GJEPC's Artisan Awards celebrates innovation in jewellery

By

Isabelle Crossley

Published
Apr 15, 2022

The Gem and Jewellery Export Promotion Council held its 2022 Artisan Awards ceremony on April 14 to celebrate up-and-coming contemporary jewellery designers who competed in various design challenges. 

The Artisan Awards 2022 ceremony on Thursday drew a crowd of names in Indian and international jewellery and welcomed the finalists in the annual contest, the GJEPC announced on Facebook. The awards ceremony was organised by the GJEPC and powered by the Gemological Institute of America. 
 
The awards each represented a design category where entrants had to design a piece of jewellery imagined for this famed jewellery collector. Designer Shrutika Shinde was awarded first place in the ‘Barbara Hutton’ category with a choker inspired by the 40s era and one of its most famous socialites, Barbara Hutton. The ‘Elizabeth Taylor’ category was won by Pratiksha Gandle and her Feryall pendant edged with baguette emeralds. 

“I was thrilled to see the finalists’ innovative creations brought to life in precious materials,” said former worldwide chairman of Sotheby’s Jewellery Division David Bennett, the GJEPC reported on Facebook. “It is exciting to see so much talent in the area of contemporary jewellery making, shot through with influences from Hollywood, royalty and high society. It’s been a privilege to have had the opportunity to experience the journey from the initial designs on paper to the stunning three-dimensional jewels.”
 
“It’s been a challenging competition for the participants but the designers did a great job,” said VAK Jewels’ founder and creative head Vishal Kothari, the GJEPC reported. “I’m happy to note that Indian manufacturing has improved swiftly in the last decade. It’s exciting to see India raising the bar to the same level as Italy and France.”