(PRESS RELEASE) NEW YORK – Jewelers of America (JA), the national trade association for businesses serving the fine jewelry marketplace, has announced the winners of its 31st annual CASE Awards jewelry design competition. The CASE Awards, JA’s national design competition, recognizes JA Members who exhibit creativity, artistry, style and excellence in jewelry design.
This year marked an all-time high number of CASE Awards entries, with nearly 200 entries in total. CASE Awards expanded this year to include 14 different categories based on jewelry style and price. These categories were Bracelets Up to $5,000; Bracelets $5,001 and Up; Earrings up to $5,000; Earrings $5,001 and Up; Necklaces Up to $5,000; Necklaces $5,001 and Up; Rings Up to $5,000; Rings $5,001 and Up; Engagement Rings up to $5,000; Engagement Rings $5,001 and Up; Wedding Bands up to $5,000; Wedding Bands $5,001 and Up; Engagement Rings up to $5,000; Engagement Rings $5,001 and Up; Pins/Brooches/Cufflinks (any price); and Other (non-jewelry items made of precious metals or stones, any price.
“Jewelers of America’s CASE Awards design competition showcases the fine craftsmanship and talent of JA Members across the country,” says Amanda Gizzi, spokesperson for Jewelers of America. “Judging was incredibly difficult this year as we had a wide variety of immensely talented jewelry designers enter in every category. The judges had to carefully consider the judging criteria and it had to come down to the finest details to determine winners.”
The winners in each category were determined by a panel of design experts who evaluated the entries on the following criteria: overall design, marketability, originality and quality of manufacture. Judges included Terry Chandler, DCA; Deirdre Featherstone, Featherstone Design; Amanda Gizzi, Jewelers of America; Brecken Branstrator, National Jeweler; JB Jones, NYC Jewelry Week; Adrianne Sanogo, Black in Jewelry Coalition and GIA Graduate Gemologist; and Iveta N. Stephanopoulos, GIA.
15 winners were determined in total – one per category and two first-place winners in the Necklaces $5,001 and Up category. All winners will receive a customized CASE Award trophy and national and local media coverage.
The 2021 CASE Awards were sponsored by Synchrony, Jewelers Mutual Group and Chosen Payments. The CASE Awards is open only to employees of JA Member companies. For more information about the competition and to view the winner’s photo gallery, visit here or contact Jewelers of America’s Member Services at (800) 223-0673.