Bebe Bakhshi, founder ofChampagne Gem, returns for her second year as judge ofThe Unique Awards Media Spotlight category. With over 1 million followers on Instagram and a career spanning 15 years, she has established herself as one of the most influential voices in high jewellery.
What began as a personal blog evolved into one of the industry’s most respected platforms, bridging the gap between traditional maisons and digital audiences. Her approach is distinctive: she doesn’t simply document pieces, she translates their presence, weight, and emotion through movement and light.
The Media Spotlight award celebrates jewellery that sparks conversation and creates lasting impressions. For her second year in this role, Bebe brings both continuity and an evolving understanding of what makes jewellerytruly unforgettable.
What makes a jewelry piece worthy of the Media Spotlight award? What will you be looking for as a judge?
For me, it goes beyond size or value. The Media Spotlight award celebrates design that combines exceptional craftsmanship and rare stones with a clear point of view. I’m drawn to pieces that spark conversation, command attention, and stay with you long after you’ve walked away. The ones you don’t just admire in the moment, but remember.
Growing up Persian, you were surrounded by jewelry from childhood. How does Middle Eastern jewelry culture differ from what you see in Western high jewelry?
As Persians, we are born into jewelry. Some of my earliest memories are of my mother’s jewelry box, trying to open it just to sit and stare at the pieces. Today, I don’t see jewelry culture as divided anymore. Beauty is universal. What was once considered bold or region-specific is now embraced globally. If anything, platforms like ours have helped bridge that gap. There is now a shared appreciation for design, craftsmanship, and exceptional stones across continents.
You moved from working in your family business to becoming one of the most influential voices in jewelry. What was the turning point that made you realize you could build Champagne Gem into what it is today?
It happened organically, but there was a defining moment. In 2015, I saw the Blue Moon of Josephine, and I became the first blogger to hold a diamond of that magnitude, a $48 million blue diamond. That moment shifted perception. It signaled that digital voices could have real access and credibility within the high jewelry world. From there, it was about consistency and trust.
Champagne Gem has been sharing jewelry content for eleven years. How do you keep your content feeling fresh and exciting for both yourself and your followers?
It’s been 13 years on Instagram and 15 years of my blog, and I’m still learning every day. I evolve in how I present jewelry, experimenting with movement, light, and occasionally trends when they align with the pieces. But I’m very intentional. I only share what genuinely excites me. The format evolves, the standard does not.
Over the years you’ve collaborated with some of the most prestigious jewelry houses in the world. Is there one brand or one specific piece that truly stole your heart?
It’s like choosing a favourite child, impossible. What stays with me are houses that have consistency in their design language. A strong identity, executed over time, that’s what creates a lasting impression.
With over 1 million followers on Instagram, you’ve mastered the art of making jewelry irresistible on screen. What’s the biggest challenge in translating the sparkle, weight, and emotion of a piece through digital media?
Nothing replaces seeing a piece in person. The scale, the weight, the way light interacts with a stone, those are difficult to capture. My focus is on movement and presence. Not just showing how a piece looks, but conveying how it feels.
Instagram, TikTok, Facebook: each platform has its own language. How do you adapt your jewelry storytelling for different audiences?
Each platform has its own rhythm. Instagram is more curated and visual. TikTok is immediate and dynamic. Facebook is more community-driven. But the foundation remains the same, my voice, my eye, and my standard. Only the delivery changes.
The Unique Show brings together the world’s most exclusive jewelers in Monte-Carlo. For someone who covers jewelry daily, what’s special about attending an event of this caliber?
It’s the level of intimacy and access. You’r not just seeing exceptional pieces, you’re engaging directly with the people behind them. It’s a concentrated moment of the industry at its highest level, all in one place.
The Unique Awards 2026: Witness Jewellery That Commands Attention
The Unique Awards take place duringThe Unique Show | Luxury Monte-Carlo, June 11th to 14th, 2026, at Le Méridien Beach Plaza in Monaco. This year’s Media Spotlight category, judged by Bebe Bakhshi, will recognise jewellery that transcends the moment and creates lasting impact.
Beyond the awards, The Unique Show brings together independent designers and established maisons presentingexceptional high jewelleryin one of the world’s most refined celebrations of the craft. Whether you’re a collector discovering new designers, an industry professional, or simply passionate about jewellery at its finest, this is where you’ll find it.
Register nowto attend The Unique Show and The Unique Awards. Complete the form at thislinkto secure your place and experience jewellery that doesn’t just shine, but resonates💎