The Jewellery Design Awards (JDA) recognise both up-and-coming and well-established manufacturing jewellers and watch-making professionals for their creativity, passion and skill.
Winners from across Australia and New Zealand will share in more than $20,000 in prize money and category-specific prizes, with each award sponsored by the industry.
Joshua Zarb, general manager Expertise Events, said, “We are so excited to bring so much content into this year’s show overall. We are so grateful for the generosity from our sponsors to give something back to designers to recognise all the hard work that they have put into their submissions. All monies and/or prizes go to the category winners directly.”
This year sees the Supreme and Fair Visitor Choice categories replaced by the Innovative Timepiece Award.
“This is an area that is still a large part of the overall jewellery industry and we are looking forward to seeing advances in both design and technology in this space,” Zarb explained.
Entries for the 2019 JDA close 30 June, with finalists announced on 1 July.
Entrants will be judged on areas such as relevance to the design theme, intelligent use of materials as well as presentation in a retail environment and commercial viability.
The previous awards, held in 2017, had a record 105 entries across 12 categories. The big winner was Yuji Satomi, who took home the Supreme Award for ‘The Mistress of the Adriatic’, a black opal piece, and the Australian Opal Award for a separate design.
The 2019 JDA will take place on Sunday 25 August on the show floor at the International Jewellery and Watch Fair (IJWF), with exhibitors and visitors able to watch and enjoy a glass of bubbly in celebration of the finalists and winners.
“The JDA format this year on the main exhibition floor will bring people to the show during the day and allow exhibitors to participate at the event along with the designers and sponsors. This is just another way we hope to Unite the Industry at the IJWF this year,” Zarb said.
Categories and sponsors
1st & 2nd year Apprentice/Student
Sponsored by Brinks
3rd & 4th year Apprentice/Student
Sponsored by Brinks
Australian Opal Award
Sponsored by Opals Australia
Bridal Award
Sponsored by Reine Jewels
CAD/CAM/Cast Award
Sponsored by Chemgold
Coloured Gemstone Award
Sponsored by Mark McAskill
Diamond Award
Sponsored by SAMS Group Australia
Men’s Accessories & Jewellery
Sponsored by Peter W Beck
Pearl Award
Sponsored by Ikecho
Precious Metal Award
Sponsored by Pallion
Innovative Timepiece Award
Sponsored by Adina
The IJWF will be held from 24–26 August 2019 at the ICC Exhibition Centre, Sydney.
For more information and entry requirements, visit: jewelleryfair.com.au/2019/jewellery-design-awards.
More reading:
Jewellery design awards confirmed to return to the IJWF 2019
Jewellery industry’s finest talents recognised
2017 Jewellery Design Awards – finalists revealed
New jewellery comp reaches ‘record’ entry levels