Centurion Emerging Designers - DEADLINE Sept. 30th

ONLY TWO WEEKS LEFT TO ENTER! Fifth Annual Centurion Emerging Designers Competition Sponsored By Stuller Deadline for Entries: September 30, 2012 Winners Receive Complimentary Exhibit at Centurion Scottsdale 2013                  Merrick, NY--The deadline for Centurion's fifth annual Emerging Designers Competition is less than two weeks away! The competition, sponsored again this year by Stuller, will award three lucky winners a complimentary exhibit at Centurion Scottsdale 2013, to be held in Scottsdale, Arizona, February 2-6, 2012. Deadline for entries is September 30, 2012. "Centurion is very proud to host this competition," said Centurion president/CEO Howard Hauben. "The winning artists embody creative talent and we are delighted to introduce them to the Centurion attendees, the nation's finest jewelers. We are also very pleased to have Stuller as our sponsor again for the 2013 Emerging Designers Competition." Stuller's executive director of marketing and public relations, Ashley Brown, agrees. "Stuller has supported designers, craftsman, and artisans for 42 years, and we are thrilled and honored to sponsor the Centurion 2013 Emerging Designers Competition. Exposing little-known talent to top end buyers is one way the Centurion Show and Stuller seek to provide the jewelry business a foundation for continued success through valuable partnerships. New styles, collaborations and innovations will keep our industry relevant in a competitive consumer landscape."   The competition is open to all designers, regardless of experience, formal training or background in jewelry design, as long as they meet the following criteria: 1) they have never before exhibited in a U.S. fine jewelry trade show; 2) they have the ability to exhibit at a trade fair; and 3) they have the ability to supply high-end retailers should they want to purchase the line. Jamie Cassavoy, pictured below with one of her signature pieces, was a winner in the 2012 competition. She received one of the free exhibition spaces and said, "The experience of winning the Emerging Designer award was nothing short of amazing. The chance to show my work at a show as prestigious as Centurion was incredible. I got really great feedback for a line that is in its first year of production, in addition to receiving orders--which was unexpected and icing on the cake. I also have to say that Howard, the Centurion team as a whole, and the buyers and vendors were all incredibly gracious, supportive and friendly. I wish I could do it all over again!!"     Entry deadline for the 2013 competition is September 30, 2012. For full rules and to participate, click on the PDF link below. The form must be completed and emailed along with three high-resolution images and descriptions (the images may be sent in several emails if more than 3 megs each). Emails should go directly tohh@centurionjewelry.com. Click here to access the rules and entry form, or if you can't access the direct link, copy and paste the URL below into your browser's address window to access the entry form: http://www.centurionjewelry.com/EmergingDesignerAwards.html  Since its 2002 debut, Centurion has become THE annual kick-off show for top-level retail jewelers and their vendors. Centurion not only represents a new industry standard, but also represents a new business model. The Centurion ownership structure is split 50/50 between show management and exhibitors. This format is a winning combination for Centurion attendees, as they remain the focus of both show management and exhibitors to ensure an unparalleled buying experience. Centurion, 1745 Merrick Ave., Ste. 5, Merrick, NY 11566 USA  (516) 377-5909; fax (413) 683-1333  Email: info@centurionjewelry.com

Deadline for the MJSA 21st Annual Vision Awards

Deadline for the 21st Annual MJSA Vision Awards Competition 

coming up on December 15, 2011!

Every year, the association celebrates outstanding talent in the field of jewelry design with our MJSA Vision Awards competition. The winning designers and students represent the future of the jewelry manufacturing industry--and the Vision Awards competition showcases their creativity and boosts their careers.

Julie Buckareff, 2nd Pl. Professional 2011

MJSA ensures the Vision Award winners receive the recognition they deserve by promoting their triumph through the industry's leading publications, which in 2012 will include Instore, Metalsmith, and the association's own MJSA Journal. In addition, their winning entries will be on display for thousands of buyers and exhibitors during the annual MJSA ExpoNew York, the largest and oldest trade show in the U.S. dedicated to the design and manufacture of jewelry, which will be heldMarch 11-13, 2012. Other prizes include gift certificates of up to $500 (courtesy of Rio Grande), cash awards, book libraries, and, for student winners, scholarships up to $1,000.

2012 AWARD CATEGORIES
Design ExcellenceHonors designs that exhibit exceptional creativity, craftsmanship, and marketability.

Visionary Technical SolutionHonors designs in which specific technical challenges--such as combining two non-complementary metals--were overcome to take the piece from concept to completion.

Laser Distinction
Sponsored by LaserStar Technologies Corp.

Recognizes entries in which the design relied upon the use of a laser.
 

Gold Distinction
Sponsored by Hoover & Strong

Recognizes entries that include a minimum of 75% of a karat gold alloy in the design.

Palladium Distinction
Sponsored by Palladium Alliance International

Recognizes entries that include a minimum of 75% of the design metal(s) in 950 palladium.

Platinum Distinction
Sponsored by Platinum Guild International

Recognizes entries that include a minimum of 75% of the design metal(s) in either 90% or 95% platinum. 

Custom Design Distinction

Sponsored by TechForm Advanced Casting

Honors designs that met a client's request for a custom designed piece and the challenges encountered during the design process and how they were overcome.

Future of the Industry Award

Sponsored by MJSA Education Foundation 

Recognizes the work of students in jewelry-related programs who exhibit exceptional design talent and creativity.

Click here to learn more about this year's competition and find out how to enter NOW! Or visit the Career Center at mjsa.org.

Thank you to our 2012 sponsors:

 

General Sponsor:

 

Laser Distinction:

 

Gold Distinction:

 

Palladium Distinction:

 

Platinum Distinction:

 

Custom Design Distinction:

 

Future of the Industry:

 

Media Sponsors:

 

 

DEADLINE June 6th! ...for the 6th Annual Halstead Grant

Just got a great Reminder note from Hilary Scott at Halstead:

"Just a reminder that the submission deadline for The Halstead Grant is June 6^th! This long weekend is the perfect time for new jewelry designers to wrap up their submission packets. Eligibility criteria and application details are at www.HalsteadBead.com/Grant. The winning entrant will receive a $5,000 small business cash grant, $1,000 in supplies and industry recognition. Good luck to all this year’s candidates"

Competition Deadline: June 6, 2011

Halstead Bead Inc is inviting jewelry designers to enter its 6th annual grant competition for new entrepreneurs in the industry. The winner of the 2011 business development grant will receive $6,000 in cash and merchandise as well as other benefits. The award was previously known as The Jewelry Design Business Development Grant; however, it has been renamed in 2011. The award is sponsored by Halstead Bead Inc., a supplier of wholesale jewelry supplies.

Designers utilizing jewelry making techniques such as metalsmithing, lampworking, metal clay, wirework, beading, or casting are eligible to enter the competition. Candidates must be US citizens who began their businesses after January 1, 2008. Their design companies must focus on “bridge jewelry” which is the segment between costume jewelry and fine jewelry. Bridge designs are primarily crafted from sterling silver with semi-precious stones, crystal, glass, pearls and other materials. This segment is also known as “craft jewelry” or “art jewelry.”

Complete application details can be found at http://www.halsteadbead.com/Grant. Candidates are required to submit a design portfolio, resume and answers to several business planning questions. Applications must be received between April 15 and June 6, 2011. The grant website includes several helpful articles on launching a national jewelry business as well as information on past winners and finalists. Previous grant winners include Cowboy’s Sweetheart Jewelry, VOSTENAKstudios, Bridgland Studios, Belle Brooke Designs, and Ananda Khalsa Jewelry.

The Halstead Grant differs from other jewelry industry competitions because of its emphasis on small business skills. Jewelry entrepreneurs applying for the grant must demonstrate not only extraordinary design, but also a strong business strategy. The application experience promotes the small business planning required to make a jewelry brand commercially viable at the national level.

The grant sponsor, Halstead Bead, Inc., is one of North America’s leading jewelry supply wholesalers. The firm was established 38 years ago and now supplies thousands of jewelry designers and manufacturers around the globe. Halstead Bead, Inc. is wholesale only and specializes in jewelry findings, chain, wire & beads for the bridge jewelry segment.