MJSA Vision Awards Design Competition

MJSA Announces 

2013 Vision Awards Design Competition

 Adam Neeley Fine Art Jewelry Inc., Laguna Beach, CA  
"Moonlight & Caviar" - 1st Place
Professional Excellence

The 22nd Annual MJSA Vision Awards Competition is now open to receive entries, according to MJSA, the U.S. trade association for jewelry makers, designers, and related suppliers. The awards celebrate outstanding talent in the field of jewelry design.

For 2013, there are seven award categories: Design Excellence; Visionary Technical Solution; Custom Design Distinction, sponsored by TechForm Advanced Casting; Laser Distinction, sponsored by LaserStar Technologies Corp.; Gold Distinction, sponsored by Hoover & Strong; Palladium Distinction, sponsored by the Palladium Alliance; Platinum Distinction, sponsored by Platinum Guild International; and Future of the Industry awards for students, sponsored by the MJSA Education Foundation. Rio Grande is the general sponsor of this year's competition, and Instore and Metalsmith magazines are media sponsors.

Mark Schneider Design, Long Beach, CA

"Manta Ray" Brooch - 2nd Place

Platinum Distinction

MJSA recognizes Vision Award winners through both publicity and advertising in industry publications, which in 2013 will include full-page ads in Instore, Metalsmith, and the association's own MJSA Journal and MJSA Custom Design. Prizes also include gift certificates of up to $500 (courtesy of Rio Grande), cash awards, book libraries, and, for student winners, scholarships of up to $1,000.

In addition, the winning entries will be on display for thousands of buyers and exhibitors during the annual MJSA Expo New York, the largest and oldest trade show in the U.S. dedicated to the design and manufacture of jewelry, which will be held March 10-12, 2013, at the Hilton New York in New York City. An awards ceremony during the show honors the winners with trophies.

For more information about the categories, or to download an entry form, go to Events & Programs at mjsa.org, or call 1-800-444-MJSA (6572).

About MJSA MJSA is the U.S. trade association for jewelry makers, designers, and related suppliers. It provides the resources to achieve professional excellence and maintain a competitive edge. Information, call MJSA at 1-800-444-6572 or visit www.mjsa.org.

CAROLEE Announces Design Competition With FIT Jewelry Design Students

CAROLEE Announces Winners of Year-Long Design Competition With FIT Jewelry Design Students

Fashion jewelry company CAROLEE announced the winners of its year-long jewelry design competition with the Fashion Institute of Technology as part of the company's 40th anniversary celebration.

Under the guidance of the FIT Jewelry Design Department and the professional design team at CAROLEE, students began the design process last September and presented their final designs for judging in the Spring. Students competed in four key categories: Pearls, Metals, Fashion, and Bridal/Social. A fifth "People's Choice" winner was voted online through a Facebook contest.

The winners are...

Palwasha Iqbal in the Fashion category:

Yoonji Choi in the Pearls category: 

Prakshi Sharma in the Social/Bridal category: 

Christine Gonzalez in the Metals category:  

Elyse Spencer as the People's Choice winner:

In addition to winning $1000 apiece, all five winners' jewelry designs have been manufactured by CAROLEE and are making their debut in major US and international department stores in the Fall. The FIT students' winning collections will also be featured extensively in advertising and in top fashion and lifestyle publications in the fall.

The collections will make their official debut at a special event on the first floor at Bloomingdale's 59th Street on September 13th. Students will meet with Bloomingdale’s VIPs, The Breast Cancer Research Foundation, and press, and their pieces will be shown in Bloomingdale's windows for two weeks. For each piece of the FIT winning designs sold, CAROLEE will donate $5 to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation. CAROLEE will also officially announce an ongoing Jewelry Design Scholarship at FIT to support the future development of 21st century jewelry design.

About FIT

FIT - where creativity gets down to business - New York City’s internationally recognized college for design, fashion, art, communications, and business. FIT takes innovation to skyscraper heights. When you enroll at FIT, you join a long line of ambitious, energetic pacesetters. 

Meet Kimmy & Put Your Best Spring Cocktail Ring Forward!

Kimmy's Winning Entry!

Meet Kimberley Cramer AKA UniqueKimmy - Kimmy was the winner of the very first CrowdJewel Design Contest...this collection brings to mind the saying "like a kid in a candy store"!  That is what it must be like everyday for Kimmy!

PB Cups and M&Ms

1. Tell me a little about you and what drew you to Jewelry Design?

: )   well my name is kimberly cramer i am 21 years  old and i have always loved to make jewelry.  i have a picture of me when i was 4 years old beading a neklace. Even when i was little I used to go to my neighbors houses and sell them my creations.

I love selling and customer service and the entire aspect of running a buisness .

2. OK this is the important part!  Where can we find your goods online? 

in my Etsy Shop:   etsy.com/shop/uniquekimmy

3. Are you using Social Media?  do you think it is beneficial? ...and show us your Social links!

i love social media!  i love connecting with customers its the future of networking!

find me on Facebook at:  facebook.com/bakerybling

Gum Balls and Gummy Bears

4. I am personally loving the flash mob feel of CrowdJewels quickie Contests - what are your thoughts?

 I like the contest and i love the rush you get seeing the votes climb higher and higher its like a great sports game...and of course winning feels great!

5. As the "Crowd" Winner - what technique do you feel helps you get the contest out to the largest group of your followers?

i think updating your followers and being connected with people gave me a slight advantage in this contest.  i always make sure to post fun things on Facebook to keep my followers interested. 

Networking is what i love to do and i love to spread the word about Bakery Bling Jewelry.

Check out the beta launch of the CrowdJewel website! After months in the works, the site will host its first contest starting   Monday, March 19, 2012 at 12pm PST. Spring Cocktail Rings Our inaugural challenge on the CrowdJewel site is Spring Cocktail Rings!  Contest Brief CrowdJewelers know how to rock a look and aren't afraid to make a statement. Your task is to translate one of Spring's major color stories or graphic trends--Neons, Pastels, Art Deco, Tribal, Under the Sea--into a bold cocktail ring to die for. We're doing things a little differently from our previous contests held on Facebook. Submissions will last 5 days. After the submission period closes, approved submissions will be open to voting, which lasts 5 days, allowing each designer to have the same amount of time for voting. Submissions will not be available to view or vote on until the submission period closes. Be sure to submit in time! What are you waiting for? Check out the site, create a profile and start submitting!

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Daily Jewel Sponsors Crowd Jewel Competition

Happy Valentine's Day!!!  to some of us it is a day that symbolizes Love and really beautiful feelings...to others it can be a really difficult time....that is what I want this competition to bring to the table.

So this is your challenge...as professionals you know that you want your style and emotion to come through in everything you do.  But, you also want to make something that is lovely that a customer would wear with pride.

BRING IT!  Your theme is "Valentine's Day"!   Contest Opens TODAY!  Deadline for entries is Sunday, Feb. 5th.  See the Crowd Jewel Facebook page for more...

Enter on the Crowd Jewel page on Facebook!  You've heard of "Crowd Sourcing"?  Well at Crowd Jewel one winner is chosen by the "crowd" and one by the Sponsor (this time that is ME!).

...and at the end of the contest I will be featuring the winners right here on my WILDLY ;-)  popular Daily Jewel blog which can bring you both public and Industry interest and we all know it is about getting more eyes on the goods!

I am sitting here in sunny Tucson Arizona at the largest Gem & Jewelry Show in the country and I can't wait to see the submissions and the opportunity to get to know two amazing new Design winners!

About Crowd Jewel
"Our style curators hunted high and low to find the best jewelry designers in the world, and invited them to submit their exclusive designs on Crowd Jewel to compete for your votes.

View the entries, vote for your favorite, and at the end of the competition at 12 PM PST on Sunday, February 5, 2012, a Crowd and Sponsor favorite will be announced. You will then be invited to the limited edition sale of the winning pieces.

Don't forget!! After you vote, be sure to fill out the Crowd Jewel survey to enter yourself for a chance to win your choice of the Crowd or Sponsor favorite. "

Rio Tinto Diamonds Design Competition!

Rio Tinto Diamonds Launches 

Global Design Competition 

Winning designs to be 

showcased at the 2012 Oscars 

Rio Tinto Diamonds has announced the launch of an exciting global design competition aimed at inspiring creativity and innovation across four categories of diamond jewelry design.  These categories reflect the diverse nature of Rio Tinto’s diamonds and its commitment to sustainable jewelry practices. 

According to Rebecca Foerster, Manager of Rio Tinto Diamonds US Representative Office, 

“We are delighted to be announcing this competition at a time when the jewelry industry is hungry for product innovation and design. This competition has a number of unique categories which will provide the opportunity for both new and emerging designers to showcase their craft.” 

The competition is open to entrants from the United States, Canada, Hong Kong, China, India, and Australia, who can submit designs in the following categories: Champagne Diamonds, Silvermist Diamonds, Canadian Diamonds and Sustainable Jewelry.  There are also two levels of entry - “Rising Star” and “Master Craftsman” - and participating designers will have the opportunity to express the unique story of inspiration for their design. 

The design competition closes on October 26, 2011, with judging to take place in New York on November 2, 2011.  The eight winning designs will be chosen by a panel of elite jewelry designers, fashion experts and celebrity stylists. The winning designs will be showcased at a suite at the 2012 Oscars, along with significant media exposure.  

About Rio Tinto Diamonds - Rio Tinto is one of the world’s major diamond producers through its 100 per cent control of the Argyle mine in Australia, 60 per cent of the Diavik mine in Canada, a 78 per cent 

interest in the Murowa mine in Zimbabwe. These three mines allow Rio Tinto to produce diamonds for all market segments.  Rio Tinto also has an advanced diamond project in India.  

Rio Tinto’s share of the production from its three operating mines is sold through its Diamonds Sales and Marketing headquarters office in Antwerp, Belgium with representative offices in Mumbai, Hong Kong and New York.  Rio Tinto Diamonds is a leading supporter of the Kimberley Process as well as a founding member of Responsible Jewellery Council. 

Website:  http://www.riotintodiamonds.com

All photos courtesy of Rio Tinto Diamonds

2011 AGTA Cutting Edge Awards Competition

AGTA Spectrum & Cutting Edge Awards info HERE

AGTA on Facebook

AGTA on Twitter

AGTA on YouTube

Call for Entries - Bench Jewelers Passion Award

The sixth annual Bench Jewelers Passion Award Design Competition will be held in conjunction with the Bench Jewelers Conference June 17-19, 2010 in Atlanta GA.

The entry deadline is fast approaching for the fifth annual Bench Jewelers Passion Award Design Competition.

The Deadline for Entries is May 1, 2010.

The competition is open to all professional Bench Jewelry Artist and Designers actively involved in the design and production of jewelry. The Passion Award Jewelry Design Contest consists of four categories for finished jewelry and CAD renderings.

For details, contest rules, and to enter the competition log onto: http://BenchConference.com/DesignContest

Rio Tinto Design Contest - Winners Announced!

Photo: The Butterfly Drop earrings by Edney, Santa Barbara, Calif., took third place.

Reported by JCKOnline:

Rio Tinto Diamonds announced winners in the four categories of its Champagne Diamond Design Competition. Unveiled in May, the competition tasked entrants to create original champagne diamond jewelry designs in white or yellow gold, featuring stones in a range of sizes, clarities, and colors—from a light champagne color to a deep cognac hue.

...for more see the full story and pictures of the winning entries.

Rio Tinto Diamonds Launches Champagne Diamond Design Competition

Rio Tinto Diamonds Launches Champagne Diamond Design Competition

Rio Tinto Diamonds has launched an exciting new jewelry design contest aimed at demonstrating the beauty of champagne diamonds from which Rio Tinto’s Argyle Diamond Mine is a leading supplier.

The Champagne Diamond Design Competition aims to attract talented new jewelry designers who will be inspired to showcase the full color range of champagne diamonds in new and innovative designs.

Rio Tinto has been marketing champagne diamonds from its Argyle mine since the early 1990’s with the US, the world’s largest consumer market for champagne diamond jewelry. In 2008 Rio Tinto launched a new series of champagne diamond promotional materials focussing on educating retailers, generating consumer interest and developing new distribution channels.

According to Jean-Marc Lieberherr, General manager for the sales and marketing of all diamonds from Rio Tinto’s mines, “The design contest is a natural extension of our market development for champagne diamonds in the US. The argyle mine has fuelled the growth of champagne diamond jewelry around the globe and we are now looking to the next generation of new design talent to inspire retailers and consumers alike.”

The competition comprises four categories with the overall winner receiving the title of “Champagne Visionary”. The four winning designs will form part of a nation-wide gravelling exhibition hosted at leading jewelry retail locations, in time for the holiday season.

As Rebecca Foerster, Manager of the US representative office for Rio Tinto’s Diamonds Sales and Marketing, explains, “The timing is perfect for a design contest because it provides inspiration and new ideas to invigorate our industry. The market is hungry for creativity and the combination of flawless craftsmanship and consumer appeal will set the winners apart.”

The design contest closes on July 1, 2009 with judging by a panel of fashion and jewelry experts in New York City on July 14, 2009.

Story via Diamond News