Bittar, Reed and Webster among Gem Award nominees

New York--Jewelers of America this week released the names of the nominees for the 13th annual Gem Awards, which recognizes individuals and brands in jewelry design, marketing and communications, and media.

Winners will be announced live during the Gem Awards ceremony, which is scheduled for Jan. 9 at Cipriani 42nd Street in New York City.

Nominees in the design category are:
--Alexis Bittar. Bittar has created three distinct collections so far, and is celebrated for his quality, range and integrity of design, JA said. His pieces have been worn by Lady Gaga and Michelle Obama, for the State of the Union address.
--Stephen Webster. Webster has a distinct style created by a combination of innovative design, attention to detail and the finest materials. He has been creating fine jewelry for about 40 years, taking inspiration from music, fashion, literature, and art.
--Todd Reed. Reed has been designing jewelry for more than 20 years. All of his pieces are handcrafted and finished in 18-karat gold, palladium, platinum, and silver in his Boulder, Colo. studio. Even as his business continues to grow, each piece in his jewelry collection starts with a sketch by the designer.

The three nominees in the marketing and communications category are:
--Forevermark. The De Beers diamond brand benefits from more than 125 years of diamond expertise, JA said. Forevermark diamonds are carefully selected from sources committed to high standards, are delicately crafted by a select group of diamantaires, and are available exclusively in select Forevermark jewelers.
--Shinola. Shinola was founded in 2011 and is based in Detroit, appealing to today’s consumer preference for products made in America.
--Tudor. The Swiss watch brand draws from its rich heritage to offer great quality and style. Registered in 1926 for Hans Wilsdorf, founder of Rolex, the brand re-launched in 2007 with a distinctive personality and a high level of independence in its design, manufacturing and communication.

Nominees in the media excellence category are:
--Claudia Mata. Mata spent seven years at Town & Country, then joined W magazine as the accessories and jewelry director in 2011. In this position, she is responsible for all jewelry and accessories editorial and has a quarterly page in W called “Claudia’s Jewelry Box.”
--Jack Forster. A longtime watch enthusiast, Forster is editor-in-chief of Revolution Magazine USA, was a moderator on enthusiast Internet watch forums and has written about watches for a variety of publications, including Departures,