Exciting updates to this year's IPDC included the return of student entries and more after-competition sales!
Judges once again included Francois Bibet, workshop and production director at Cartier, Patricia Faber, co-owner of Aaron Faber Gallery in Manhattan (who displays and sells select U.S. winning entries, finalists, and new for this year, additional entrants that didn't place in the competition); and Maria Tsangaropoulos, supervisor of instruction at GIA's New York campus. Additionally, Severine Ferrari of Engagement 101 online magazine also participated.
In late November, everyone convened at the GIA campus in New York City to choose both U.S. and International Division winners. In all, seven winners were chosen across six categories in the U.S. Division. One winner in the Student Division was also selected, as well as six winners in the International Division.
All the U.S. winners and four U.S. finalist pieces went on display and sale at Aaron Faber Gallery in New York City. Additionally, Faber pulled in 10 other live entries from the contest that, while not amassing enough votes to make it to the finalist status, would appeal to her customer base. This was a wonderful surprise in this year's contest, as those pieces were also made for sale at the Gallery.
U.S. Division
President’s Trophy. This top prize is given to the piece deemed the most beautiful and original design concept that is well made, celebrates pearls, and leaves a lasting impression of pearls as must-have gems.
Winner: Echo earrings in 14k white gold and 14k, 18k, and 22k yellow gold with an ombré effect of white Akoya pearls graduating in size and color into golden South Sea pearls (22 total) with 2.40 cts. t.w. diamonds by Adam Neeley Designs
Luster Award
These winning pieces represent the evolution of best-selling pearl jewelry designs bearing covetable and marketable concepts with wide appeal for the marketplace. Pieces must retail for $3,000 or less.
Winner: Amor ring in 22k gold with a 17.23 mm South Sea Mabé pearl by Amanda Rich of Stratford & Isabella, $3,000 retail
Visionary Award for Classic Styles
This winning piece is attractive, creative, and salable, championing a fresh look for an iconic pearl style—strands, studs, bracelets, or a
ring—to help change the dated perception of pearls in the market.
Tie!
Winner 1: Harmony ring in 18k yellow gold with a 15.58 x 13.54 mm white cultured South Sea pearl, 1.27 cts. t.w. G-color, VS-clarity diamonds, and 0.65 ct. t.w. black color-enhanced diamonds by Robin Callahan Designs
Winner 2: Daphne Toi & Moi ring in 18k yellow gold with a 13 by 13 mm button-shape golden South Sea pearl, a 9.14 ct. carved peridot, 1.47 cts. t.w. akoya pearls, and 0.42 ct. t.w. diamonds by Stella Flame Jewelry
Wedding Day Pearls
These winning pieces best capture what a contemporary bride or groom might wear on their wedding day.
Winner: Lacey necklace in 18k yellow gold with white South Sea pearls, 13.26 cts. t.w. pink sapphires, and 6.21 cts. t.w. pink sapphires by Aloha Pearls
Fashion Award
This winning piece features a creative compilation of materials fashioned into a youthful, high-fashion, and original pearl jewelry design that looks as if it came straight from a Paris runway.
Winner: Geometric earrings in 18k rose gold with akoya pearls, cultured freshwater pearls, and ceramic beads by Tariq Riaz Jewelry
Spotlight Award—Multicolor Pearls for 2023
This category focuses on designs where 75 percent of the piece features a combination of three or more colors of any variety of pearl. The design should be attractive, clever, challenge the traditional-looking pearl jewelry aesthetic, entice a non-pearl-lover to start collecting, and serve as a celebration of the many different colors of pearls.
Winner: Melodic Embrace of Love earrings in 18k white gold with 8–8.5 mm akoya cultured pearls, 8.5 – 12.2 mm Tahitian cultured pearls, 2.2 cts. t.w. diamonds, rubies, and blue sapphires by Shana Ma of Chaulri
Student Award (for U.S. students only)
This piece of jewelry should be sketched or presented in a CAD rendering and can feature any color, shape, or variety of fine cultured pearls available on the market. The design should be fresh, modern, wearable, and defy outdated thoughts about wearing pearls.
Winner: Gingko necklace in 18k yellow gold and platinum with golden South Sea pearls and white diamonds, featuring a gradation of yellow gold in the leaves by Ashley Tien of GIA, who was inspired by the tree during fall foliage season.
Awards & Sales
The most unique aspect of the IPDC is that U.S. entrants must be willing to sell their work. CPAA’s retail partner, the Aaron Faber Gallery in New York City, is permitted to choose any of the entrants—not just winners and finalists—for display and sale in store. In the past few years, over $26,000 of IPDC winners have sold, and this year, $10,000 of pieces have sold thus far, including these two entrants which did not place in the competition but were still pulled in for sales.
Leaf earrings by Rosario Garcia of R & E Garcia Inc.
Lycia Necklace by Lika Behar Jewelry
President’s Trophy
This top prize is given to the piece deemed the most beautiful and original design concept that is well made, celebrates pearls, and leaves a lasting impression of pearls as must-have gems.
Winner: Double Line bracelet in 18k yellow gold with cultured white and black Tahitian South Sea pearls, 5.5–16 mm white and dyed black Akoya pearls, and 2.21 cts. t.w. white diamonds by Melanie Georgacopoulos of London
Luster Award
These winning pieces represent the evolution of best-selling pearl jewelry designs bearing covetable and marketable concepts with wide appeal for the marketplace. .
New for 2022: these pieces must retail for $3,000 or less.
Winner: Stars Brooch/Pendant necklace in 18k yellow gold with cultured South Sea pearls, colored sapphires, and diamonds by Tammy Yang Lu of Shanghai Maikan Trading Co., LTD, in Shanghai, $3,000 retail
Visionary Award for Classic Styles
This winning piece is attractive, creative, and salable, championing a fresh look for an iconic pearl style—strands, studs, bracelets, or
a ring—to help change the dated perception of pearls in
the market.
Winner: Bubble ring in 18k rose gold with three 10–14 mm cultured freshwater Edison pearls by Sonja Hunefeld of Odinski in the Netherlands
International Division
Wedding Day Pearls
These winning pieces best capture what a contemporary bride or groom might wear on their wedding day.
Winner: Ocean Serenade earrings in 18k yellow gold with 7.5 mm–12 mm cultured golden South Sea pearls by Tanya Sharma of C Krishniah Chetty Group of Jewellers in Bangalore, India
Fashion Award
This winning piece features a creative compilation of materials fashioned into a youthful, high-fashion, and original pearl jewelry design that looks as if it came straight from a Paris runway.
Winner: Floral Cascade Ear cuff in 18k white gold with barrel-shape amethyst and cultured gray and pale lavender 2.5 mm–7 mm South Sea pearls by Anandan M of C Krishniah Chetty Group of Jewellers in Bangalore, India
Spotlight Award—Multicolor Pearls for 2023
This category focuses on designs where 75 percent of the piece features a combination of three or more colors of any variety of pearl. The design should be attractive, clever, challenge the traditional-looking pearl jewelry aesthetic, entice a non-pearl-lover to start collecting, and serve as a celebration of the many different colors of pearls.
Winner: Nebula necklace in platinum with 6 mm cultured akoya pearls and a range of sizes and colors of cultured South Sea and Tahitian pearls by Nanz Aalund of Nanz Aalund Art Jewelry in Alberta, Canada