In addition to the 17 (!) designers exhibiting in our Design Atelier for the first time, we’re also delighted to welcome several new brands to our main show floor, Cristal. Each of these creative voices share the commonality of perpetuating our community’s reputation for showcasing unique perspectives, innovation and exceptional craftsmanship. From long-established brands to designers at the start of their careers, we’re highlighting here just five newcomers to our community. Welcome!

Boghoissían:

Family-run, Swiss maison, Boghoissían, boasts over 150 years of creativity and exquisite craftsmanship. Originally established by Ovaness Boghossían in 1868 at the center of the Silk Road, the company still benefits from connections made as the family traveled East to West working with the finest merchants in the world. Boghoissían is as coveted today as it has been throughout its storied history, offering innovative pieces that create a beautiful synergy between old world techniques and state-of-the-art manufacturing.

COUTURE: What inspires you the most?

Boghoissían: Our history along the Silk Road exposed us to a wealth of artistic, architectural, and cultural influences, which continue to shape our creative vision today. We are inspired by the dialogue between cultures, particularly the exchange between East and West that defines our heritage.

Additionally, art in all its forms is a constant source of inspiration for us, whether it is architecture, craftsmanship, or the natural beauty of gemstones. Each stone carries its own identity, and we seek to reveal its full potential through design. This balance between heritage, art, and the intrinsic beauty of gems is what inspires us the most.

C: How do you fuel your creativity?

B: Our creativity is deeply rooted in our family history of travel and discovery. For generations, we have journeyed across continents in search of exceptional gemstones and new artistic influences. This spirit of curiosity and openness has shaped the way we create, constantly encouraging us to look beyond traditions, embrace new perspectives, and reinterpret ancient techniques in a contemporary way.

Research and experimentation are central to our process. We are always asking ourselves how we can innovate further, while maintaining a sense of balance and harmony in each piece. Our main goal is to enhance gemstones in the most spectacular way, allow them to shine their brightest with minimal use of gold. To achieve that, we must challenge traditional jewelry codes and push forward the boundaries of craftsmanship.

It is this combination of curiosity, innovation, and respect for the gemstone that allows us to evolve and create pieces that are both timeless and unexpected.

Crisscut: 

Christopher Slowinski founded Christopher Designs in New York City’s Diamond District in 1981 from a humble, 200 square foot space. Discovering the craft almost by accident, he quickly became a go-to resource for complicated manufacturing challenges, leading to a utility patent that fixed design flaws in invisible setting and put his company on the map. Another happy accident resulted in his first patented diamond cut, Crisscut®, which established the aesthetic foundation of the brand and for which the company is now named.

COUTURE: Why COUTURE?

Christopher Slowinski: We made the decision to move over to COUTURE because of the high-end quality experience the event offers. We feel it is a natural move that resonates with our unique brand DNA and commitment to luxury and craftmanship.

CS: Who are we not excited to meet at COUTURE?! There are so many amazing luxury retailers that attend COUTURE that we can’t wait to meet and introduce Crisscut® Diamonds to!

C: What inspires you the most?

CS: I draw inspiration from the beauty in diamonds and gemstones and my desire to maximize this beauty naturally by utilizing my patented cutting techniques.

C: Dream magazine feature?

CS: A sit down with Anna Wintour to collaborate on feature for Vouge would be a dream!  It’s the fashion bible that has brought attention to so many brands and designers, guided by her vison.

Edina Kiss:

A lifelong artist with a deeply seated affinity for fashion and luxury, Edina Kiss has always been drawn to the permanence of fine jewelry. Working in 18k gold, she creates serious jewelry for people who don’t take themselves too seriously, with designs that are intricate yet effortless and showcase the designer’s playful attitude. Each stone incorporated into the work, which includes sapphires, tourmalines and aquamarine, as well as unexpected materials like banded agate, have been hand-selected by the artist herself.

COUTURE: Why COUTURE?

Edina Kiss: COUTURE is the show that I always wanted to attend; it’s like being a little kid and dreaming of being an actor…then the next thing you know you get invited to an audition, then you’re moving onto a movie set! The opportunity to be a part of this amazing community makes me more driven and creative. I’m so excited to exhibit!

C: What inspires you the most? 

EK: My inspiration comes from strange places…

The people I work with, art, nature, childhood memories and dreams.

It’s crazy that sometimes things pop into my head from a very young age that seemed fleeting back then…and now I build a complete collection based upon them.

C: What is your favorite part of the jewelry making process?

EK: I love looking for stones and unusual materials. But my favorite part is when I sit down and start drawing.

Sometimes I grab some clay, and I make a large model so I can see what the piece would look like…it’s easy to see and explain my ideas moving into production.

Futura:

Following decades of leading some of the most revered jewelry houses in the world, founder of Futura jewelry, Bob Donofrio, became aware of the deleterious effects of small scale gold mining on planet and people. Compelled to help, Bob transformed his multi-generational, family atelier into an ethical workshop and launched Futura. Working only with certified ecological gold, the company’s historians and curators draw on history to reinterpret iconic designs through a contemporary lens, and their uncompromising adherence to their ethics showcases the beauty that is possible when one’s stated values are in alignment with one’s actions.

COUTURE: What has surprised you about the jewelry world?

Bob Donofrio: With all of the focus on protecting the planet for our children and grandchildren, I’m surprised the jewelry world hasn’t educated itself about the world-wide threat of mercury emissions emanating from 19 million small scale gold miners.

Instead of buying recycled or repurposed gold, encourage and work with these miners to stop using mercury by buying ethical mercury free mined gold from them. Jewelry manufacturing and sales is the solution to eliminating 40% of these toxic emissions and I’m surprised more members of the community don’t want to be part of giving back to the world.

Why Couture?

BD: Every piece of Futura Jewelry has a history and story to tell and Futura, as a partner of The United Nations, has a mission to lead the jewelry manufacturing industry to a better tomorrow.  What better place to introduce ourselves to both jewelry retailers and jewelry manufactures than COUTURE?

Sara Katherine Jacobson:

New York City born, London-based artist, Sara Katherine Jacobson, expresses her worldview in bold, playful pieces that create a sensory experience for the wearer. Working with precious metals and gemstones in combination with more unconventional materials, her innovative, interactive designs showcase her philosophical approach to the design process. Caged gemstones and comforting objects are intended to establish a dialogue between the object and the body, creating an intimate connection that calms, sooths and grounds.

COUTURE: What inspires you the most?

Sara Katherine Jacobson: I’m most inspired by the relationship between emotion, memory, and touch, and how fine jewelry can create a visual identity for these invisible experiences. Through the movement of vibrant gems, their subtle sound, and contemporary form, each piece becomes a multi-sensory story expressed in stone and metal

I’ve always been fascinated by the Victorian language of symbolism, where gems and precious metals carried hidden meanings that deepen intimacy. I’m drawn to creating pieces that feel uniquely personal yet universally relatable – jewels that offer comfort, protection, and a sense of home through their presence on the body.

C: What is your favorite part of the jewelry-making process?

SKJ: When making jewelry, my favorite part is the moment when story becomes tactile. From working in gold and 3D printing to collaborating with multi-generational jewelers in New York City, I love translating emotional and ideas into compositions of stone, metal, incorporating movement and sound.

The most rewarding aspect refining each detail until the piece communicates exactly what it is meant to hold, transforming narrative into sensation and creating something people can instantly connect with as and make part of their own story.