GIA Names Winner of Emerging Jewelry Design Talent Award

Carlsbad, Calif.—The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) and the Gianmaria Buccellati Foundation have announced the winner of the eighth annual Gianmaria Buccellati Foundation Award for Excellence in Jewelry Design.

Eleanor H. Yeh, a 2024 jewelry design graduate from GIA's London campus, received the award for her design, pictured above, featuring detailed goldwork, pearls, and gemstones. 

The honor recognizes the outstanding talent of GIA jewelry design students worldwide. It was collaboratively established in 2018 by GIA and the foundation.

Gianmaria Buccellati set up a foundation in his name in 2008 to honor the artistic and cultural legacy of his work and that of his father, Mario, who established the Italian jewelry brand.

GIA President and CEO Susan Jacques and Larry French, chief officer for North American strategies of the Gianmaria Buccellati Foundation, announced Yeh as the recipient at the annual GIA Alumni Collective celebration in Tucson, Arizona, on Feb. 7.

Presenting 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!” 

Earlier that day, an independent panel of judges, including designers and educators, examined the hand-rendered designs from 14 finalists at the Alfie Norville Museum in Tucson.

“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,” said Yeh. 

“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."

French shared his congratulations for Yeh and the other finalists, whose work he said “enriched the competition.” He also recognized the GIA design instructors who guided the student participants.

“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,” said French. “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."

The 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; Rémy Rotenier, fine jewelry designer and design teacher; and Victoria Gomelsky, editor-in-chief of JCK.

Submissions for the 2025 competition are open now to students in GIA’s Jewelry Design course who meet the eligibility requirements.  

The course is offered at GIA campus locations in Bangkok, Carlsbad, Hong Kong, London, and New York, and at locations in Mumbai, India, as well as Taipei, Taiwan, and Shanghai and Shenzhen, China. 

Through the course, students learn drafting, shading, design theory, and illustration using several mediums, and upon completion, they will have a hand-developed portfolio of their work and a digital copy. 

GIA also offers programs in Jewelry Design and Technology, Comprehensive Computer-Aided Design and Computer-Aided Manufacturing (CAD/CAM) for Jewelry, and the Graduate Jeweler Program.