The prizes for the 52nd German Jewellery and Gemstone Award and the 33rd German Young Talent Competition for Gemstone and Jewellery Design for 2022 were presented at a glittering public gala last Friday in the Idar-Oberstein Municipal Theatre. The organizer, the Federal Association of the Gemstone and Diamond Industry, offered visitors a magnificent music program with Jimmie Wilson, Silvia Dias, Josanne Thomas and the only twelve-year-old local hero Elena Turcan. TV and radio presenter Andrea Ballschuh hosted the gala evening for the fifth time. After the gala at the Stadttheater, the invited guests went to the Winners Night at the Parkhotel, where they partied until the early hours of the morning.
The chairman of the association, Paul-Otto Caesar, welcomed the guests to the city theater and hopes "that this award ceremony will be the last one that has to be postponed to the summer." Normally, the event always takes place at the end of November. Last year, however, the federal association postponed the date early due to the coronavirus pandemic and the impending gas shortage. Due to the postponement, the announcement for this year's competitions has already been published. The theme of the main competition is 'Fascinating creatures of the sea' and that of the young talent competition is 'Mythical creatures'. Caesar also emphasized that the German Jewellery and Gemstone Award is now the oldest competition of its kind and therefore enjoys a special status.
"The competitions are a flagship for the city, the region and the state of Rhineland-Palatinate," emphasized Mayor Frühauf in his welcoming address. The prizewinners were among the best in their field. According to the Lord Mayor, it was a great honor for him to be a permanent member of the jury that evaluates the works and awards the prizes. The other jury members, experts with an affinity for gemstones and jewelry, are appointed anew each year.
Local designers successful
The theme of the 52nd German Jewelry and Gemstone Award was 'Welcome to the Roaring Twenties'. A total of 43 works were submitted by 33 participants.
The winner of the Jewellery and Gemstone Award 2022 is Kenneth Lacour Jones from Idar-Oberstein with a pair of earrings made of black rhodium-plated silver and gold with white and champagne-colored diamonds and colorite. The jury unanimously agreed that this "beautifully crafted, very dynamic and easy-to-wear ear jewelry" was the best work in the main competition. The prizewinner's work was inspired by the Harlem Renaissance, which arose from the migration of black Americans from the southern states to the northern cities. After decades of oppression, African-American culture blossomed in New York's Harlem district, reflected in creative art, dance and dazzling jazz music. The eventful life of the artist Josephine Baker particularly fascinated the award winner, which is why he wanted to highlight her with his work. For him, her never-ending fight against racism and her extroverted nature are an expression of the Roaring Twenties.
The second prize in the main competition goes to Hans-Joachim Klintz from Idar-Oberstein for his pendant jewelry made of gold, diamonds, rubies and tsavorites. The focus of this work is a pendant in the form of a stylized mask, which - according to the prizewinner - "symbolizes the turbulent and life-affirming twenties of the previous century. A glamorous time, but one that also had its dark side in the form of desolation and poverty among the population."
The third prize goes to Ekaterina Tristan from Darmstadt for her pendant jewelry made of silver with tourmalines, sapphires, chrome diopsides and rhodolites. When designing her pendant, the prizewinner was inspired by the most important art movement of the 1920s: Art Deco. Glamor and simplicity are juxtaposed in her piece, similar to the day and nightlife of the 1920s. The jury also honored the technically sophisticated implementation of the competition theme.
Commendations went to Susanne Müller-Ostgen from Sonnenberg-Winnenberg for her gramophone made of petrified wood, layered agate and onyx, agate cameo, freshwater pearl necklace and yellow gold; to Maike Sjåfjell from Oslo for her necklace made of white gold with diamonds, diamonds and aquamarines and to Llyn L. Strelau from Calgary for his necklace with black South Sea pearls, diamonds, tsavorites, spinels, green tourmalines, rubellites, black jade and white gold.
The region was also strongly represented in the young talent competition
The theme of the 33rd German Young Talent Competition for Gemstone and Jewelry Design was 'Welcome to the Jungle', with 18 works submitted by 16 participants.
The winner of the young talent competition is Ronja Maria Pieroth from Schmidthachenbach. She created a gemstone object from leopard jasper, labradorite, onyx and colorite. "Strength, power and courage - three characteristics that can be seen directly in the leopard and why it has long been one of my favorite animals," explains the prizewinner. The eye made of labradorite and onyx - surrounded by colorite - reflects light just like the predator's eyes. The fur, engraved from leopard jasper, has a calming effect and complements the eye perfectly. "My competition piece sparkles particularly beautifully in the sun, so that you lose yourself in it for a moment."
Second prize went to Philipp Munsteiner from Stipshausen for his yellow gold, citrine and diamond necklace. "The cut of the citrine in the 'dragon cut' is inspired by the mythical creatures of the same name and impressively reflects this in the design. Many pointed incisions in a row are reminiscent of the teeth, claws or even scales of the mythical creature," says the prizewinner, describing his work.
Lars Bracht from Verl took third place in the young talent competition for his earrings made of gold, silver and citrines. His piece of jewelry was inspired by the Venus flytrap native to the jungle. "The two laser-cut citrine navettes form the center and are held in place by silver outer shells. The bail, reminiscent of a plant style, connects the ear hook to the rest of the piece of jewelry. The piece is completed by the tapered gold fangs," says the prizewinner, describing his work.
There were also three commendations in the young talent competition: to Klaus Bauer from Idar-Oberstein for his object made of silver, diamonds, yellow zirconia, Parisian oxide, enamel and slate; to Tieu Hong Luu from Idar-Oberstein for her leather bracelet with a pendant made of petrified wood, silver, chrome aventurine and pietersite; and to Marie-Therese Sophie Hahn from Sensweiler for her ring made of blackened silver, yellow gold, prasiolite and colorite.
- More information on the competitions and the award-winning works can be found at www.deutscher-edelsteinpreis.de. The call for entries for this year's competitions can also be found there.