2023 Platinum at COUTURE
How Platinum is Shaping the Next Generation of Jewelry Designers
Each year, Las Vegas becomes a shining beacon for the finest jewelry designers as it hosts COUTURE—the pinnacle event of fine jewelry and timepiece design. This isn’t just any event; it’s where the world’s crème de la crème of jewelry designers come together to unveil their fabulous creations.
This season was especially riveting. Our Platinum Jewelry team reunited with six renowned alumni from last year’s inaugural COUTURE Platinum Spotlight program and joined forces with ten designers new to this year’s program, all previously celebrated for their yellow gold masterpieces. Together, they crafted an array of exquisite platinum designs that left the audience spellbound. Among these brilliant minds, three designers were recognized at the prestigious COUTURE’s Design Awards, proving once again that platinum is not just a metal—it’s the future of high-fashion jewelry.
Dive deeper as we converse with these industry luminaries, uncovering their passion and reasons for gravitating towards platinum:
- Ten Thousand Things
- Sorellina
- Stephen Webster
- Beck
- Spinelli Kilcollin
- Harwell Godfrey
- Lizzie Mandler
- Suzanne Kalan
- Vram
- Emily P. Wheeler
- ANNA MACCIERI ROSSI
- ONDYN
- Jade Ruzzo
- Jacquie Aiche
- Retrouvaí
- Walters Faith
Ten Thousand Things – Winner of “Best in Editors’ Choice”
Winner of the “Best in Editors’ Choice” by the COUTURE Platinum Spotlight program, Ron Anderson and David Rees brought forth a design that beautifully captured the essence of platinum’s magical luminance. As David beautifully articulated, “I mean platinum is a beast to refine. It’s a really hard metal to polish but it yields the most stunning result. It’s strangely fulfilling when you’re working in platinum. The way the metal shines, and glows and absorbs light… I don’t know how to describe it! It was so fun to see what platinum could do with light. What you get out of platinum… I don’t think you could get out of any metal. It looks magical.”
Sorellina – winner of “Best in Platinum”
Reflecting on their experience designing with platinum in mind Kim Cosella noted, “Working in platinum opened us up to a new color palette. Diamonds always sing in platinum, it really shows their beauty, but there are some other stones that look really lovely in platinum like malaia garnets which is something we used in our very first platinum piece. We love platinum’s color, that it doesn’t tarnish but above all that it’s classic!”
Stephen Webster – finalist of Best in Below $10,000 Retail
In pursuit of the ultimate white, Stephen Webster turns to the unparalleled purity of platinum. “If you think to yourself, I want the perfect white – platinum is going to be that perfect white,” he asserts. “You can have yellow gold, white gold or rose gold, but gold is ultimately yellow and platinum is white.”
On her experience working with platinum Rebecca reflects, “I think platinum can be very modern and no matter what generation receives it – it can still be appreciated in its modern time. The durability of platinum is what makes me so excited about it!
Spinelli Kilcollin, founded by the dynamic husband and wife duo Yves Spinelli and Dwyer Kilcollin, revolutionize fine jewelry with their signature ‘Galaxy’ rings. These iconic pieces, designed for versatile elegance, can be worn stacked or spread across the hand. The duo shares a deep passion for the unique qualities of platinum, stating, “Platinum has a steely sort of warmth to it, and we love the whole “metal feel” of platinum more so than any other metal we work with. We love it!”
On her experience working with platinum Lauren reflects, “Platinum is such an incredible material to work with and an amazing way to showcase beautiful diamonds, but I think platinum is interesting because it’s strong.” Not only that but Lauren was also surprised by the fact that “when you get a nice level of detail into a piece, platinum allows it to really pop!”
In Lizzie’s world of fine jewelry designs, she finds a special place for platinum, noting, “Platinum is really timeless. For the brides that prefer the white aesthetic platinum is a great material.”
Each piece by Suzanne Kalan is a bridge between innovation and timeless elegance, destined to be cherished and passed down through the ages. On working with platinum, Suzanne reflect, “Platinum is more durable, easier to wear – especially for wedding sets and you can create whatever you want with platinum. It’s such a substantial, heavy, safe piece of jewelry. If you are going to spend a good amount of money on a piece of jewelry, I think you should be able to wear it as much as possible. For example, I know that our princess tennis necklace will not break, it is very flexible, and I know it’ll last forever.”
When it comes to setting the standard for white diamonds, Vram turns to the unmatched excellence of platinum. “For white diamonds platinum is the ideal metal,” he reflects. ” If you think about it philosophically, it’s one of those things (metals) that you can build on and its longevity is incredible.”
Emily P. Wheeler crafts jewelry for the bold and the spirited – for women who dare to defy convention and color outside the lines. On her experience creating a striking platinum piece with carved Ebony and diamonds for the COUTURE design competition, Emily shares, ‘I was pumped to use platinum with this piece! It’s a beautiful contrast with the platinum and diamond. I love the fact that it’s a really strong metal. I’m excited for white metal to be back on the scene – I think it makes diamonds pop!’
Anna Maccieri Rossi Jewelry transforms the essence of watchmaking heritage into timeless, handmade masterpieces. Designed in the heart of Italy, each piece reflects Anna’s prestigious background in luxury timepiece design. Speaking on her first experience with platinum, Anna reveals, ‘I discovered that platinum has its own color which is not white, which is not gray. It gave me a nice chance to create something that could be Anna Maccieri Rossi 100%.’
At ONDYN pieces are more than jewelry; they’re an extension of the wearer, draping like a second skin and embodying a kinetic flow. Tara Maria Famiglietti, the visionary behind ONDYN, shares, “I really felt that the platinum lent itself to this concept. The concept is basically diamond mesh, which I call diamond bias – they’re all set on the bias to create this beautiful drape. Pairing the suppleness of a mesh with the durability and strength of platinum seemed to make this beautiful story.”
Reflecting on a year of extraordinary creations, Jade Ruzzo brings to life the unparalleled beauty of platinum in her latest designs. Embracing the opportunity to work with this exceptional metal, Jade remarks, “When I was presented with the opportunity to work with platinum, I just knew it was the way to go! Platinum really showcases the diamonds well and elevates the aesthetic of the design. But beyond that, platinum feels so good on because it is so metal heavy.”
Jacquie Aiche transcends traditional fine jewelry, creating pieces that are not only stunning but deeply personal and sacred. Each hand-selected mineral and crystal is infused with feelings of love and beauty. Reflecting on the unique blend of timeless platinum with the unexpected charm of crystals, Jacquie shares, “Platinum growing up was always used for wedding bands and rings, symbolizing forever. Now, using it in an unconventional way with crystals, and yet retaining that sense of eternity, is amazing! The weight of the ring and the final outcome was just beyond our expectations.”
At Retrouvaí, designed by Kirsty Stone and meticulously handmade in Los Angeles, each piece of fine jewelry is a blend of time-honored techniques and heartfelt stories. Showcasing the double buckle ring and the classic diamond domino necklace for the COUTURE design awards, the perfect harmony of platinum and diamonds is evident. As Randy Molofsky notes, ‘The platinum with the diamonds is just the perfect combination.”
Witness a harmonious blend of bold and refined jewelry, with the reimagined platinum Keynes collection brought to life for the COUTURE Platinum Spotlight program. Crafted in platinum, this collection masterfully blends timeless classic charm with contemporary flair.
- Ten Thousand Things
Ten Thousand Things – Winner of “Best in Editors’ Choice”
Winner of the “Best in Editors’ Choice” by the COUTURE Platinum Spotlight program, Ron Anderson and David Rees brought forth a design that beautifully captured the essence of platinum’s magical luminance. As David beautifully articulated, “I mean platinum is a beast to refine. It’s a really hard metal to polish but it yields the most stunning result. It’s strangely fulfilling when you’re working in platinum. The way the metal shines, and glows and absorbs light… I don’t know how to describe it! It was so fun to see what platinum could do with light. What you get out of platinum… I don’t think you could get out of any metal. It looks magical.”
- Sorellina
Sorellina – winner of “Best in Platinum”
Reflecting on their experience designing with platinum in mind Kim Cosella noted, “Working in platinum opened us up to a new color palette. Diamonds always sing in platinum, it really shows their beauty, but there are some other stones that look really lovely in platinum like malaia garnets which is something we used in our very first platinum piece. We love platinum’s color, that it doesn’t tarnish but above all that it’s classic!”
- Stephen Webster
Stephen Webster – finalist of Best in Below $10,000 Retail
In pursuit of the ultimate white, Stephen Webster turns to the unparalleled purity of platinum. “If you think to yourself, I want the perfect white – platinum is going to be that perfect white,” he asserts. “You can have yellow gold, white gold or rose gold, but gold is ultimately yellow and platinum is white.”
- Beck
On her experience working with platinum Rebecca reflects, “I think platinum can be very modern and no matter what generation receives it – it can still be appreciated in its modern time. The durability of platinum is what makes me so excited about it!
- Spinelli Kilcollin
Spinelli Kilcollin, founded by the dynamic husband and wife duo Yves Spinelli and Dwyer Kilcollin, revolutionize fine jewelry with their signature ‘Galaxy’ rings. These iconic pieces, designed for versatile elegance, can be worn stacked or spread across the hand. The duo shares a deep passion for the unique qualities of platinum, stating, “Platinum has a steely sort of warmth to it, and we love the whole “metal feel” of platinum more so than any other metal we work with. We love it!”
- Harwell Godfrey
On her experience working with platinum Lauren reflects, “Platinum is such an incredible material to work with and an amazing way to showcase beautiful diamonds, but I think platinum is interesting because it’s strong.” Not only that but Lauren was also surprised by the fact that “when you get a nice level of detail into a piece, platinum allows it to really pop!”
- Lizzie Mandler
In Lizzie’s world of fine jewelry designs, she finds a special place for platinum, noting, “Platinum is really timeless. For the brides that prefer the white aesthetic platinum is a great material.”
- Suzanne Kalan
Each piece by Suzanne Kalan is a bridge between innovation and timeless elegance, destined to be cherished and passed down through the ages. On working with platinum, Suzanne reflect, “Platinum is more durable, easier to wear – especially for wedding sets and you can create whatever you want with platinum. It’s such a substantial, heavy, safe piece of jewelry. If you are going to spend a good amount of money on a piece of jewelry, I think you should be able to wear it as much as possible. For example, I know that our princess tennis necklace will not break, it is very flexible, and I know it’ll last forever.”
- Vram
When it comes to setting the standard for white diamonds, Vram turns to the unmatched excellence of platinum. “For white diamonds platinum is the ideal metal,” he reflects. ” If you think about it philosophically, it’s one of those things (metals) that you can build on and its longevity is incredible.”
- Emily P. Wheeler
Emily P. Wheeler crafts jewelry for the bold and the spirited – for women who dare to defy convention and color outside the lines. On her experience creating a striking platinum piece with carved Ebony and diamonds for the COUTURE design competition, Emily shares, ‘I was pumped to use platinum with this piece! It’s a beautiful contrast with the platinum and diamond. I love the fact that it’s a really strong metal. I’m excited for white metal to be back on the scene – I think it makes diamonds pop!’
- ANNA MACCIERI ROSSI
Anna Maccieri Rossi Jewelry transforms the essence of watchmaking heritage into timeless, handmade masterpieces. Designed in the heart of Italy, each piece reflects Anna’s prestigious background in luxury timepiece design. Speaking on her first experience with platinum, Anna reveals, ‘I discovered that platinum has its own color which is not white, which is not gray. It gave me a nice chance to create something that could be Anna Maccieri Rossi 100%.’
- ONDYN
At ONDYN pieces are more than jewelry; they’re an extension of the wearer, draping like a second skin and embodying a kinetic flow. Tara Maria Famiglietti, the visionary behind ONDYN, shares, “I really felt that the platinum lent itself to this concept. The concept is basically diamond mesh, which I call diamond bias – they’re all set on the bias to create this beautiful drape. Pairing the suppleness of a mesh with the durability and strength of platinum seemed to make this beautiful story.”
- Jade Ruzzo
Reflecting on a year of extraordinary creations, Jade Ruzzo brings to life the unparalleled beauty of platinum in her latest designs. Embracing the opportunity to work with this exceptional metal, Jade remarks, “When I was presented with the opportunity to work with platinum, I just knew it was the way to go! Platinum really showcases the diamonds well and elevates the aesthetic of the design. But beyond that, platinum feels so good on because it is so metal heavy.”
- Jacquie Aiche
Jacquie Aiche transcends traditional fine jewelry, creating pieces that are not only stunning but deeply personal and sacred. Each hand-selected mineral and crystal is infused with feelings of love and beauty. Reflecting on the unique blend of timeless platinum with the unexpected charm of crystals, Jacquie shares, “Platinum growing up was always used for wedding bands and rings, symbolizing forever. Now, using it in an unconventional way with crystals, and yet retaining that sense of eternity, is amazing! The weight of the ring and the final outcome was just beyond our expectations.”
- Retrouvaí
At Retrouvaí, designed by Kirsty Stone and meticulously handmade in Los Angeles, each piece of fine jewelry is a blend of time-honored techniques and heartfelt stories. Showcasing the double buckle ring and the classic diamond domino necklace for the COUTURE design awards, the perfect harmony of platinum and diamonds is evident. As Randy Molofsky notes, ‘The platinum with the diamonds is just the perfect combination.”
- Walters Faith
Witness a harmonious blend of bold and refined jewelry, with the reimagined platinum Keynes collection brought to life for the COUTURE Platinum Spotlight program. Crafted in platinum, this collection masterfully blends timeless classic charm with contemporary flair.
