Calling ALL Jewellery Designers > Dubai Jewellery Design Awards to Showcase Local Talent Gems!! @DIJW

Dubai International Jewellery Week 2012 will give jewellery designers across the Middle East the opportunity to showcase their creative prowess as entries open for the exhibition’s fourth annual Jewellery Design Awards. A much anticipated component of the Middle East’s largest and most established jewellery exhibition, the awards attract the highest calibre of regional professional and amateur design talent. The deadline for jewellery design submissions is 10 October 2012.

Winning designs will be manufactured and displayed during Dubai International Jewellery Week which runs from 21 – 24 November 2012 at the Dubai World Trade Centre. The winners will also receive significant industry recognition, a trophy and participation in an online jewellery course run by the internationally renowned Gemological Institute of America (GIA).

The competition, which is sponsored by one of the world’s most exclusive jewellers, Mouawad, is open to anyone in the Middle East over the age of 17, with categories for Emerging Designers and Professional Designers. Entrants can submit a maximum of three designs from a choice of six jewellery types (ring, necklace, pendant, brooch, bracelet, earrings). With nine sub-categories– five for emerging designers and four for professional –designers will be able to unleash their creativity and demonstrate their prodigious talent. Awards for emerging designers include Bridal Jewellery Design Award and an Asian/Far East Influenced Jewellery Design Award. The professional group award category boasts a new award, the Object D’Art, rewarding the very best of imagination and design capability in contemporary wearable art.

“Creativity in craftsmanship and appreciation of adornments, particularly jewellery, has enjoyed a long and rich history throughout the region, and the Dubai Jewellery Design Awards provides the perfect means to celebrate these wonderful talents. As the most highly regarded jewellery exhibition in the Middle East, it is important for us to both recognise and reward excellence in the industry and we are delighted with the level of interest this competition attracts,” said Trixee Loh, Senior Vice President, Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC), organiser of Dubai International Jewellery Week.

Giving jewellers and professional designers a further chance to shine, the Dubai Jewellery Design Awards 2012 will also award the most Innovative Jewellery Design and crown the Emirati Jewellery Designer of the Year.

Submissions will be evaluated by a panel of leading industry professionals, including Mohamad El Hoss, Group Marketing Manager at Mouawad, Azza Al Qubaisi – artist, professional jewellery designer and founder of Arjmst, the Arabian Workshop for Jewellery and Gemstones in Abu Dhabi, as well as expert representatives from the, National Institute of Vocational Institute (NIVE), GIA, Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC) and Arabian Women.

The judges will assess entries based on the originality of the designs, the creativity and innovation that is embodied in the design and wear-ability of the finished product.

“Mouawad is delighted to be supporting the Dubai Jewellery Design Awards. Talent in this region is exceptional and it is important for the future of jewellery design to recognise and reward both professional designers and budding artists. We have no doubt we’ll be inspired and delighted by the entries this year, and the judges will have their work cut out for them in selecting the final winners. We are privileged to be part of this,” said Mohamad El Hoss.

Illustrating the unparalleled experience that Dubai International Jewellery Week gives to designers, last year’s winners raved about the benefits they gained from their participation.

Winner of the Asian/Far East Influenced Jewellery Design Award 2011, Hanniya Aliraza, will soon be launching her own jewellery line, Iyana Jewellery Studio. “The Design Awards 2011 provided a great stepping stone for my career as a jewellery designer and boosted my self-confidence considerably. Participating in the awards helped to expand my business network and build relationships with fellow industry peers. I had an amazing experience and I would definitely recommend the Dubai Jewellery Design Awards 2012 for any emerging designers looking to jumpstart their careers.”

Muna Salem Rashed Saif Al Suwaidi, who scooped the Emirati Jewellery Designer of the Year Award and the Bridal Jewellery Design Award 2011 said, “This was a very exciting experience for me and I will definitely be applying again for this year’s Design Awards.”

Wafa Khader Qadadeh, winner of last year’s Innovative Jewellery Design Award said, “The best part of my experience was being able to understand the value of my creations. Having design experts and industry professionals evaluate my designs was a great learning experience for me, and really provided me with immense insight that I hadn’t had the chance to tap into before.”

For more information about Dubai International Jewellery Week’s design competition, please visit www.jewelleryshow.com, or click here to download the entry form.

Professional Group Award Category:

-          Innovative Jewellery Design Award

-          Contemporary Finished Jewellery Piece Award

-          Emirati Jewellery Designer of the Year Award

-          Objet D’Art Award

Emerging Designers Award Category:

-          Arabic Influenced Jewellery Design Award

-          Asian/Far East Influenced Jewellery Design Award

-          Bridal Jewellery Design Award

-          Innovative Jewellery Design Award

-          Emirati Jewellery Designer of the Year Award