New York, NY – Feb. 9, 2021. The Cultured Pearl Association of America (CPAA) has announced the U.S. and international winners of its 11th Annual International Pearl Design Competition (IPDC).

On Saturday, Feb. 6, judges Jean Francois Bibet, workshop and production director at Cartier; and Patricia Faber, co-owner of Aaron Faber Gallery in Manhattan (whose store will show and offer for sale the winning entries and the finalists of Faber’s choice); inspected 19 live U.S. division finalist pieces via Zoom. (There were 66 total U.S. submissions.)

By the end of the day, 11 winners had been chosen across eight categories for the U.S. Division, including one Popularity award winner, which emerged through a vote on the @pearlscpaa’s Instagram account. Meanwhile, nine winners and four honorable mentions were chosen out of 42 entries in the International Division for the same categories save for the Popularity award. Winners are as follows.

U.S. Division with Judging of Live Finalist Pieces

President’s Trophy. This top prize is given to the piece deemed the most beautiful and original design concept that is well made, celebrates pearls, and leaves a lasting impression of pearls as must-have gems.

Winner: Matariki Rising Golden South Sea Pearl ring by Paul Klecka of Paul Klecka Inspired Design 

 

Luster Award. This winning piece represents the evolution of a best-selling pearl jewelry design and bears a covetable and marketable concept with wide appeal for the marketplace.

 

Winner: Mosaic Tahitian Pearl earrings by Samira Sizdahkani of Samira 13 Jewelry

 

Orient Award. This winning piece appeals to an emerging pearl jewelry collector—someone who has never before thought of wearing pearls—through attractive design, innovative use of pearls, and an accessible price.

Winner: Double Hyacinth Fold Freshwater Pearl ring by Karin Jacobson Jewelry

 

Visionary Award for Classic Styles. This winning piece is attractive, creative, and salable, championing a fresh look for an iconic pearl style—strands, studs, bracelets, or a ring—to help change the dated perception of pearls in the market.

Winners: Tie!  

Freshwater Coin pearl ring by Alishan Halebian of Alishan Jewelry

 

Giselle South Sea Pearl earrings from Rosa Van Parys of Rosa Van Parys Jewelry

 

Wedding Day Pearls. This winning piece best captures what a contemporary bride might wear on her wedding day.

Winner: Floating White South Sea Pearl ring by Mastoloni

 

Fashion Award. This winning piece features a creative compilation of materials fashioned into a youthful, high-fashion, and original pearl jewelry design that looks as if it came straight from a Paris runway.

Winners:  Three-way tie!

Play Among the Stars freshwater pearl earrings by Lydia Tutunjian of Alishan Jewelry

 

Eclisse Tahitian Pearl ring by Mastoloni

Red Bamboo and Mosaic Tahitian Pearl earrings by Silvia Furmanovich

 

Spotlight Award—Golden South Sea pearls. This category focuses on designs where 75 percent of the piece features one type of pearl—the Golden South Sea pearl for this year. This winning piece should make viewers think about golden pearls and all their colors, including natural-color deep gold, champagne, and buttery yellow, in a way that is fresh and modern, challenges the standard of designs that feature it, and entices a non-pearl-lover to start collecting.

Winner: Matariki Rising Golden South Sea Pearl ring by Paul Klecka of Paul Klecka Inspired Design

 

Additionally, a Popularity Award for U.S. participants was also given to:

Rosa Van Parys of Rosa Van Parys Jewelry for her Giselle South Sea Pearl earrings.

 

Honorable mentions for the U.S. Division include the other finalists:

• Glistening Web necklace from Samuel Behnam of Samuel B.

• Mardi Gras earrings from Paula Crevoshay of Crevoshay

• Diamond and Australian South Sea Mabe pearl earrings by Alexis Mazza of LexiMazz Designs

• Golden Pearl Flower Garden necklace by Susan Gordon of Susan Gordon Jewelry

• Modern Sea of Cortez earrings by Mimi Favre of Mimi Favre Jewelry

• Something Blue freshwater pearl earrings by Dilly Kirby of Elizabeth Blair Fine Pearls

• Black Lace white freshwater pearl ring by Brenda Smith of Brenda Smith Jewelry

• Chain Drop freshwater pearl earrings by Mastoloni

• Freeform Freshwater Feather pearl necklace by Barbara Heinrich Jewelry

• Lydia Freshwater pearl ring by Lika Behar of Lika Behar Jewelry

• Aubergine Tahitian Pearl and Purple Gold earrings by Adam Neeley

 

Pieces that will go to Faber’s store for display and sale include:

• Matariki Rising Golden South Sea Pearl ring by Paul Klecka
• Mosaic Tahitian Pearl earrings by Samira Sizdahkani
• Double Hyacinth Fold Freshwater Pearl ring by Karin Jacobson
• Freshwater Coin pearl ring by Alishan Halebian
• Giselle South Sea Pearl earrings from Rosa Van Parys
• Floating White South Sea Pearl ring by Mastoloni
• Play Among the Stars freshwater pearl earrings by Lydia Tutunjian
• Eclisse Tahitian Pearl ring by Mastoloni
• Red Bamboo and Mosaic Tahitian Pearl earrings by Silvia Furmanovich
• Glistening Web necklace from Samuel Behnam
• Golden Pearl Flower Garden necklace by Susan Gordon
• Modern Sea of Cortez earrings by Mimi Favre
• Chain Drop freshwater pearl earrings by Mastoloni
• Freeform Freshwater Feather pearl necklace by Barbara Heinrich Jewelry
• Lydia Freshwater pearl ring by Lika Behar of Lika Behar Jewelry

 

International Division (judged through images only)

 

President’s Trophy. Tie!  

Van Gogh’s Rosebush necklace with 18k yellow gold and freshwater biwa button pearls by Larissa Moraes, designer and president of Larissa Moraes Jewelry, Brazil

Lavish Geometric bangle with four 13 mm pink freshwater pearls and 18k rose gold with over six carats of round brilliant diamonds by designer Tanushree Lo, sponsored by C. Krishniah Chetty Group of Jewellers, India

 

Luster Award

Gentle Rain necklace with a white pearl and diamonds by Da Ning Zhang, associate professor, Jilin University of Arts, China

 

Orient Award

Dewdrop necklace in 18k white gold with black rhodium, white South Sea pearls, and a Tahitian pearl by Hanna Korhonen, Hanna K. Design, Finland

 

Visionary Award for Classic Styles

Sailing pearl ring in 18k white gold with diamonds and an 8 mm black pearl by W.A Chamal Jayaratna, founder, EON Master Model, Sri Lanka

 

Wedding Day Pearls. Tie!

Dancing Lady Orchids features white, cream, and gold akoya pearls, yellow enamel, citrine, and white and yellow diamonds by Chu Yuen Yu, student at Accademia Italiana, Rome

The Deep Sea necklace with greenish gray Tahitian pearls, black diamonds, and a cushion-cut red-blood ruby, is by Laura Spiniella, founder and creative director at La Spiniella, France.

 

Fashion Award

Lady Mischievous earrings in 18k rose gold with black rhodium, freshwater pearls, and pink tourmaline by Mika Murai, jewelry designer, Mika Jewellery, Japan

 

Spotlight Award—Golden South Sea Pearls

Sunrise earrings with 12 mm golden South Sea pearls, white akoya pearls and yellow and white diamonds by Chu Yuen Yu, Hong Kong – Student at Accademia Italiana, Rome

 

Honorable mentions for the International Division include the other finalists:

• The Miti earrings by Lorena Ramos Rabelo, Lure Fine Jewelry Boutique, Brazil

 

• The Golden Rain earrings by Lorena Ramos Rabelo, Lure Fine Jewelry Boutique, Brazil

 

• Tango Walk earrings by Anandan M., sponsored by C. Krishniah Chetty Group of Jewellers, India

• Prayer for the Water Dragon God by Chiaki Miyauchi, director and jewelry designer at Tacara Kyoto, Japan

Press can click here for access to high-res photos.

 

####

CPAA is a nonprofit founded in 1957. The group comprises the finest manufacturers, wholesalers, dealers, and suppliers of cultured pearls in the United States, and its goals are to improve retail marketability of pearls and cultivate demand among consumers. Through promotion, education, public relations, and unwavering commitment to the category, CPAA aims to inspire an authentic passion for all cultured pearl varieties. For more information about becoming a certified pearl expert, please visit PearlsAsOne.org. To learn more about the Cultured Pearl Association of America, please visit CPAA.org.