Since 1985, every two years, young and innovative designers get the opportunity to compete in a worldwide jewelry design contest. But it has been since 2017 that this prestigious competition held its live red carpet final event. This year, HRD Antwerp decided for its 18th edition to come back and re-invent itself under the high patronage of CIBJO (The World Jewellery Confederation) and in partnership with Vicenzaoro, Europe’s largest trade show for gold and jewelry. The competition wants to be a real incubator for talent, and for that it needs to grow. Therefore they are looking for more designers in underrepresented areas like the United States.
HRD Antwerp as a catalyst for talent and innovation in jewelry
HRD Antwerp has the ambition to become a catalyst for talent. That’s why they want to re-invent the competition. There will be 3 categories in the competition this year. Besides the classic categories of Diamond jewelry and Gemstone Jewelry, they added a new category: Accessories. The theme of the competition will be “Peace”. The winner of each category can count on the actual production of the piece of jewelry they designed and becomes a member of the HRD community with all benefits included. The competition is free and entrants can register here.
Ellen Joncheere, CEO HRD stated:”We want to be an incubator for jewelry design and create opportunities for new talent. With more than 800 applicants in 38 countries, we want to keep growing and specifically in those countries that are underrepresented in our contest, like the United States. The competition is free and the winners will be flown in to Italy for a final red carpet event where they present the real version – which we build for them – of the design they created. The United States has lot’s of talented designers and this can be an amazing opportunity for them to get their name out in our industry.”
HRD encourages design schools, creative platforms, governments and artists to encourage young talent to participate in the competition and to represent their country, school, project or just themselves within this competition and grab the amazing opportunities that come with it.
2,500 designers worldwide by 15th October 2022
In the last edition, designs were received from more than 800 candidates from 38 countries. This year, the goal is to reach more than 2,500 designers worldwide. Designers can subscribe to the competition by sending in their designs through the HRD Design website hrddesignawards.com until the October 15, 2022. The final winners will be announced at a red carpet event January 23, 2023.
An exclusive opportunity for young designers
The HRD Design Awards are a successful platform for young designers who want to make their mark in the jewelry world. For the winners, it’s a marvelous opportunity to launch their own collection or to jumpstart their careers into the jewelry business. Like Paola Strammiello, who won the competition in 2013 and became a senior jewel designer with a high brand.
Strammiello said: “In 2013, I participated in the HRD Design Awards with my Magic Mushroom Ring and became one of the final winners. Winning that prize gave me great momentum. It was the much desired and needed boost that brought me to where I am today as senior jewel designer for a high-end brand and established my name as a designer. I can only encourage all designers to grab this opportunity to showcase your talent. The feeling of seeing your work and your imagination come to life is the best feeling in the world.”
About HRD
HRD Antwerp draws on 575 years of experience passed down through Antwerp’s diamond trade and strives for perfection, delivering the highest quality in all their products and services. As the core of the Belgian Diamond Industry, HRD Antwerp was founded in 1973 at the initiative of the Belgian government and diamond industry representatives as Hoge Raad voor Diamant (HRD) or ‘Diamond High Council’.
About HRD Design Awards
Renowned today as one of the world’s most considerable jewelry design contests, the HRD Design Awards was initiated in 1984 as the ‘Antwerp Diamond High Council Awards’, with the aim of promoting creativity and design excellence in contemporary diamond jewelry in Belgium. In 1988, the competition became biennial and introduced an innovative approach. The contestants would work their design around a defined theme. The 2003 edition for the first time was open to candidates from across the world. This year marks the 18th edition of this competition.
