ring with a 1.91 ct. bicolor tourmaline center and 0.24 ct. t.w. brilliant round diamonds; $2,340; Majolie Collections, Los Angeles; 213-489-1000; majoliecollections.com
$2,501–$10,000
18k white and rose gold pendant with a 24.88 ct. pear-shape morganite and 0.41 ct. t.w. diamond scrolls; $9,175; Parade Design, Monrovia, Calif.; 213-627-4019; paradedesign.com
Over $10,000
Freeform 10.67 ct. Australian black opal in 18k yellow gold mounting; $18,000; Parlé Jewelry Designs, Pocatello, Idaho; 800-635-9800; parlegems.com
PLATINUM JEWELRY
Under $10,000
Platinum Art Deco–style ruby and diamond ring; $5,975; Michael Schofield & Co., Clear Creek, Ind.; 800-637-4361; michaelschofield.com
MIXED METAL JEWELRY
Under $1,000
Unisex textured and lightly antiqued sterling silver band with yellow, white, and rose gold hand-hammered floating spinner rings; $550; David Tishbi, Pacific Palisades, Calif.; 877-384-7424; davidtishbi.com
Over $1,000
Platinum square band with handmade Damascus steel inlays and channel-set diamonds; $10,707; Lashbrook, Draper, Utah; 888-252-7388; lashbrookdesigns.com
SILVER JEWELRY
Under $500
Sterling silver wave pendant with CZ and larimar; $250; Alamea Hawaii, Honolulu; 808-922-5333; hawaiiangem.com
$501–$1,000
Isadora cuff in sterling silver; $695; Thistle & Bee, NYC; 212-594-0418; thistleandbee.net
Over $1,000
14k yellow gold and sterling silver bracelet with 0.08 ct. t.w. diamonds; $2,000; Vahan Jewelry, Port Chester, N.Y.; 800-365-6101; vahanjewelry.com
PERSONALIZED JEWELRY (Beads, Charms, Messaging, Inspirational)
Under $1,000
Three-stone branch family necklace mounting in 14k yellow gold, shown with diamond, peridot, and blue sapphire; $375 (stones not included); Stuller, Lafayette, La.; 800-877-7777; stuller.com
Over $1,000
Ladies’ 14k white gold inscribed wedding band with 0.28 ct. t.w. round diamonds; $2,379; Malo Creations, Laval, Quebec; 450-682-6561; malobands.com
BEST PRICE POINT
Under $500
Hand-hammered drop earrings in sterling silver and 14k gold; $326; Ed Levin Jewelry, Cambridge, N.Y.; 800-828-1122; edlevinjewelry.com
$501–$1,000
Reina collection bangle in hand-strung brown Italian rubber with white CZ set in 18k rose gold–plated sterling silver; $550; Belle Étoile, Emeryville, Calif.; 415-626-9223; belleetoilejewelry.com
TANZANITE JEWELRY
Under $10,000
Pendant in 18k white gold with a 2.95 ct. tanzanite and round brilliant diamonds; $6,435; Parlé Jewelry Designs, Pocatello, Idaho; 800-635-9800; parlegems.com
Over $10,000
Vogue ring in 18k black gold with a 3.33 ct. marquise-cut tanzanite center, 1.34 cts. t.w. trillion-cut green tourmaline sides, and 0.59 ct. t.w. ideal-cut diamonds; $10,467; Yael Designs, San Francisco; 415-989-9235; yaeldesigns.com
MEN’S JEWELRY
Over $1,000
Platinum band with black Elysium inlay and eternity-set diamonds; $6,868; Lashbrook, Draper, Utah; 888-252-7388; lashbrookdesigns.com
CONTEMPORARY METAL JEWELRY
Under $2,500
Modern black zirconium ring with rose gold and black diamonds; $1,578; Lashbrook, Draper, Utah; 888-252-7388; lashbrookdesigns.com
FASHION/BRIDGE JEWELRY
Under $500
Handmade Lisbon cuff with 22k gold leaf; $328; Évocateur, Norwalk, Conn.; 203-820-8786; evocateurstyle.com
Over $500
Legato bracelet in hand-strung brown Italian rubber with white CZ set in 18k rose gold–plated sterling silver; $795; Belle Étoile, Emeryville, Calif.; 415-626-9223; belleetoilejewelry.com
LAB-GROWN DIAMOND AND/OR GEMSTONE JEWELRY
Under $2,500
14k yellow gold pendant with 4.71 cts. t.w. created padparadscha and 0.14 ct. t.w. naturally mined diamond accents; $1,995; Chatham, San Marcos, Calif.; 800-222-2002; chatham.com
Top: Photograph by Tom Corbett, Styling by Catherine Peridis
Market Editor: Jennifer Heebner. Makeup by Alexis Williams for The Brooks Agency. Hair by Monae Everett. Manicure by Angela Marinescu. Dress by Cynthia Rowley. Threader earrings in 18k white gold with pierced diamonds; $1,900; Aero Diamonds, NYC; 212-616-7661; aerodiamonds.com
2016 GRAND PRIZE WINNER
Ring with a 2.32 ct. fancy pink oval diamond surrounded by 0.79 ct. t.w. half-halos and trapezoid diamonds in platinum and 18k rose gold; price on request; Rahaminov Diamonds, Los Angeles; 800-742-8864; rahaminov.com