(PRESS RELEASE) NEW YORK – Jewelers of America is accepting entries for the CASE Awards, its national retail jewelry design competition. The CASE Awards honor JA Retail Members who exhibit creativity artistry, style and excellence in jewelry design. Employees of JA Retail Member companies can enter through Feb. 16, 2018.
Jewelers of America continues its efforts to raise consumer awareness of fine jewelry. Last year, JA added a “People’s Choice” CASE Award category to allow entrants greater consumer visibility. The CASE Awards “People’s Choice” winner is determined by consumer votes during an online voting period on JA’s website. The “People’s Choice” category garnered over 4,500 votes last year.
First-place CASE Award winners will receive a $500 cash prize, a customized CASE Awards trophy from Jewelers of America and national trade and consumer media exposure. The five winning pieces will be put on display during the upcoming JA New York Show March 11-13, 2018.
“The CASE Awards shine a spotlight on the talented jewelry designers and bench jewelers of JA Member retail stores across the country. We are proud to recognize their creativity and excellent craftsmanship through our CASE Awards competition,” says Jewelers of America president and CEO David J. Bonaparte.
There are four competition categories in which jewelers can submit their pieces, including: jewelry to $2,000 retail value; jewelry $2,001 to $5,000 retail value; jewelry $5,001 to $10,000 retail value; and jewelry over $10,000 retail value. The entries will be evaluated by a panel of industry judges on the following criteria: overall design, marketability, practicality/wearability and quality of manufacture.
From March 5-9, consumers will vote at www.jewelers.org to select the “People’s Choice” winner. JA will promote the online voting period through a social media and digital marketing campaign adding extra exposure for the CASE Award entrants.
The CASE Awards, sponsored by Synchrony Financial and Jewelers Mutual Insurance Group, are open to staff of JA Retail Member companies. JA Member employees can enter through Feb. 16, and accepted jewelry must arrive at JA headquarters by Feb. 23. For more information about the design competition and for complete entry guidelines, visit www.jewelers.org/caseawards or contact JA’s Member Services at 800-223-0673.