INHORGENTA AWARD 2026 – Industry barometer and stage for excellence
INHORGENTA Munich is one of Europe’s most important trade fairs for jewelry, watches, and gemstones—a place where trends and market movements become visible, design trends emerge, and international networks are cultivated.
Within this framework, the INHORGENTA AWARD has become one of the industry’s most prestigious awards. It serves as a barometer for quality, innovative strength, and craftsmanship excellence—and sets standards that extend far beyond the industry itself.
Last Saturday, the winners of the ninth INHORGENTA Awards were honored in front of around 500 invited guests at Bavaria Film Studios. Nazan Eckes hosted the evening, accompanied by music from LOI.
With 148 submissions from 19 countries, the 2026 award set a new record – a clear sign of its relevance and international appeal.
TV presenter Nazan Eckes hosted the evening, while singer LOI provided emotional highlights with a live performance.
“Year after year, the INHORGENTA AWARD demonstrates the innovative strength and craftsmanship that characterize the jewelry, watch, and gemstone industry. This year’s award winners combine an understanding of materials, technical precision, and creative vision at the highest level,” said Stefan Rummel, CEO of Messe München.
The 2026 winners at a glance
A total of ten awards were presented. Nine prizes were determined by an international jury of experts, while the “Luxury Watch of the Year | Public Choice” award was decided by the public after a preliminary selection by a jury of experts.
- Gemstone Design of the Year: Arnoldi International – Bicolor Imperial Topaz
- Fine Jewelry of the Year: Capolavoro – “Grace 1991” ring
- High Jewelry of the Year: Krisonia Alta Gioielleria – White gold necklace with sapphires and diamonds
- Designer of the Year: Johannes Hundt – “Untitled” pendant
- Design Newcomer of the Year: Georg Schiller – “Affinity Bracelet”
- Mechanical Watch of the Year: Tutima Glashütte – “PATRIA in Titanium”
- Watch Design of the Year: Accutron by Bulova – “26A211 Spaceview 314 Tuning Fork”
- Luxury Watch of the Year | Public Choice: Glashütte Original – “PanoMaticLunar”
- Goldsmith of the Year: Ruth Sellack
- Jeweler of the Year: Jeweler Müller
The winners of the Inhorgenta Award 2026:
Gemstone Design of the Year
In this category, the focus is on the gemstone itself: cut, proportions, light transmission, and material quality.
Winner: Arnoldi International
Fine Jewelry of the Year
The award recognizes jewelry that combines elegant, timeless design with high-quality materials and craftsmanship.
Winner: Capolavoro
High Jewelry of the Year
With a retail price starting at €30,000, this category recognizes exceptional creations that meet the highest standards of craftsmanship.
Krisonia High Jewelry
Designer of the Year
This category honors individuals and brands whose creative signature has shaped the industry. The focus is on unique design languages, a confident approach to materials and proportions, and the ability to combine contemporary influences with craftsmanship.
Winner: Johannes Hundt
Design Newcomer of the Year
The award recognizes up-and-coming talents who impress with fresh ideas, technical precision, and a clear vision.
Winner: Georg Schiller
Mechanical Watch of the Year
The focus is on mechanical timepieces that impress with their masterful construction, sophisticated finishing, and technical sophistication.
Tutima Glashütte
Watch Design of the Year
The award recognizes watches in which design, function, and technology form a harmonious whole.
Winner: Accutron by Bulova
Luxury Watch of the Year | Public Choice
In cooperation with WirtschaftsWoche magazine, readers selected their favorites from a selection of luxury watches in the price range of €5,000 to €75,000. A separate jury of experts had previously selected 14 models that impressed with their high watchmaking quality and design.
The top three in the reader vote are from:
Winner: Glashütte Original
Goldsmiths of the Year
In cooperation with the trade magazine GZ Goldschmiede Zeitung, this award recognizes companies that combine individual craftsmanship, design quality, and personal consultation at the highest level.
Winner: Ruth Sellack (Stuttgart)
Jeweler of the Year
Also in collaboration with GZ Goldschmiede Zeitung, this category honors jewelers who set standards with outstanding advice and a compelling overall concept.
Müller Jewelers (Kempten)
Jury with international expertise
The finalists were selected by an international jury of experts from the jewelry, watch, retail, and gemstone industries. This year’s jury members include:
Gisbert L. Brunner (watch expert & author), Leo Eberlin (jewelry designer, Leo Mathild), Anja Heiden (member of the management board at Wempe), Joern F. Kengelbach – (editor at large at swisswatches & editorial adviser at WirtschaftsWoche), Patrik Muff (jewelry designer), Daniel Nyfeler (Managing Director, Gübelin Gem Lab), Katerina Perez (Founder & Editor-in-Chief) Christoph Stelzer (Retail Specialist, Dfrost), Stephen Webster (Jewelry Designer)
Jury Luxury Watch of the Year | Public Choice: Gisbert L. Brunner (Uhrenkosmos.com), Robert-Jan Broer (Fratellowatches.com), Frank Geelen (Monochrome-Watches.com), Kristian Haagen (Kristianhaagen.com), Joern F. Kengelbach (WirtschaftsWoche), Pierre-André Schmitt (Bilanz), and Zurab Zazashvili (Swisswatches-Magazine.com).
