From the November 2021 issue of #thisispearl digital magazine

New York City & Westlake Village, Calif. Two pearl jewelry powerhouses—Assael of New York City and Rosa Van Parys of the eponymous design firm in Westlake Village, Calif.—are the proud recipients of two awards apiece from the 2021 Couture Design Awards. Exhibitors at the Couture jewelry show, which took place this year Aug. 24–26 at the Wynn Las Vegas, are entitled to enter one piece into the annual competition. CPAA member exhibitors at the show earned the following accolades. Pieces were judged on design, craftsmanship, and salability, and the judging panel was a who’s who of the jewelry editorial, retailer, and designer world.

Assael took the top Design Award for Best in Pearls and the People’s Choice Award for its Winter Branches earrings in platinum with 7.5–9 mm silver-blue cultured akoya pearls, 14.3–18 mm silver-blue cultured baroque South Sea pearls, and G-color, VS-quality oval briolette and round diamonds. The earrings retail for $116,000.

Rosa Van Parys took second place for both Best in Pearls and Best in Debuting brands at the fair for her Trinity Pearl Dagger Pendant on the Rebel necklace in 18k yellow, white, and black gold with a 15 mm golden cultured South Sea pearl, a 13.5 mm cultured Tahitian pearl, a 12 mm cultured white South Sea pearl on an ombre strand of cultured white South Sea and Tahitian pearls with diamonds. The retail price is $60,657.

Congratulations to both brands!

https://thecoutureshow.com/show/design-awards/

https://assael.com/

http://rosavanparys.com/

David Norman of Aquarian Pearls & CPAA’s Jennifer Heebner

Sydney & New York City. Aquarian Pearls’ David Norman recently interviewed CPAA executive director Jennifer Heebner in his YouTube video series Pearls of Wisdom. Norman queried Heebner on her journalism background, love of pearls, and more. Click the video to watch.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h9bUoM1HNT8