IGI Announces Third Annual Jewelry Design Contest
This year’s free competition has new categories and a new theme.

The IGI Expressions jewelry design competition is free to enter and underwritten entirely by IGI.
This year’s contest offers new categories and a new theme, “Abstract Design With Retro Motifs,” encouraging designs that blend modern jewelry design with timeless, retro-era motifs.
The three categories are Statement Piece, Convertible Jewelry, and Perfume Bottle or Jewelry Box.
Designers are encouraged to draw inspiration from their everyday surroundings, such as elements in their homes, workplaces, and other areas, and may submit hand-sketched, CAD, or iPad designs.
With a vision to recognize and honor exceptional talent within the jewelry industry, the contest invites and celebrates a diverse array of designs that embody the spirit of artistic expression, IGI said.
“Designers provide ingenuity and creative expression to our industry and need to be recognized for their exceptional work,” said IGI CEO Tehmasp Printer.
“We encourage all artists to participate for a chance to win one of the many titles conferred by our global panel of acclaimed jury members.”
The six judges for this year’s competition are: Punit Balana, an international fashion designer; Severine Ferrari, founder and editor-in-chief of Engagement 101 Magazine; Tania Heikal, a professional gemologist, influencer, and blogger; Pradeep Jethani, CEO of Jet Gems and a jewelry designer and producer; Helen Mao, an international jewelry consultant, jewelry author, and curator; and Sonal Sawansukha, jewelry designer and co-founder and creative director at Jewel Saga.
When submissions conclude, judging will take place over one week, and winners will be announced Feb. 20.
Nine winners will be chosen, and their designs will be manufactured.
Winning designers also will receive an IGI Expressions Champion Trophy, Champion Certificate, 3D prints of their design, press coverage, exposure on IGI’s GemBlog and social channels, and a $500 check. (Designers in sanctioned countries will not be eligible to receive the cash prize.)
All participants will receive an official IGI Expressions participation certificate, and finalists will receive a finalist certificate and coverage on IGI’s GemBlog and social channels.
Artists can submit designs online until Jan. 31.
Requests for information and questions can be directed to expressions@igi.org.
The Latest

The Western star’s 14-karat gold signet ring sold for six times its low estimate following a bidding war at U.K. auction house Elmwood’s.

The jewelry industry is reassessing its positioning as Gen Z reshapes the retail landscape and lab grown continues to gain market share.

A matching pair of 18.38-carat, D-color diamonds from Botswana’s Jwaneng mine sold for $3.3 million, the top lot of the jewelry auction.

With the trade and customer trust in mind, GIA® developed NextGem™ – on-demand training designed specifically for retail.

Sponsored by A Diamond Is Forever


The next generation of lapidarists are entrepreneurial, engaged online, and see the craft as a means for artistic expression.

It was the second auction appearance for the fancy vivid blue-green diamond, which sold for $7.8 million at Christie’s Geneva 12 years ago.

Gain access to the most exclusive and coveted antique pieces from trusted dealers during Las Vegas Jewelry Week.

Members of the U.S. Marshals Task Force took a 22-year-old man into custody. He was charged with tampering with evidence.

While the overall number of crimes was down, there were more incidences in which robbers pulled out guns, mace, or rammed cars into stores.

Jack Sutton Fine Jewelry is closing its store inside the downtown shopping center after 40 years in business.

Reena Ahluwalia’s painting of the rare red diamond is the first contemporary painting to join the National Gem Collection.

The price of gold has risen, affecting the number of pieces designers make, the materials they use, and how they position themselves.

Peter Smith gives tips on leading meetings, developing marketing, and making trade show appointments in the age of short attention spans.

The 11-piece “Medallions” capsule collection features five motifs: a crying eye, a heart on fire, a spiral, a flower, and a swallow.

From Gen Z’s view of luxury to “doom spending,” these are the six consumer trends to note this year.

The owners of Staats Jewelers are heading into retirement.

Jeffrey Gennette, who retired in 2024 after 41 years with Macy’s, is the newest member of the jewelry retailer’s board of directors.

May babies are lucky to have emeralds, a gemstone admired for centuries, as their birthstone, writes Amanda Gizzi.

The new module allows retailers to plan, promote, and measure the success of events from a single dashboard.

NDC said in an open letter that Pandora’s statements about the carbon footprint of lab grown versus natural diamonds are inaccurate.

The diamantaire and industry leader succeeds Feriel Zerouki and said he will focus on being a “champion” for natural diamonds.

She wore our Piece of the Week, Glenn Spiro’s “Old Moghul Golconda” earrings, featuring fancy brown-yellow diamonds totaling 51.90 carats.

Two pieces were named “Best in Show,” one from the retail category and one from the supplier category.

The jewelry retailer noted resilience among its higher-end customers while demand softened for its lower-priced offerings.

Led by the 6.59-carat sapphire, the sale garnered $9.7 million, a record total for a Heritage jewelry auction.

In his new role, sales specialist Billy Welshoff will focus on the eastern United States.

























