Key takeaways
• COUTURE 2026 is introducing a new partnership with Time to Watches, bringing nearly twenty independent watchmakers and luxury timepiece brands to the primary ballroom.
• The event will feature an expanded lineup of COUTUREtalks and live podcast recordings covering global market trends, bridal design, and the community impact of diamonds.
• New social and charitable initiatives include the COUTURE After Dark networking event and a goal to raise $25,000 for the Ticket to Dream Foundation in partnership with Jewelers for Children.
(NEW YORK, NY)—In its demonstrated commitment to addressing the evolving needs of its community, COUTURE is announcing several thoughtful adjustments to the 2026 program intended to bring the greatest value to the businesses it serves. Newly formed partnerships, an exciting lineup of thought leadership sessions, and refinements to the evening schedule of events are being introduced to promote relationship building and foster the conversations that are shaping the future of the designer fine jewelry and luxury timepiece landscape.
As a direct result of a first-of-its-kind partnership with Time to Watches, the 2026 COUTURE show floor will welcome a curated selection of luxury timepieces and independent watchmakers. Close to twenty brands will join COUTURE’s long-standing watch exhibitors for the first time, bringing fresh energy to the event’s primary ballroom, Cristal, and introducing Time to Watches’ distinctive perspective on contemporary watchmaking to the COUTURE audience. The most influential U.S. retailers will be in attendance, creating a highly focused environment for meaningful business and strategic connections.
On Friday morning, May 29, at 8 am, COUTUREtalks will kick off with the founder of Trendvision, Paola de Luca, who will host a vibrant session entitled Decoding “Convergences” in the Global Jewelry Market, and then on Friday afternoon, De Beers is sponsoring a Live Podcast Recording on the subject of “New Voices in Bridal.” Featuring some of the most talked-about voices in contemporary bridal design, including Nicole Carosella of Sorellina, David Farrugia of Uniform Object, and Hiba Husayni from ZAHN-Z, as well as expert insight from Sally Morrison of De Beers, the discussion will be captured for an episode of the COUTURE Podcast.
On Saturday morning, the COUTUREtalks stage will be graced by Botswana’s Minister of Minerals & Energy, Bogolo Joy Kenewendo, in conversation with fifth-generation diamontaire and long-time COUTURE designer, Jade Trau, to discuss the impact diamonds are having on local communities. Finally, on Sunday morning, May 31, industry giant Stuller will discuss the value of personalization and share how their trusted production support can turn inspiration into beautifully realized pieces.
The evenings will also offer ample opportunities to forge meaningful relationships and share experiences. Instead of the event’s annual Party by the Pool on Thursday night, COUTURE is taking over the Intrigue nightclub for its first COUTURE After Dark, the latest edition to COUTURE’s roster of networking events. Kicking off at 9 pm, the later start to the evening allows designers and retailers to go out to dinner together before reuniting as a group for cocktails and dessert. The evening will be punctuated with personalized aura readings to help everyone interpret their COUTURE vibes and a roaming magician to keep the energy high.
Saturday’s Design Awards Event at the Encore Theater will be even more meaningful than ever before. This year’s Cindy Edelstein Award will serve as a reminder of the 10th anniversary of Cindy’s untimely passing, and the first-ever Jan Mohr Award for Excellence will be presented to a member of COUTURE’s retail community who embodies Jan’s many admirable qualities. Cindy’s daughter, Remy, will be in attendance at the event, and Jan’s daughter, Madelyn, will take the stage to pick up the reins of Jan’s famous role as the “Vanna White” of the evening.
COUTURE is also proud to partner with Jewlers for Children (JFC) in a more meaningful way than ever before. To raise $25,000 during the Design Awards and throughout the event, COUTURE will be raising awareness of JFC’s partner, Ticket to Dream Foundation, which is dedicated to giving hope and opportunities to foster kids nationwide.
Lastly, COUTURE is excited to welcome this year’s third cohort of mentees from its Designer Mentorship program, Belonging @ COUTURE, to the show. These seven talents, the Iridescence by COUTURE, will be showcasing their work in salon 634 in the show’s primary ballroom, Cristal.
More details will be finalized in the coming days, and a full schedule of events will be released on the “Events” page of the COUTURE website, linked here. For more information, please visit www.theCOUTUREshow.com. For image and/or interview requests, contact Michelle Orman at Michelle@LastWordComm.com.
