Established in 2005 and sponsored by Diamond Guild Australia (DGA), the biennial competition is open to all designers and jewellers working within an Australian retail jewellery business.
All entries must feature natural diamonds and are judged according to criteria across seven categories: solitaire; fancy shape; fancy colour; daily diamonds; gents; red carpet; and emerging talent. There will also be a People’s Choice Award-winner and, for the first time in the competition’s history, an overall Supreme Award-winner.
A panel of five judges working in jewellery and design disciplines was tasked with selecting this year’s finalists and winning pieces. Judges included fashion designer Carla Zampatti; CEO of Good Design Australia and chair of the Australian International Design Awards, Dr Brandon Gien; jewellery photographer David Perryman; editor for Qantas in-flight magazine The Australian Way, Susan Skelly; and jewellery designer John Calleija.
Winners will be announced on 1 December. For the complete showcase of finalists,
click here.
Finalists for 2013
Solitaire
Robert Musson of Musson Jewellers
Peter Atkinson of MDT Design
Joseph Akelian of Raphael Jewellers
Fancy shape
• Robert Musson of Musson Jewellers
• Jason Sallaway of Stephen Dibb Jewellery
• Nadia Neuman/Robert Opat of Mondial
Fancy colour
• Ben Hodges of Hardy Brothers
• Gerard Wollaston of Gerard Wollaston
• Matthew Ely and Steve Der Bedrossian of Pink Kimberley and York Jewellers
Daily diamonds
• Angelique Andronis of Angelo Andronis Designer Jewellery
• Robert Musson of Musson Jewellers
• Jennie Lo Russo of Percy Marks
Gents
• Craig McKim of McKims Jewellery Design
• Steve Pallas of GN Designer Jewellers
• Varoujan Djevahirdjian of Varoujan Jewellers
Red carpet
• Craig Peters of Craig Peters Master Jeweller
• Erin Williams of Solid Gold
• James Ballas of Steven James Jewellers
Emerging talent
• Tia Brookes of MDT Design
• Kirra Lea of Stephen Dibb Jewellery
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