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Industry News: PGI, MJSA Call For Design Competition Entries; Free Rooms For Diamond Buyers, More February 25, 2014 (0 comments)
PGI-USA Calls For Entries For Fifth Anniversary Of Platinum Innovation Awards
New York, NY—Platinum Guild International (PGI USA), in conjunction with JCK Las Vegas, announces the call for entries for the JCK 2014 Platinum Innovation Awards, now in its fifth year. The deadline to submit design information and images is April 10. The live platinum product is due to PGI’s offices by April 25.
To celebrate the fifth anniversary of the competition, the American Gem Trade Association will sponsor the Platinum and Colored Gemstone category open to AGTA members only. Additionally, to commemorate the anniversary, PGI USA is introducing a new design challenge category, where designers are encouraged to design one platinum piece inspired by the traditional five-year anniversary gift of wood. The category offers designers the opportunity to express their individuality and creativity by exploring the theme however they see fit.
The awards will be presented June 1, during the JCK Show (May 30 through June 1 at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas). Exhibitors from JCK, as well as the LUXURY, Elite Enclave and AGTA Shows are welcome to participate.
The full list of competition categories includes:
- Fifth Anniversary Platinum Innovation Awards Challenge
- Platinum Engagement Ring
- Entry Platinum Engagement Ring (settings under $2500 retail)
- Platinum Wedding Band
- Platinum Men’s Jewelry
- Everyday Platinum Fashion Jewelry (women’s)
- Platinum Red Carpet Jewelry
- AGTA Platinum and Colored Gemstone Jewelry
Entrants may submit one design per category and automatically become “nominees” upon submission. All supplied photos will be featured on PGI USA’s press website. Each category will have two awards, one Editor’s Choice and one Buyer’s Choice Award. One special Best in Show award will go to the design that receives the highest cumulative number of votes. The 2013 Best In Show winner, a ring from Sylvie Designs that also is featured in PGI's Nina Garcia's Platinum Picks gallery, is shown at top of page.
Judging will begin on May 6 at an exclusive Editor Preview event in New York City. Editor’s choices will not be revealed until after the buyers have voted at the shows. Winners in each of the eight categories will be announced June 1, and will receive a generous promotional benefits package.
Entrants for the Platinum Innovation Awards can log on to the site here for guidelines, FAQs, and to submit, and additional questions may be directed to Amanda Tropila, atropila@pgiglobal.com, or (212) 404-1605.
MJSA Calls for Entries to its 2014 Vision Awards
Attleboro Falls, MA—MJSA, the association for jewelry makers and designers, is calling for entries to the 2014 MJSA Vision Awards. The deadline for submissions is later this year—April 17—and the contest winners will be celebrated at the 2015 MJSA Expo New York. Also new this year are awards for the use of CAD/CAM technology and digital marketing expertise.
Some of today’s most well known jewelry artists, such as Todd Reed, Mark Schneider, Pamela Froman, Julia Behrends, Adam Neeley, and Gregoré Morin, are past MJSA Vision Award winners.
The 2014 MJSA Vision Award categories include:
- Professional Design Excellence (1-3 years in business);
- Professional Design Excellence (4+ years in business);
- The Future of the Industry, sponsored by the MJSA Education Foundation;
- Custom Design Distinction (designs that met a client’s request), sponsored by Techform Advanced Casting;
- Laser Distinction (design that relied upon the use of a laser), sponsored by LaserStar Technologies Corp.;
- CAD/CAM Distinction (designs that were created with the use of CAD/CAM technologies), sponsored by EnvisionTEC;
- Digital Marketing Distinction (honors a business that has created a digital marketing program).
All professional and distinction categories are open to independent or company-employed U.S. and international jewelry designers. The Future of the Industry Award is open to any student enrolled in an art, design, or jewelry-related program at a college, university, or proprietary technical school. Winners will be chosen by a panel of jewelry designers, manufacturers, and editors; on the basis of originality, presentation, effective use of materials, wearability, and the design’s perceived manufacturing and marketing potential.
Click here for more information and to enter.
Registration for CIBJO Congress 2014 Now Open On Dedicated Website
Milan, Italy—Registration for the 2014 congress of CIBJO, the World Jewelry Confederation, is now open. The 2014 CIBJO Congress will take place in Moscow, Russia, May 19-21, 2014, with pre-congress meetings on May 17 and May 18. The congress will be hosted by the Russian Jewellers' Guild, whose headquarters will also serve as the main congress venue. The main hotel will be the Hotel Nikol'skaya Kempinski, a five-star hotel within walking distance of many of Moscow’s famous sites like the Kremlin, Red Square, and the Bolshoi Theatre. Special CIBJO rates are available.
Delegates and other participants may register for the congress and its social program, as well as book hotel rooms, via a dedicated congress website.
Complimentary Rooms Available For April Diamond Week in Israel
Ramat Gan, Israel—The Israel Diamond Exchange (IDE) will be offering up to four free nights to accredited buyers at the US & International Diamond Week in Israel, April 6-10. The event will feature more than $1 billion of polished diamonds on the IDE trading floor, displayed by hundreds of participating Israeli diamond manufacturing and trading firms.
Moti Fluk, chairman of the Diamond Week organizing committee, expects a huge variety of goods for sale on the bourse’s secure trading floor, from cheap to very exclusive and expensive, in all shapes and sizes.