Celebrate & Honour Design & Craftsmanship…
The 7th edition of The Artisan Jewellery Design Awards, hosted by the Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC) and powered by GIA, challenged designers to tap uncharted territory by integrating unusual materials and cherished objects into their jewellery designs, to infuse their pieces with a unique identity.
Actress and style icon Sonam Kapoor graced GJEPC’s 7th edition of Artisan Jewellery Design Awards in Mumbai and presented awards to winners. Sonam Kapoor graced the stage with an aura of elegance and charisma along Mr. Vipul Shah (Chairman, GJEPC); Mr. Kirit Bhansali (Vice Chairman, GJEPC); Mr. Sriram Natarajan (Managing Director, GIA India); Mr. Milan Chokshi (Convener, Promotions & Marketing, GJEPC); Mr. Sabyasachi Ray (Executive Director, GJEPC) bestowed the coveted awards upon 6 Artisan winners.
This year the theme for the Artisan Jewellery Desing Award were two unconventional themes – ‘Objet Trouvé’ (Found Objects) and ‘Unusual Materials’.
The concept of ‘Objet Trouvé’ centred around crafting jewellery pieces that capture the essence of treasured objects from the past within a contemporary context. While the second theme, ‘Unusual Materials’ encouraged designers to create a dialogue between the familiar and the unexpected by combining contrasting materials with at least 50% precious materials.
Actress & style icon Sonam Kapoor said, “… I believe that jewellery is not just an accessory, but an art form that expresses one’s personality and style. I admire the Indian designers who create stunning pieces that blend tradition & modernity, and inspire women to experiment with different forms and colours. For me, the artistic value of a jewellery piece is more than the material value, and that is what makes it truly precious.”
Vipul Shah, Chairman, GJEPC, notes, “The Artisan Jewellery Design Awards, now in its 7th edition, stands as a beacon for creative expression in the jewellery design realm… With this competition, our aim is to redefine the landscape of jewellery design and elevate India as a premier design centre. Aligned with the government’s Make in India campaign, The Artisan Awards reinforces GJEPC’s dedication positioning India as a leader in design innovation.”
The list of winners and their creative pieces:
Crafted from fine leather, moss agate, gold and diamonds, the pair of reversible pair of cufflinks features a discreetly positioned SIM card chip tying up fashion and function. Designed by Aparna Kesarkar; Manufactured by Laxmi Dia Jewel Pvt. Ltd.
The curvaceous black gold bracelet is designed with areca palm leaves and studded with diamonds. Designed by Ahalya Vijayakumar; Manufactured by Vummidi Bangaru Jewellers
Inspired by the Konark Sun Temple, the stylised spherical earrings employ wood, gold, natural white sapphires, and citrine. Designed by Dipali Ghadigaonkar . Manufactured by KP Sanghvi Jewels Pvt. Ltd.
The gold danglers use the manjadi kuru, or lucky seeds (Adenanthera pavonine), capturing the essence of pure innocence and joy from childhood. Designed by Yamini Devasree; Manufactured by Vummidi Bangaru Jewellers
Made from pinecone wood, the hair accessory features two pinecones looped with 22-karat gold diamond-studded cords of varying lengths. Designed by Rashmi Kaushik; Manufactured by Kiran Jewels
The earrings are crafted from genuine one-rupee notes, featuring 10-paise old, scalloped coins as posts encased in gold. The folded earrings are adorned with diamonds. Designed by Vijay Indulkar; Manufactured by Walking Tree Venture Pvt. Ltd.
The two-day art festival was held on February 12th-13th, 2024, at Ice Factory, Ballard Estate, Mumbai, and drew a diverse audience including curators, art gallery owners, patrons, art school students and faculty members, socialites, celebrities, connoisseurs, architects, painters, sculptors, and jewellery designers.