New York, NY – Oct. 31, 2018. The Cultured Pearl Association of America (CPAA) announces the winners of its 9th Annual International Pearl Design Competition (IPDC) tomorrow, Nov. 1, and we want you to help us to toast the winners.
The pieces debut at The Clay Pot at 22 Spring St. in New York City from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., where IPDC judge and store owner Tara Silberberg helped choose six winners across eight categories in the U.S. Division, along with a number of Honorable Mentions—many of which will also be present in the store. Guests are invited to see the jewels and sip prosecco.
The longtime designer jewelry merchant and proponent had her choice of any of the contest entries for placement in her store for a two-week show and sale following the awards. Silberberg selected 10 additional Honorable Mention jewels to co-mingle in her store cases with winning pieces. Why? She thought she might be able to sell them.
“I chose pieces that I thought were marketable and that my customers might purchase,” she explains. “I’m very excited to have these jewels in my store!”
The goal of the IPDC is to create compelling new pearl jewelry designs worthy of recognition, media exposure, and now, financial rewards, hopefully through sales of some entries. The CPAA celebrates pearls of all varieties and encourages seasoned and award-winning artists and beginners alike to compete in the IPDC.
Those with U.S. residences competed by submitting images of pieces first, followed by a second round of judging of live goods. International participants competed with renderings and sketches alone.
A total of 16 pieces—six winners and 10 Honorable Mentions—from the U.S. division will remain at the Clay Pot in New York City for a show and sale through Nov. 16. The items then travel to Max’s in Minneapolis for another two weeks. Items that remain unsold move on to the next destination, and all unsold items at the end of the tour will be returned to their makers. A third store will be added.
For more information about the CPAA, visit www.cpaa.org.
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CPAA is a nonprofit founded in 1957. The group comprises the finest manufacturers, wholesalers, dealers, and suppliers of cultured pearls in the United States, and its goals are to improve retail marketability of pearls and cultivate demand among consumers. Through promotion, education, public relations, and unwavering commitment to the category, CPAA aims to inspire an authentic passion for all cultured pearl varieties. For more information about becoming a certified pearl expert, please visit PearlsAsOne.org. To learn more about the Cultured Pearl Association of America, please visit CPAA.org.