ColumnistsMar 31, 2026
Q1 Clues That Reveal Where Your Jewelry Store’s Sales Are Heading These customer behavior patterns say a lot about how successful your jewelry store is going to be this year, Emmanuel Raheb writes.
Events & AwardsAug 05, 2020
IGI Is Holding a Jewelry Design Contest And It’s Free to Enter
A panel of industry judges will choose the winner of the “2020 Jewel” competition.
New York—The International Gemological Institute is accepting entries for a new jewelry design competition.
The 2020 Jewel Jewelry Design Contest invites both new and experienced jewelers, students, teachers, artists or jewelry lovers to submit a color drawing for a proposed jewelry design in one of four categories: Diamond, Colored Stones, Gold, and Creative Materials.
The design doesn’t need to be manufactured, but makers should estimate the retail cost of their proposed piece to be $3,000 or less.
Submissions are due by Aug. 20 on the IGI website. It is free to enter.
Judges will evaluate submissions on creativity, how the material was used, cost, feasibility of production and wearability.
IGI will announce a maximum of 30 competition finalists on Sept. 1. It will produce the designs in partnership with House of Jewelry Creation.
Winners of the 2020 IGI Jewel Jewelry Design Contest will be announced at a live awards ceremony scheduled to take place in Shanghai on Nov. 25, pending any pandemic-related restrictions, with finalists and their guests invited to attend.
The awards ceremony also will be broadcast globally.
The contest will crown one champion, who will be awarded a $1,140 cash prize; two silver medalists, who will win $570 each; and four “Outstanding Design” winners, who will receive a cash prize of $285 each.
All winners will also receive scholarships toward coursework at one of IGI’s International Schools of Gemology.
The panel of judges includes designer Stephen Webster and trend forecaster Paola De Luca.
The other judges are: David Gotlib, Alexandre Corrot, Mauro Vegliante, Maria Laura La Mantia, Philip Sajet and Wang Jin Yuan, chairperson of the Fosun Art Center.
The competition has an overarching theme, “Collision and Fusion.”
In a press release, IGI explained the theme encourages submitting designers to embrace duality in their work, whether stylistically or culturally.
CEO Roland Lorie said: “In our industry’s history, every collision and fusion of civilizations made way for new classical eras. With the new IGI Jewel Jewelry Design Contest, we hope to empower participants to approach design with a global perspective and make room for the next period of influential jewelry.”
IGI said winning contestants also would receive exposure in a number of arenas, including future trade shows.
The contest is happening in part to support emerging design voices during a time of global uncertainty, which is why IGI is not charging a competition entry fee and is funding manufacture of finalists’ designs, it said.
Full submission requirements are
provided online.
More on Events & Awards
The Latest
CollectionsMar 31, 2026
Mejuri Adds Silver to ‘Puzzle’ CollectionMejuri’s popular collection of 18-karat yellow gold vermeil rings debuted in sterling silver alongside new “Puzzle” slider charms.
CollectionsMar 31, 2026
Buddha Mama, Ashley Longshore to Host Pop-Up in DallasThe Miami-based jewelry brand and the NYC-based artist will be in Dallas from April 9-11.
Brought to you by
Protect Your Customers and Your BusinessYou deserve to know what you are selling–to protect your customers as well as your business and your reputation.
SourcingMar 31, 2026
NDC Designates April 8 as 'World Diamond Day'The initiative invites those in the industry to share stories on social media highlighting the meaning and impact of natural diamonds.
Weekly QuizMar 26, 2026
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
SourcingMar 31, 2026
GIA VP Jillian Wolk to Take Over at Tracr Wolk’s first day on the job as CEO of Tracr, De Beers Group’s blockchain platform, will be May 1.
EditorsMar 30, 2026
Tom Moses Looks Back on His Decades at GIA Moses, who will leave the lab in May after nearly 50 years, discusses his start in the business, gemstones that stand out, and what’s next.
Brought to you by
Is This You? Every Jeweler Has This Problem; We Have the Solution.Every jeweler faces the same challenge: helping customers protect what they love. Here’s the solution designed for today’s jewelry business.
TrendsMar 30, 2026
Oscar Heyman Debuts First Spring CatalogThe new catalog, which showcases 35 one-of-a-kind pieces of jewelry, is a compliment to the company’s popular holiday catalog.
SourcingMar 30, 2026
Rio Tinto Hauls Last Load from DiavikProduction has ceased at the Canadian diamond mine, which has yielded more than 150 million carats of rough diamonds in its 23-year run.
MajorsMar 30, 2026
Tanishq Opens First New England LocationThe store opening marks the 10th United States location for the India-based jewelry retailer.
MajorsMar 27, 2026
Saks Global Has Changed Its Mind About Closing These 3 StoresTwo Saks Fifth Avenue locations, one in Florida and one in California, and one Neiman Marcus store are off the chopping block.
IndependentsMar 27, 2026
Jimmy West, Longtime LJG Executive Director, Dies at 72West, who started in the art department at the Leading Jewelers Guild in 1979, is remembered for his patience, kindness, and dedication.
CollectionsMar 27, 2026
Itä’s ‘Yarí Whirl’ Ring Tells Every Side of the StoryIn the “Tesoro” version of the ring, our Piece of the Week, each side of the gold hexagonal nugget has a unique colored gemstone design.
WatchesMar 26, 2026
Q&A: Citizen Watch America President Jeffrey Cohen on Eco-Drive’s 50th AnniversaryCohen discusses the evolution of Citizen’s light-powered technology, the brand’s cross-generational appeal, and tariffs.
IndependentsMar 26, 2026
Peter Smith Pens Book on Human Behavior in Sales“Essentially Human: On Sales and Salespeople" reveals the underlying human traits and behaviors of the most successful sales professionals.
CollectionsMar 26, 2026
Lionheart Celebrates 13 Years of ‘Cassandane’The collection features symbols of love, luck, and light, based on the story of Queen Cassandane and Cyrus the Great of Persia.
SourcingMar 25, 2026
Rob Bates Steps Down as JCK News Director After 28 years with JCK, the veteran industry journalist is launching his own publication on Substack called The Jewelry Wire.
GradingMar 25, 2026
New York’s Natural History Museum, Wiley To Build Minerals DatabaseWiley said the project will give scientists worldwide access to the American Museum of Natural’s History renowned mineral collection.
CollectionsMar 25, 2026
Boochier Turns Flower Friendship Bracelets Into Fine JewelryThe “Flower Puff” collection looks to beaded flower friendship bracelets from childhood, turning the silhouette into nostalgic fine jewelry.
Policies & IssuesMar 25, 2026
Community for Ethical Jewelry to Host Bench Jeweler Shortage WebinarSet for April 2, the webinar will discuss how the jewelry industry can address the workforce gap.
IndependentsMar 24, 2026
Lisa Bayer, Illustrator and Beloved Member of the Muse Family, Dies at 64Bayer, founder of Lisa Bayer Designs, is remembered as “a bright light in every room.”
AuctionsMar 24, 2026
White Diamonds Shine In Christie's Jewels Online SaleThe highest-grossing lot was a Tiffany & Co. ring set with a flawless, emerald-cut diamond of 10 carats.
SourcingMar 24, 2026
AGTA Solidifies Tucson Dates For 2027-2029The next three editions of AGTA GemFair Tucson will feature a five-day show that includes Sunday.
WatchesMar 24, 2026
Christie’s Names New Senior Specialist, WatchesFormer Sotheby’s executive Tom Heap has taken on the London-based role.
CrimeMar 23, 2026
NYPD Looking for 3 Jewelry Store Robbery SuspectsThe group of women allegedly robbed two Catbird stores and one Gorjana location on the afternoon of March 9.
FinancialsMar 23, 2026
Movado’s Q4 Sales Rise As Demand Grows From Younger Shoppers, WomenMovado CEO Efraim Grinberg noted continued strength in the fashion watch and accessible luxury segments in the U.S.
