The Artisan Jewellery Design Awards 2020 reached a crescendo yesterday, February 12, 2010, as the successful winners were declared a glittering evening shot through with excitement and enthusiasm.

The theme this year was “Architectural Gems” and applicants could choose from amongst three key eras on which to base their designs: Art Deco; Islamic Arabesque; Neo Futurism. 

The Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC), organisers of the awards, received 625 entries this year from across India, and in a first, from outside the country as well. After the initial sketches were judged in the First Jury Round, the shortlisted 27 designs were manufactured and went through another rigorous round of judging. And it was only after this, that the winners emerged – the brightest and the best (complete list of the shortlisted 27 designers and the final winners given below).

At the vibrant function, at which internationally renowned British designer Stephen Webster was Chief Guest, the shortlisted designs were tastefully displayed allowing attendees a glimpse into the wondrous landscape of Indian jewellery design today.

GJEPC Chairman Pramod Kumar Agrawal, speaking on the occasion, outlined the strengths and achievements of the Indian gems and jewellery industry.  “The challenge now is to take it to a US$ 75 billion dollar industry from the current level of exports of about US$40 billion, over the next few years, and to add another two million jobs,” he said. “Also, it is our aim to increase the value addition that the industry achieves and take it to US$20 billion when we reach our US$75 billion target.”

Agrawal went on to outline several measures that the GJEPC was taking, with the support of the Government of India (GoI) to achieve these goals.

Chief Guest Stephen Webster spoke briefly about himself – he entered the jewellery industry at the age of 16 years; and won his first design competition at the age of 18 years, merely two years later.  “I won the second prize and I was very disappointed,” he said with a smile.

Looking back on the early years of his journey in this field, he remarked that then, it was all about the material one worked with and the jewellery was just fashioned based on that.

“For a piece of jewellery, materials are everything,” he emphasised. “Materials and craft form the basis, but the element of design pushes things further.”

And that is where awards and competitions were so important, he opined. “Design competitions are important because they challenge you to push yourself creatively, to push your own boundaries,” Webster said addressing the designers in the audience.

He congratulated the winners, praising the various pieces of jewellery that had been created for the competition.

Webster went on to pay tribute to the country saying: “India is steeped in tradition and it has influenced nearly all designers.”

An interesting and lively interaction followed with Webster fielding questions from Milan Chokshi, Convener of the Promotions, Marketing and Business Development Sub-Committee of the GJEPC, and the person directly responsible for the awards.

The function that evening was powered by the Gemological Association of America (GIA). Nirupa Bhatt, Managing Director, India & Middle East for GIA, and also one of the judges at the final Jury Round, addressing the gathering spoke about how the designs for the competition were getting better and better every year.  “This year we also saw a lot of use of technology which has improved the quality of the pieces even more,” she remarked. “You have all certainly raised the bar.”

As part of The Artisan Jewellery Design Awards 2020, winners were also declared for the Best Product Inventory at the IIJS Signature 2020 (List below).

GJEPC Vice Chairman, Colin Shah proposed the vote of thanks, bringing the evening to a conclusion.

The list of Finalists and the winners and runners-up (highlighted) below as well as the list of winners for the product inventory category:

Artisan Awards 2020

Best Product Inventory at Signature IIJS 2020

Pic Cap: Chief Guest Stephen Webster (lft) seen in a chat with Milan Chokshi