The Cultured Pearl Association of America recently announced the winners of its 2012–13 International Pearl Design Contest. The nonprofit association comprising manufacturers, wholesalers, dealers, and suppliers of cultured pearls in the United States has a mission of cultivating awareness and demand for pearls, had entries from 13 different countries this year.
A total of 11 winners were named, and 22 entries were given commendations for high standards of achievement. Judges included Robb Report senior editor Jill Newman; Rachel Jackson, director of fine jewelry for the XO Group Inc.; Jean François Bibet, North American high jewelry manager for Cartier; and yours truly. Winners are as follows:
President’s Trophy: The highest honor—awarded to a design that unanimously captivated judges as the best of the best
Ocean Lullaby ring by Evelyn Huang of Los Angeles
Luster Award: Judged most marketable of all the entries; a design deemed to have the most overall appeal for the retail marketplace
Black Ice Fleurette earrings by Mastoloni of New York City
Designer’s Award: Given to the entry that takes pearls to the far corners of the imagination and beyond
Two winners: Bathing in the Moon necklace by Chi Huynh of Galatea: Jewelry by Artist of San Dimas, Calif. (top); Ying-Yang ring by Jorge Adeler of Adeler Jewelers in Great Falls, Va. (above)
Brilliance Award: For the entry that best illustrates the spectrum of pearl colors in the most beautiful way
Ocean Lullaby by Evelyn Huang of Los Angeles
Orient Award: Given to the entry that would inspire a newfound affinity for cultured pearls
Two winners: X Pearl ring by Geoffrey Middle of Phetchaburi, Thailand (top); Contempo rings by Mark Schneider of Long Beach, Calif. (illustrated above)
Visionary Award: Redefines the iconic pearl strand and shifts the perception of cultured pearls for today’s buyer.
Heart of the Moon ring by Anita Dickey of Dallas
Fashion Award: A fun, fresh, and modern design that looks like it came straight from a Paris runway.
Tahitian Nights by Maggie Davidson of Edmonds, Wash. (Photo not available at press time)
Wedding Day Pearls: Brides and pearls go hand in hand, so entries in this category were tasked with creating a fantasy wedding theme.
Two winners: Medusa earrings by Katey Brunini of K. Brunini Jewels of Solana Beach, Calif. (top); and Embrace by Nuttapon Yongkiettakul of Bangkok (above)
Click here to see who received a Commendation acknowlegements.
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