Hosted by the Queensland Boulder Opal Association, the awards took place in July at the annual Opal Festival in Winton, Queensland.
Angela Hampton of Hampton Fine Jewellery & Design in Queensland’s Redland Bay was the night’s big winner. She took home the Professional Category – Jewellery Design trophy, as well as the People’s Choice Award for her armband ‘Paradise Blue’.
The ocean-inspired piece features Queensland boulder opal, sapphire and tsavorite garnet.
Meanwhile Ayano Nakajima’s brooch/pendant ‘The Milky Way Flies Down From Space’ took out the newly created Open Category – Jewellery Design. This new category focused on objects and jewellery produced using any method, including computer assisted design (CAD).
Nakajima also received a High Commendation in the Professional Category – Jewellery Design for her piece ‘The Melody of a Flute Surrounds the Mesa’. The Japanese jeweller is a boulder opal specialist, having won various awards in the Queen of Gems competition over the last decade.
Young designer Janine Maher, from Western Australia, won the Emerging Category – Jewellery Design for her ring ‘Our Land’.
Lilo Stadler, committee member of the annual awards, said, “Congratulations to all of our entrants for their passion to the Boulder Opal industry, and for once again showcasing and sharing their design ideas with us all.”
First place winners in the Professional Jewellers category received $2,000 in cash, while other categories had a $1,000 prize. Non-Professionals competed for the Vince Evert Bursary, worth $300.
The winners and runners-up
Professional Category – Jewellery Design
Angela Hampton – ‘Paradise Blue’
High Commendation
Ayano Nakajima – ‘The Melody of a Flute Surrounds the Mesa’
Commendation
Stephen Tasic – ‘A Song of Ice and Snow’
Emerging Category – Jewellery Design
Janine Maher – ‘Our Land’
High Commendation
Robyn Carmichael – ‘Beauty Under the Black Skies’
Open Category – Jewellery Design
Ayano Nakajima – ‘The Milky Way Flies Down from Space’
High Commendation
Darrell Bonham – ‘Forked If I Know’
Commendation
Monica Dekleva – ‘Treasure’
Peoples’ Choice Award
Angela Hampton – ‘Paradise Blue’
IMAGE GALLERY
Open Category for Jewellery Design Ayano Nakajima | 
Emerging Category for Jewellery Design Janine Maher |
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Opportunities for opal specialists