Free opportunity to win awards, cash-prizes and exposure
Antwerp, Belgium (July 27, 2020) — The International Gemological Institute (IGI) is calling upon the world’s creatives to step forward and contribute. The 2020 IGI JEWEL Jewelry Design Contest invites jewelers, artists, teachers, students and fans alike to submit design-concepts in four categories by August 20. Participation is free of charge and open to anyone, whether professional or not.
IGI’s international panel of prestigious judges for this event include Stephen Webster, David Gotlib, Paola De Luca, Alexandre Corrot, Mauro Vegliante, Maria Laura La Mantia, Philip Sajet and invited art-jurist Ms. Wang Jin Yuan of Fosun. This special jury will evaluate thematic submissions from perspectives of creativity, use of materials, budget/cost, feasibility of production and wearability.
The contest theme, “Collision and Fusion,” has dual meaning. Implying crystal collision in gemstone growth and stylistic cultural fusion, it also reflects the collision of our shared global experience and the fusion of human adaptation during these unprecedented times.
Up to 30 finalists will be selected to advance to the fabrication stage. Underwritten by IGI and event partner House of Jewelry Creation, every finalist will enjoy seeing his or her creative design vision brought to life by a manufacturer.
Each finalist will receive a Contest Excellence Award trophy, certificate, introduction to the media and a chance to receive support from jewelry brands towards further development. All finalist designs will receive exposure on a physical tour of various trade events and expositions, along with online promotion through a series of professional channels.
The Special Jury will select one Contest Grand Champion and two Silver Medalists. These winners will all receive cash prizes and scholarships toward coursework in one of IGI’s International Schools of Gemology. The Special Jury will issue four additional Outstanding Design Awards, one for each contest category. Those recipients will also receive cash prizes and scholarships toward IGI coursework.
“In the history of the jewelry industry, every collision and fusion of civilizations can produce a classic era” explained IGI CEO Roland Lorie. “For example, the Art Deco era 100 years ago, the Craft and Arts Movement about the same time, etc. The current world is undergoing unprecedented changes and fusion. Far better than 100 years ago, we hope to fully inspire designers with a global perspective and hope to give birth to the classics of our current time.”
Read about our contest timeline, eligibility criteria and other information or send us an inquiry to jewelry.contest@igi.org.
About IGI
The International Gemological Institute (IGI) operates 18 laboratory locations around the world grading finished jewelry, natural diamonds, lab-grown diamonds and gemstones – and 14 schools of gemology graduating thousands of new jewelry professionals annually. For over 45 years, IGI has provided the fine jewelry community and consumers with a broad range of services including independent diamond grading reports, colored stone reports, identification and appraisal reports, diamond authentication and attestation of origin, laser inscription services, as well as the issuing of the traditional jewelry identification report. Regardless of location or marketplace, an authentic IGI Laboratory Report is the common language of trust and confidence in the gemological world.