Key takeaways
• The Gemmological Association of Great Britain (Gem-A) is now accepting entries for the 2026 Gem-A Photographer of the Year Competition through November 11.
• The 2026 competition introduces “”The Smartphone Contest,”” allowing photomicrographs taken with smartphones to be evaluated for main prizes and the People’s Choice Award.
• Winners will receive rewards including a one-year Gem-A membership, equipment vouchers, and feature coverage in Gems&Jewellery magazine.
(LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM) – The Gemmological Association of Great Britain, or Gem-A, is now accepting entries to the 2026 edition of its popular photography competition, incorporating an anticipated longlist of entries, three winning entries, a People’s Choice Award and a new smartphone-related category for the first time.
First launched in 2017, the Gem-A Photographer of the Year Competition has evolved into a multi-stage celebration of gemstone photomicrography, welcoming entries from Gem-A Members, non-members, students, and the general public, whether professional or amateur photographers.
Voting on Facebook yielded the winner of our 2025 People’s Choice Award: A photomicrograph of a pyrite inclusion resembling a gold nugget within a 14.35 ct cabochon of hyaline quartz from Bahia State, Brazil. The photomicrograph was obtained from a stack of eighteen photographs at 90 × magnification. Darkfield illumination with fibre-optics and polarized light was used. A Canon EOS M50 mirrorless camera 24 MP 18-55mm IS STM and Bausch + Lomb microscope, along with a darkfield GIA GEM Mark VII and fibre-optics of Fiber-Lite, were used to create this photomicrograph. Photo by Giovanni Pace; field of view 1.60 mm.
The Competition challenges entrants to share their best photomicrographs showcasing the interior worlds of gemstones from the preceding 12 months. Stringent rules and procedures ensure the quality and consistency of entries without excluding those with more limited photography experience or equipment. These requirements include a full declaration of image editing and digital manipulation, a breakdown of the equipment used and strict image resolution minimums.
Once all entries are received, assessed and anonymized, a panel of judges selects the top 10 photomicrographs to feature on a dedicated longlist. This year’s guest judges include gemologist, gemstone dealer and award-winning photomicrographer Muhammad Ayub, who is also an Accredited Senior Gemmologist and Lifetime Voting Member of the Accredited Gemologists Association; Gübelin Gem Lab Gemmologist Keith Chow FGA, who secured first and third place in the Gem-A Photographer of the Year Competition 2025; and experienced photographer and gemologist Melissa Scarani FGA, who works as an Accredited Senior Appraiser at Gemology Resources in Houston, Texas.
Voting on Facebook yielded the winner of our 2025 People’s Choice Award: A photomicrograph of a pyrite inclusion resembling a gold nugget within a 14.35 ct cabochon of hyaline quartz from Bahia State, Brazil. The photomicrograph was obtained from a stack of eighteen photographs at 90 × magnification. Darkfield illumination with fibre-optics and polarized light was used. A Canon EOS M50 mirrorless camera 24 MP 18-55mm IS STM and Bausch + Lomb microscope, along with a darkfield GIA GEM Mark VII and fibre-optics of Fiber-Lite, were used to create this photomicrograph. Photo by Giovanni Pace; field of view 1.60 mm.
From this longlist, the judges will select their top three entries, culminating in the announcement of first-, second-, and third-place winners in December 2026. The winner will receive a one-year membership of Gem-A, a £300 voucher for Gem-A Instruments, and cover placement in the Winter 2026 edition of Gems&Jewellery magazine – one of two publications created by Gem-A. The two runners-up will also be featured in the magazine and will receive a £50 voucher redeemable at Gem-A Instruments.
Gem-A CEO Cath Hill comments: “We are often left speechless by the talent and creativity on display in our Photographer of the Year Competition. The ability to find a microscopic inclusion and capture it faithfully with artistry, exceptional lighting and, of course, an eye for a perfect composition, is a hugely underrated skill. This competition is our annual celebration of another side of gemology, one that benefits from experience, knowledge and higher learning but with additional creative flair. I can’t wait to see our next crop of entries.”
As in previous years, Gem-A’s 22,000 Facebook followers will have the opportunity to vote for their favorite photomicrograph in the 2026 longlist, resulting in the naming of a People’s Choice Award winner. This photo may or may not appear in the judges’ top three, giving another talented entrant the chance to shine.
In keeping with its commitment to expand the competition year-on-year, Gem-A has also announced the introduction of The Smartphone Contest – an additional pathway for entries that will be compared and assessed by the same panel of judges alongside the main competition. Photomicrographs that are entered into this category will be considered for the top prizes in the main competition and are also eligible to receive the People’s Choice Award.
Gems&Jewellery Editor-in-Chief Jennifer-Lynn Archuleta explains: “Historically, we have received many spectacular entries that have been captured using smartphones, and we have seen an uptick in entrants using this technology as part of their sophisticated methods. The Smartphone Contest is our way of recognizing this and celebrating the skills that our members, non-members and students bring to the table. Crucially, there’s no reason why a standout smartphone photomicrograph can’t win the Smartphone Contest, the People’s Choice Award and the first prize… It’s all to play for!”
The 2025 edition of the competition saw a record number of entries, along with a yearly high in social media reach, impressions, and likes for the Association. Keith Chow FGA won first and third prizes for his images of thin film-like fluid inclusions in a Russian emerald and dumortierite crystals in quartzite, respectively. Second place was secured by Francesco Protopapas for his photomicrograph of a fully melted crystal in a beryllium-treated natural sapphire, aptly named ‘The Little Fish’.Giovanni Pace won the 2025 People’s Choice Award for his photomicrograph of a pyrite inclusion within a 14.35 ct cabochon of hyaline quartz from Bahia State, Brazil.
Cath Hill adds: “Gems&Jewellery magazine continues to champion the Gem-A Photographer of the Year Competition and serves as a gateway for the in-depth rules and terms and conditions you need to know before entering. Our Membership magazine also offers the perfect platform to spotlight the winning photomicrographs and tell the stories behind them, including the nuances of equipment, lighting and techniques used to achieve such stand-out images. In this way, we are contributing to the art of gemstone photomicrography and ensuring it receives the appreciation it deserves.”
Entries will be accepted until November 11.
Voting for the People’s Choice Winner will commence shortly thereafter and will continue on Facebook until November 30. Gem-A will announce the first prize, runners-up, People’s Choice and Smartphone Contest winners on its social media channels in mid-to-late December; all winners will be featured in the Winter 2026 issue of Gems&Jewellery.
For more information on the contest rules or on how to enter Gem-A’s Photographer of the Year Competition, please contact editor@gem-a.com.
