The biennial Awards celebrate the freeform and undulating Australian opal, in jewellery, carving and sketching, with this year’s edition having 10 prizes across the Open and Non-Professional categories as well as the Christine Roussel Award and the People’s Choice award.
Kavitha Barron, president of the International Opal Jewellery Design Awards Association, said, “The jewellery and carvings were spectacular and of a very high standard. It is quite amazing what can be created with nature’s art.”
Barron also thanked the Awards’ sponsors, who donated rough opal for the carving categories, finished stones for the jewellery categories, and cash prizes and trophies.
The judges of the awards were Gary Coffey, general manager and creative director of Giulians in Sydney, Russell Pearson, goldsmith at Studio Ice in Sydney, and master opal cutter Josef Belicka, who is based in Lightning Ridge and was also on the judging panel for the 2017 edition.
There were some familiar faces among the winners, including: Daniela L’Abbate, who won the Abstract Carving Award again after taking home the prize in 2017; Jennifer Rowlands, who again took out the Jewellery Hand Sketches award; and Miroslav Schulc, who triumphed in the non-professional Day Wear and Evening Wear awards this year after taking home the Designer Wear for Men category two years ago.
Christina Loewe was also recognised in two categories, winning the non-professional Figurative Carving and Abstract Carving awards.
The most recognised piece in 2019 was ‘Marine Magic’ by The Gemstone Trading Company, which took home the Christine Roussel Award and a $2,000 cash prize for the most prestigious opal carving, and the Figurative Carving category.
Justine Buckley’s ‘Imperial Chaos’ won the People’s Choice award, which was voted for by attendees during the festival itself after viewing the award entrants first-hand. Buckley also won the Designer Wear for Men prize for ‘Enchanted Oasis’.
All winners received a trophy donated by True Blue Opals in addition to their prizes.
The winners
Christine Roussel Award – sponsored by Aurora Gems
The Gemstone Trading Company – ‘Marine Magic’
People’s Choice – sponsored by Black Opal Direct
Justine Buckley – ‘Imperial Chaos’
Open Category:
Prestige Professional Jewellery Award – sponsored by Down to Earth Opals
Paloma Sanchez – ‘Medusa’s Sting’
Figurative Carving – sponsored by Designer Miners
The Gemstone Trading Company – ‘Marine Magic’
Abstract Carving – sponsored by Designer Miners
Daniela L’Abbate – ‘Balancing Rocks’
Fantasy Award – sponsored by Lahoud Opals
Mac Art Jewellery – ‘My Steam Punk Fantasy 2’
Designer Wear for Men – sponsored by Sherman Opals
Justine Buckley – ‘Enchanted Oasis’
Jewellery Hand Sketches – sponsored by the White Family
Jennifer Rowlands – ‘Seahorse’
Non-Professional Category:
Figurative Carving – sponsored by Designer Miners
Christina Loewe – ‘Hippi Crocodile’
Abstract Carving – sponsored by Designer Miners
Christina Loewe – ‘Green Vein’
Day Wear – sponsored by the White Family
Miroslav Schulc – ‘Effeminancy’
Evening Wear – sponsored by the White Family
Miroslav Schulc – ‘Starry Starry Night’
2019 IOJDA Winners Gallery
Effeminancy by Miroslav-Schulc | 
Marine Magic by The Gemstone Trading Company |
Imperial Chaos by Justine Buckley | 
Hippi Crocodile by Christina Loewe |
Green Vein by Christina Loewe | 
My Steam Punk Fantasy 2 by Mac Art Jewellery |
More reading:
Opportunities for opal specialists
Aussie contest highlights non-traditional opal jewellery