New York, NY – Oct. 31, 2019. The Cultured Pearl Association of America (CPAA) has announced the winners of its 10^th Annual International Pearl Design Competition (IPDC).

On Tuesday, Oct. 29, judges Jean Francois Bibet, workshop and production director at Cartier; Nancy Schuring, owner of Devon Fine Jewelry (whose store will show and offer for sale the winning entries and the finalists of Schuring’s choice); Michelle Graff, editor in chief of NationalJeweler.com; and Hector Hassey, jewelry designer of his own same-name firm, inspected 18 live U.S. division finalist pieces at a private location in the city. (There were 38 total U.S. submissions.)

By the end of the day, eight winners had been chosen across seven categories for the U.S. Division, as well as one Popularity award winner, which emerged through a vote on the @pearlscpaa’s Instagram account. Meanwhile, 11 finalists, eight winners, and three Honorable Mentions were chosen out of 40 entries in the International Division for the same categories save for the Popularity award. Winners are as follows.

 

International Division (judged through images only)

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.

President’s Trophy. Fern After Rain earrings with golden cultured South Sea and cultured akoya pearls by Liao Shu-Fen and Wang Hao-Chen. 

 

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.

Luster Award. Sun, Earth, Moon pendant in 18k gold with cultured white and Tahitian South Sea pearls and diamonds by Teong Yan Ni of Juwelen Design.

 

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.

Orient Award. Radiant earrings in 10k gold with faceted pearls by Mika Murai of Mika Jewellery.

 

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.

Visionary Award for Classic Styles. Camellia Yin Yang earrings in sterling silver or anodized aluminum with cultured white and Tahitian South Sea pearls by Wei Li of Wei Li Jewelry.

 

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

Wedding Day Pearls. Flirt necklace in 18k gold with cultured white akoya pearls and diamonds by Orsolya Nagyne Raski and Daniel M. Nagy of Brilldor Jewellery.

 

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.

Fashion Award. Tie! Roman Gladiatrix ear cuffs in 18k gold with cultured white freshwater pearls by Tanya Meher of C. Krishniah Chetty & Sons Pvt. Ltd.

 

Fashion Award. Tie! The Galaxy Choker in 14k gold with rhodium plating and cultured freshwater pearls by Wonhee Kim

 

Spotlight Award—Tahitian Pearls. This category focuses on designs where 75 percent of the piece features one type of pearl—the Tahitian pearl for this year. This winning piece should make viewers think about Tahitian pearls and all their colors, including natural-color baby gray, blue, green, pistachio, peacock, and silver, 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.

Spotlight Award—Tahitian Pearls. Gaugin’s Memories cuff in white gold with palladium, diamonds, and rotating cultured Tahitian pearls by Orsolya Nagyne Raski and Daniel M. Nagy of Brilldor Jewellery.

 

Honorable mentions for the International Division include the other finalists:

Cascading Allure lariat necklace in 18k gold with cultured white freshwater pearls by Tanya Meher of C. Krishniah Chetty & Sons Pvt. Ltd.

Drama de Sunflower earrings in 18k gold with pink cultured freshwater pearls and diamonds by Sharanappa Kinnal of C. Krishniah Chetty & Sons Pvt. Ltd.

Flood Dragon brooch in 18k gold with cultured baroque golden South Sea and white akoya pearls, coral, and diamonds by Yen-Yu Lee of Liang You Coral Design Corporation (Taiwan).

The goal of the IPDC is to create compelling new pearl jewelry designs worthy of recognition, media exposure, and now, financial rewards, hopefully through sales of some entries. The CPAA celebrates pearls of all varieties and encourages seasoned and award-winning artists and beginners alike to compete in the IPDC. 

Those with residences inside the U.S. competed by submitting images of pieces first, followed by a second round of judging of live goods. International participants competed with renderings and sketches alone. 

For more information about the CPAA, log onto www.cpaa.org.

 

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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.