Armenian Designer Secures Second Couture Prize

RAPAPORT… Designer Mike Saatji of Mike Joseph Jewellery won the
Couture prize for high-end diamond jewelry on Sunday in Las Vegas — his second award in the competition to date.


The Armenian-born jeweler received the Best in
Diamonds Above $20,000 accolade at the Couture Design Awards. A total of 15
awards were presented at the ceremony, which took place during the Couture luxury jewelry design exhibition at the JCK Las Vegas fair.


Saatji (pictured) received his first Couture honor in 2015 in the Gold Jewelry Below $20,000
category.

Meanwhile, Paul Schneider — the owner of Twist in Portland, Oregon — received the Cindy Edelstein Award, named for the jewelry consultant and author
who died in 2016. Several Couture designers, as well as Schneider’s daughter
Sasha, presented the prize in a video.


The rest of the winners are:


The People’s Choice:
Julez Bryant


The Editor’s Choice:
Fernando Jorge


Best in Debuting:
Vram


Best in Men’s:
Shamballa Jewels


Best in Haute Couture:
Nikos Koulis


Best in Diamonds Above $20,000:
Mike Joseph


Best in Diamonds Below $20,000:
Studio Reves


Best in Gold:
Carolina Bucci


Best in Colored Gemstones Above $20,000:
Amrapali Jewels


Best in Colored Gemstones Below $20,000:
Ark


Best in Silver:
Heather B. Moore


Best in Bridal:
Eva Fehren


Best in Platinum:
Kuwayama


Best in Innovative:
Stephen Webster


Best in Pearls:
Autore