Winners of 10 category awards were announced during the ceremony held at the Sydney Exhibition Centre @ Glebe Island, from which the highest honours of Jeweller of the Year and Apprentice/Student of the Year were revealed.
Rhys Turner from MDT Design took out the pinnacle award of Jeweller of the Year for his angular and architecturally inspired piece, Facets of Morality.
Turner won the Coloured Gemstone award earlier in the evening for the platinum and parti sapphire ring that features multiple finishes including sandblast, polish and emery.
He said being recognised among the other jewellers – there were 36 finalists – was a privilege and that he never expected to take the top gong.
“I definitely wasn’t expecting it at all but I’m absolutely stoked,” Turner explained. “To see the people that you’re up against is sort of just mind blowing. I can’t believe that mine got picked out of all of them.”
When commenting on his decision to enter the Coloured Gemstone category, Turner said, ”I work with colourless diamonds a lot so it’s the coloured gemstones that have been standing out to me lately.
“I really wanted to work with Australian sapphire, and I wanted to design a piece that complemented the sapphire – something that wasn’t just about the metal, which is often what people assume jewellers are about.”
Turner was clearly excited about the win, but already had his sights set on entering again in two years time.
“I entered the awards in 2012 and I got a lot out of that. I would definitely love to enter again. I think entering the awards keep pushing you to challenge yourself so I’ll keep on doing it for sure.”
The other major winner was Samantha Kelly from Ian Gardiner Jewellery who was awarded the Apprentice/Student of the Year award for her masquerade mask made of sterling silver and 9-carat rose gold.
Kelly, who also took out the 3rd and 4th Year Apprentice/Student Craftmanship and Design category, said she too was completely surprised at having won.
“I had no idea, I’m shaking,” she explained, adding, “I entered the awards two years ago and I became a finalist but I didn’t win. I just remember looking at my boss and saying I’ll be back in two years time and I’ll be winning.”
The JAA design awards recognise design, innovation, craftsmanship and marketability in the jewellery industry. There were 85 pieces entered in the competition this year, and the winners’ designs will be showcased at the 2015 Hong Kong International Jewellery Show. Turner will also accompany the winning designs at the international fair.
The full list of winners from the biennial 2014 JAA Australasian Jewellery Awards are:
• 1st and 2nd year Apprentice award – Jason Cheetham
• 3rd & 4th year Apprenctice award – Samantha Kelly
• Precious Metal award – Benjamin Hart
• Pearl award – Peter Atkinson
• Coloured Gemstone award – Rhys Turner
• Diamond award – Ben Preston-Black
• CAD/CAM award – Martin Linning
• Men’s Accessories and Jewellery award – Steve Pallas
• Bridal award – Shiree Hobson and Jo Saxelby-Balisky
• Bride to Be Reader’s Choice award – Michelle Kennedy
• Apprentice/Student of the Year – Samantha Kelly
• Jeweller of the Year, runner up – Martin Linning
• Jeweller of the Year, winner – Rhys Turner
Lifetime achievement award
Fred Neuman, who opened his first jewellery store in 1961 and later founded Mondial Pink Diamond Atelier, was also announced as the winner of the inaugural JAA Lifetime Achievement award last night.
The award was introduced to promote excellence in the jewellery industry and according to JAA president Selwyn Brandt, is the highest honour that the association would bestow on one of its members.
Speaking on behalf of Neuman at the ceremony was his son Michael who said, “As a family we’re so proud of Fred. It’s fantastic that he has been recognised in this way because he truly deserves it and is a very humble man who would never ask for anything like this.”
The award will be presented biennially to coincide with the JAA Australasian Jewellery Awards.
A full report of the design award winners will be published in Jeweller’s October issue.
WATCH INTERVIEWS WITH THE WINNERS
WINNERS OF ALL CATEGORIES
See full resolution images of finalists and winners here