Events & AwardsJan 25, 2022
JA Is Accepting Entries for the CASE AwardsEvents & AwardsFeb 16, 2022
GIA Names Design Competition Winner in Tucson
The annual award, in partnership with the Gianmaria Buccellati Foundation, honors one design student.
Pictured alongside Larry French, chief officer of North America strategies at the Gianmaria Buccellati Foundation (left) and GIA President and CEO Susan Jacques (right) is the winner of the Gianmaria Buccellati Foundation Award for Excellence in Jewelry Design, Meghan Simmons.
Tucson, Ariz.—The Gemological Institute of America and the Gianmaria Buccellati Foundation picked a winner in their latest annual design competition.
At the annual GIA alumni event held this month concurrently with the Tucson gem shows, Meghan Simmons received the Gianmaria Buccellati Foundation Award for Excellence in Jewelry Design.
Now in its fifth year, the design competition is open to students who completed the GIA Jewelry Design Course in the last year.
More than 80 students worldwide competed in the competition, which was narrowed to 11 finalists.
Then, a panel of judges selected the winner. The judges were Alishan Halebian of Alishan Jewelry; Victoria Gomelsky, editor-in-chief of JCK; Douglas Hucker, CEO of AGTA; artist and jewelry illustration expert Remy Rotenier of Remy Rotenier Jewelry; and Shelly Sergent of the Somewhere In The Rainbow gem and jewelry collection.
Finalists submitted jewelry renderings that were judged on aesthetic appeal and how well students applied the skills they learned at GIA.
Winner Simmons rendered an earring depicted in gold with diamonds and blue sapphires.
She graduated from the GIA Jewelry Design Course in Carlsbad, California last year, which teaches drafting, shading, design theory, and illustration through several mediums. Students leave the course with a physical and digital portfolio; it’s offered at all GIA campuses.
Simmons said of her winning design, “I was inspired by the abstract artist Wassily Kandinsky. This earring design explores the use of line and shape, seeking to achieve a sense of balance through divergence.”
The competition was founded in 2018 in partnership with the Gianmaria Buccellati Foundation to recognize outstanding design talent.
Foundation Chief Officer, North America strategies, Larry French said: “This competition was born out of the life and work of Gianmaria Buccellati. We are sure this year’s winner, Meghan Simmons, will enjoy her award, a week in Italy beginning in Florence, then on to Venice with the trip ending in Milan.
“We congratulate not only all the students who participated in this year’s design competition but also the talented instructors from GIA who guided the students on this beautiful art. We hope that all the designers who participated will continue to grow in their art so that it becomes a way of life, as it was for Gianmaria.”
The 2022 competition is now open to students in the GIA Jewelry Design Course.
Related stories will be right here …
At the annual GIA alumni event held this month concurrently with the Tucson gem shows, Meghan Simmons received the Gianmaria Buccellati Foundation Award for Excellence in Jewelry Design.
Now in its fifth year, the design competition is open to students who completed the GIA Jewelry Design Course in the last year.
More than 80 students worldwide competed in the competition, which was narrowed to 11 finalists.
Then, a panel of judges selected the winner. The judges were Alishan Halebian of Alishan Jewelry; Victoria Gomelsky, editor-in-chief of JCK; Douglas Hucker, CEO of AGTA; artist and jewelry illustration expert Remy Rotenier of Remy Rotenier Jewelry; and Shelly Sergent of the Somewhere In The Rainbow gem and jewelry collection.
Finalists submitted jewelry renderings that were judged on aesthetic appeal and how well students applied the skills they learned at GIA.
Winner Simmons rendered an earring depicted in gold with diamonds and blue sapphires.
Meghan Simmons’ winning design
She graduated from the GIA Jewelry Design Course in Carlsbad, California last year, which teaches drafting, shading, design theory, and illustration through several mediums. Students leave the course with a physical and digital portfolio; it’s offered at all GIA campuses.
Simmons said of her winning design, “I was inspired by the abstract artist Wassily Kandinsky. This earring design explores the use of line and shape, seeking to achieve a sense of balance through divergence.”
The competition was founded in 2018 in partnership with the Gianmaria Buccellati Foundation to recognize outstanding design talent.
Foundation Chief Officer, North America strategies, Larry French said: “This competition was born out of the life and work of Gianmaria Buccellati. We are sure this year’s winner, Meghan Simmons, will enjoy her award, a week in Italy beginning in Florence, then on to Venice with the trip ending in Milan.
“We congratulate not only all the students who participated in this year’s design competition but also the talented instructors from GIA who guided the students on this beautiful art. We hope that all the designers who participated will continue to grow in their art so that it becomes a way of life, as it was for Gianmaria.”
The 2022 competition is now open to students in the GIA Jewelry Design Course.
Editors' Picks
Sponsored by
More on Events & Awards
The Latest
IndependentsOct 15, 2026
Retailer Hall of Fame 2026: Amy and Elise Greenberg For 40 years, sisters Amy and Elise Greenberg have helmed their 126-year-old family business, leading with appreciation and integrity.
ColumnistsOct 15, 2026
Peter Smith: What Is the Culture REP?It’s a term Smith coined and felt compelled to share following a bad experience with an aborted flight and an unfeeling flight attendant.
WatchesOct 15, 2026
Stephanie Gottlieb’s New Movado Watches Are Made for Your Wrist StackMovado teamed up with the New York-based fine jewelry designer on a new collection of Movado Museum Velura watches.
Brought to you by
Meet Gemology’s Next Generation Microscope: GIA® Gemolite® NXT Professional EditionExperience gemstones with greater precision and comfort than ever before.
SourcingOct 15, 2026
Signet Jewelers, Richemont May Join Bidder for De Beers, Report SaysThe two companies are reportedly in talks to join the Global Diamond Consortium, led by former De Beers CEO Gareth Penny, as per Bloomberg.
Weekly QuizOct 15, 2026
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
CollectionsOct 15, 2026
Wolf x Marla Aaron's New Jewelry Box Is for Some (Not All) of Your ThingsThe “Some of the Things” box follows the two larger “Everything” box designs with the look and function of antique sewing and toolboxes.
IndependentsOct 14, 2026
Retailer Hall of Fame 2026: Coleman and Mitchell ClarkFourth-generation jewelers Coleman and Mitchell Clark exemplify the best qualities of their predecessors: humility, modesty, and confidence.
Brought to you by
Your Piece Could Be the One Editors Talk AboutSubmit your pieces for a chance to win in this year's competition.
SourcingOct 14, 2026
Manuel Marcial de Gomar, ‘The Emerald Whisperer,’ Dies at 90The gem hunter, whose 70-year career was defined by adventure and exploration, is remembered for his steadfast faith and sense of wonder.
FinancialsOct 14, 2026
LVMH’s Jewelry Brands Turn in ‘Very Good’ Performance in Q3 Tiffany & Co. continued its full-scale store renovation project while Bulgari’s high jewelry collection generated “record-breaking revenue.”
MajorsOct 13, 2026
David Webb Owner Purchases Lugano JewelryThe high-end jewelry retailer was sold to private investment firm Middle West Partners and a group of longtime clients.
Lab-GrownOct 13, 2026
Stephanie Gottlieb Takes Lab-Grown Diamond Collection WholesaleThe jewelry designer has partnered with Sofer Jewelry to distribute her 85-piece lab-grown diamond collection.
IndependentsOct 13, 2026
Retailer Hall of Fame 2026: Sean DunnDunn, this year’s Single-Store Independent inductee, is passionate about innovation and telling the story of natural diamonds.
AuctionsOct 13, 2026
Christie's Geneva To Auction 'Bulgari Pink' DiamondThe 24-carat fancy intense pink diamond ring could fetch up to $18 million at the November sale.
IndependentsOct 13, 2026
Greenwich St. Jewelers’ New Candle Smells Like HomeThe “Island Jewel” candle honors New York City and Puerto Rico and raises money for the island’s water relief efforts.
TechnologyOct 13, 2026
GemFind Is a New JA Member Benefit Partner The partnership will give JA members access to preferred pricing, exclusive benefits, technology solutions, education, and resources.
SurveysOct 09, 2026
These Will Be the 10 Busiest Days for In-Store Shopping This Holiday SeasonStores should expect to see the most customers on Nov. 27, and Christmas week is expected to be hectic too, as Dec. 25 falls on a Friday.
CollectionsOct 09, 2026
Elisa Solomon Collabs With Serendipity 3 on ‘Frozen Hot Chocolate’ CharmThe charm, our Piece of the Week, features brown diamond frozen hot chocolate topped with white diamond whipped cream and a ruby straw.
AuctionsOct 09, 2026
8-Carat Blue Diamond Goes Unsold at UK Jewelry Auction The top lot of Elmwood’s recent fine jewelry sale in London was a 1.84-carat, D color Tiffany & Co. solitaire diamond ring.
WatchesOct 09, 2026
Movado to Sell Majority Stake in Ebel for $66.5MThe watch company agreed to sell a 95 percent interest to a group comprised of F.P. Journe, Chanel, and Swiss watch exec Pierre Jacques.
Policies & IssuesOct 08, 2026
Third Wave of IEEPA Tariff Refunds Begins This round of tariff refunds is for importers that have sued over IEEPA tariffs in the Court of International Trade and won.
CollectionsOct 08, 2026
Brent Neale’s New Collection Goes ‘Back to Basics’It revisits the brand’s most requested silhouettes, from "Pillow"-set necklaces and bracelets to "Signature"-set rings and earrings.
SourcingOct 08, 2026
Ethical Gem Fair Heads Back to BrooklynThe trade-only event includes buying opportunities as well as educational sessions on artisanal mining, the new Paraíba source, and more.
AuctionsOct 08, 2026
Reba McEntire’s Jewelry, Watches Head to Julien’s AuctionsThe live charity benefit sale in Nashville will also feature gowns, boots, and other memorabilia from the country music legend.
Supplier BulletinOct 08, 2026
Overnight Mountings’ Bridal Builder Helps Jewelers Turn Custom Design into a Hands-On Selling ExperienceSponsored by Overnight Mountings
Policies & IssuesOct 07, 2026
The Plumb Club Amplifies Its Voice as Geopolitical Pressures MountThe supplier organization recently joined JA and JVC to have more input on political issues affecting the jewelry industry.
CollectionsOct 07, 2026
Blue Nile, Royal Asscher Collection Highlights Natural Diamond BeautyBlue Nile, a Signet Jewelers-owned brand, is now Royal Asscher’s exclusive licensed retailer in North America.
