(PRESS RELEASE) CARLSBAD, CA — The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) and the Gianmaria Buccellati Foundation recently recognized the exceptional talent of GIA jewelry design students worldwide with the eighth Gianmaria Buccellati Foundation Award for Excellence in Jewelry Design.
Eleanor H. Yeh, a 2024 jewelry design graduate from GIA’s London campus, was announced as the recipient of the award during the annual GIA Alumni Collective celebration in Tucson, AZ, on February 7, by GIA President and CEO Susan Jacques and Larry French, chief officer for North American strategies of the Gianmaria Buccellati Foundation.
An independent panel of judges, including designers and educators, carefully examined the exquisite hand-rendered designs in person at the Alfie Norville Museum in Tucson on the day of the award. Yeh’s winning design, featuring detailed goldwork, pearls and vibrant gems, was selected from 14 finalists from GIA schools in Bangkok, Carlsbad, Hong Kong, London, Mumbai, New York, Shenzhen and Taiwan.
After receiving the award, Eleanor Yeh said, “My design process is deeply rooted in craftsmanship and storytelling. The design draws from a striking floral motif found in the Basilica of Santa Croce in Florence, Italy, that captures the grandeur and artistry of the Renaissance era.” She continued, “Winning the 2024 Gianmaria Buccellati Foundation Award for Excellence in Jewelry Design is an incredible honor. I am deeply thankful to GIA and the Gianmaria Buccellati Foundation for their recognition and continued support of design and craftsmanship in our industry.”
In announcing the award, Susan Jacques said, “These beautiful hand renderings are a reminder of the tangible, personal and physical connection that gems and jewelry spark in each of us. That is what makes this very special design competition such a delight!”
Larry French shared, “On behalf of the Gianmaria Buccellati Foundation, I want to congratulate Ms. Eleanor H. Yeh, this year’s winner, plus all the other finalists whose work so enriched this competition. I also want to recognize the talented GIA design instructors who helped guide the students on their way to the final judging in Tucson. Our founder, Gianmaria Buccellati, believed that designing jewelry was an art and like all art needed to be studied and practiced in order to grow into a master designer. The Gianmaria Buccellati Foundation is proud to partner with the Gemological Institute of America to encourage the growth of these young designers and we hope that they will continue on this exciting career path.”
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The distinguished judges for this year’s competition were Alishan Halebian, award-winning jewelry designer and goldsmith of Alishan Jewelry; Charles Lewton-Brain, jewelry artist, goldsmith and co-founder of the Ganoksin Project; Nanz Aalund, award-winning jewelry designer, goldsmith and educator; Remy Rotenier, fine jewelry designer and design teacher; and Victoria Gomelsky, editor-in-chief of JCK.
Established in 2018 as a collaboration between GIA and the Gianmaria Buccellati Foundation in honor of the Foundation’s founder, Rosa Maria Buccellati, the award recognizes outstanding talent in design among GIA students worldwide to inspire beginning designers. The 2025 competition is underway and open to students in GIA’s Jewelry Design course who meet the eligibility requirements. For more information, visit GIA.edu/buccellati-foundation-award-jewelry-design.
GIA’s Jewelry Design course teaches drafting, shading, design theory and illustration using several mediums. At the completion of the course, students have a hand-developed portfolio of their work and a digital copy. The course is offered at GIA campus locations in Bangkok, Carlsbad, Hong Kong, London, Mumbai, New York, Taipei, and at locations in Shanghai and Shenzhen, China. GIA also offers programs in Jewelry Design & Technology, Comprehensive Computer-Aided Design and Computer-Aided Manufacturing (CAD/CAM) for Jewelry and the Graduate Jeweler Program.
