New York City. Dec. 9, 2021. The Cultured Pearl Association of America (CPAA) has announced the international winners of its 12th Annual International Pearl Design Competition (IPDC).

On Tuesday, Dec. 7, 2021, judges Jean Francois Bibet, workshop and production director at Cartier, and Patricia Faber, co-owner of Aaron Faber Gallery in Manhattan, inspected images and CAD renderings of 35 international division pieces in a private location in Manhattan. By the end of the day, eight winners had been chosen across seven categories, with one individual earning two awards.

Winners are as follows:

President’s Trophy. This top prize is given to the piece deemed the most beautiful and original design concept that is well made, celebrates pearls, and leaves a lasting impression of pearls as must-have gems.

Winner:

Nebula brooch by Stasia Parker of the United Kingdom. The brooch is proposed to be made in 18k yellow gold with natural-color blue Akoya pearls, bicolor blue and green tourmaline, small cabochon-cut moonstones, and diamonds. The inspiration is the place where stars are born. The brooch plays upon beauty and color variation in the shades of blue Akoya pearls to create a galaxy of luster, with blue and green gems complementing rays of celestial light that swirl in this sparkling star system. This wearable constellation makes use of the orient and subtle hues of blue Akoyas to paint an otherworldly fantasy of light and reflection.

Luster Award. This winning piece represents the evolution of best-selling pearl jewelry designs bearing covetable and marketable concepts with wide appeal for the marketplace.

Winner:

Foam and Pearls earrings by Chamal Jayaratna of Sri Lanka. Earrings are proposed to be made in 18k yellow gold with natural-color blue Akoya pearls and diamond accents. The design inspiration is the texture of sea foam, with the pearls emerging lustrous from the foam’s edge.

Orient Award. This winning piece appeals to an emerging pearl jewelry collector—someone who has never before thought of wearing pearls—through attractive design, innovative use of pearls, and an accessible price.

Winner: 

Splash Double Finger ring by Subhankar Das of Amit J. Ghosh of Dubai. The ring is proposed to be made in 18k yellow gold with white rhodium plating, a 12 mm white South Sea pearl, 6 mm white freshwater pearls, and 2.21 cts. t.w. diamonds. The inspiration is a splash that occurs in water, creating momentary ripple effects and droplets. The placement of the pearls forms a flower, highlighting the beauty of obstacles if handled in the right way.

Visionary Award for Classic Styles. This winning piece is attractive, creative, and salable, championing a fresh look for an iconic pearl style—strands, studs, bracelets, or a ring—to help change the dated perception of pearls in the market.

Winner:

Rhapsody in Blue sautoir by Llyn Strelau of Canada. This 50-inch-long sautoir necklace is hand woven and features 2.5 mm–8 mm natural-color Vietnamese-origin blue and blue-green Akoya pearls and an 18k white gold interCHANGE clasp and gold caps on the tassels. The sautoir can be worn in many ways, including a single strand with an overhand knot at the front, doubled, around the neck and ends pulled through the loop, wrapped several times around the neck with tassels at the front, or even as a belt over a dress or sweater.

Wedding Day Pearls. This winning piece best captures what a contemporary bride might wear on her wedding day.

Winner: 

The Dawn necklace by Hanna Korhonen of Finland. The necklace is proposed to be made in 18k yellow gold with cultured white South Sea pearls. The piece is delicate, with a gradually tapering composition of white pearls between the gold, which serves as the centerpiece of this luxurious necklace with glorious luster. The necklace opens at the back curve from a lock concealed within a line of white pearls, and its inspiration is bright golden sunrays in the early morning as they light up pillowy white clouds, reflecting that light on a serene sea.

Tie!

Fashion Award. These winning pieces feature a creative compilation of materials fashioned into youthful, high-fashion, and original pearl jewelry designs that look as if they came straight from a Paris runway.

Winners:

Temptation Earrings by Lijun Jiang of Huale Jewelry in China. Over-the-ear earrings in an abstract scorpion silhouette are proposed to be made in 18k yellow gold with white pearls. These strikingly modern earrings aim to be charming but edgy, with appeal to urban fashionistas and antiheroine femmes fatales. Pearls are scattered like crystal venom as decoration and while they may seem harmless, they are fatally tempting.

The Reversible Dice pendant by Millie Ho from Hong Kong. The necklace is proposed to be made in 18k white gold with four 11 mm white South Sea pearls, 6.19 cts. t.w. colored gemstones, and 1.05 cts. t.w. diamonds. The inspiration is dice and versatility, while the piece is suited for wear on many different occasions. Whichever way the pendant twists and turns is sure to offer a fun look!

Spotlight Award—Natural-Color Blue Akoya Pearls. This category focuses on designs where 75 percent of the piece features one type of pearl—the natural-color blue Akoya pearl. These winning pieces should make viewers think about natural-color blue Akoya pearls in a way that is fresh and modern, challenges the standard of designs that feature it, and entices a non-pearl-lover to start collecting.

Winner:

Nebula brooch by Stasia Parker of the United Kingdom. The brooch is proposed to be made in 18k yellow gold with natural-color blue Akoya pearls, bicolor blue and green tourmaline, small cabochon-cut moonstones, and diamonds. The inspiration is the place where stars are born. The brooch plays upon beauty and color variation in the shades of blue Akoya pearls to create a galaxy of luster, with blue and green gems complementing rays of celestial light that swirl in this sparkling star system. This wearable constellation makes use of the orient and subtle hues of blue Akoyas to paint an otherworldly fantasy of light and reflection.

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CPAA is a nonprofit founded in 1957. The group comprises the finest manufacturers, wholesalers, dealers, and suppliers of cultured pearls in the United States, and its goals are to improve retail marketability of pearls and cultivate demand among consumers. Through promotion, education, public relations, and unwavering commitment to the category, CPAA aims to inspire an authentic passion for all cultured pearl varieties. For more information about becoming a certified pearl expert, please visit PearlsAsOne.org. To learn more about the Cultured Pearl Association of America, please visit CPAA.org.