The 9th edition of the Artisan Jewellery Design Awards 2026, organised by the Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC) and curated by The Futurist, concluded in Mumbai on April 8, bringing together the finest expressions of creativity, craftsmanship, and innovation in jewellery design.

The Artisan Awards 2026 were powered by GIA and supported by the World Gold Council.

Held in the distinguished presence of Lucia Silvestri, Creative Director & Gems Buying Director, Bvlgari; Amedeo Scognamiglio, Founder & Creative Director, RFMAS Jewellery Group; Dr. Annapurna Garimella, Art Historian & Designer; Siddharth Kasliwal, Founder, Gem Palace; Milan Chokshi, Founder, Moksh; Amit Pratihari, Managing Director, GIA India; and Paola De Luca, Creative Director & Trend Forecaster, and Curator of the Artisan Awards.

From GJEPC, the event was attended by Kirit Bhansali, Chairman; Shaunak Parikh, Vice Chairman; Ashish Borda, Convener – Promotions, Marketing & Business Development; Jayanti Savaliya, Regional Chairman – Gujarat; Vijay Mangukiya, Convener – International Exhibitions; Mansukh Kothari, Convener – Events; and Sabyasachi Ray, Executive Director.

Instituted in 2014, the Artisan Awards has evolved into one of the industry’s most prestigious design-led platforms—encouraging originality, nurturing creative talent, and supporting India’s journey from a manufacturing powerhouse to a global design destination.

This year’s theme, “Quantum Couture: Re-engineering Beauty and Cultural Codes,” explored a powerful shift in how jewellery is conceived and experienced—where heritage is not just preserved, but reinterpreted for a new era.

Through three creative directions—Embroidery, Micro-Painting, and Poetic Layers—designers presented jewellery that is fluid, expressive, and deeply conceptual, blending traditional craftsmanship with technology, storytelling, and contemporary design thinking.

Embroidery reimagined textile traditions as structure, where elements like lace, thread, and brocade were translated into metal and gemstones. Techniques such as filigree and jali evolved into intricate frameworks, creating pieces that felt layered, lightweight, and architectural.

Micro-Painting celebrated precision and storytelling at a miniature scale—drawing from heritage crafts like meenakari and miniature art. Each piece became a detailed narrative, where craftsmanship, symbolism, and technique came together to create intimate and meaningful expressions.

Poetic Layers explored jewellery as a multi-dimensional form—where nature, emotion, and structure intertwined. Through organic shapes and layered compositions, designers created pieces that felt fluid, sculptural, and deeply expressive.

With over 550 entries, the competition culminated in 27 finalists, whose ideas were brought to life by leading manufacturers, highlighting the seamless synergy between design innovation and manufacturing excellence.

Importantly, the journey of these creations does not end here. The 27 winning pieces will go on to be showcased at leading international platforms such as JCK Las Vegas, Vicenzaoro, IIJS Bharat Mumbai, SAJEX in Saudi Arabia, and other leading trade shows—taking the brilliance of Indian jewellery design to a wider global audience and reinforcing India’s growing presence in design-led jewellery.

Kirit Bhansali, Chairman, GJEPC, said

“India has long been recognised as a manufacturing powerhouse, but the next phase of growth lies in becoming a global design destination. Platforms like the Artisan Awards play a crucial role in encouraging original thinking and shaping the future identity of Indian jewellery.”

Lucia Silvestri, Jewellery Creative & Gems Buying Director, Bvlgari, “I have always been deeply fascinated by India’s extraordinary heritage in jewellery, a tradition that is incredibly rich in craftsmanship, symbolism, and artistry. There is a profound sense of history and culture embedded in every detail, which makes it a constant source of inspiration for me. Having reviewed the design sketches, I was particularly struck by the way this heritage is being reinterpreted through a contemporary lens. There is a beautiful balance between tradition and innovation, where legacy meets modern creativity.”

“I am honoured to be part of India’s enduring legacy of jewellery and craftsmanship. India continues to inspire the world of jewellery, now empowering a new wave of creative voices and future icons. From heritage to horizon, India fuels the next generation of jewellery designers redefining global aesthetics,” said Paola De Luca, Creative Director & Strategist, The Futurist LLC

Ashish Borda, Convener, Promotions & Marketing, GJEPC, said:

“With over 550 entries responding to the theme of Quantum Couture, we witnessed bold imagination and fresh interpretations. Designers embraced heritage as a foundation to create something distinctly modern, reflecting the growing maturity of the talent pool. Through platforms like the Artisan Awards, GJEPC remains committed to nurturing design innovation and strengthening India’s position in high-value, design-led jewellery.”

The awards were adjudicated by an eminent jury comprising Lucia Silvestri, Creative Director & Gems Buying Director, Bvlgari;  Amedeo Scognamiglio, Founder & Creative Director, RFMAS Jewellery Group; Dr Annapurna Garimella, Art Historian & Designer; Siddharth Kasliwal, Founder, Gem Palace; and Milan Chokshi, Founder, Moksh.

Amedeo Scognamiglio, Founder & Creative Director, RFMAS Jewellery Group, said:

“My personal journey is rooted in a multi-generational Italian family tradition of craftsmanship, where technique is inherited, refined, and respected. At the same time, I have always felt the need to challenge that legacy through a contemporary design language of my own. This duality is exactly why the Artisan Awards resonate with me. The designers I reviewed carry the same weight of heritage, but also the courage to evolve it — and that is where true creativity lives. I see in them the younger me.”

Dr. Annapurna Garimella, Art Historian & Designer, said:

“Refined, ebullient, or wild — craft from India, especially in precious materials, has seduced the connoisseurs of the world for centuries. As an art historian, I am intrigued by the way historic and contemporary makers think through concept, purpose and material. As a designer working with artisan-designers and craftspeople, I am also seduced by the transmission and transformation of historic skills and knowledge. The Artisan Awards allow me to closely observe how other designers work, and it excites me to think about how they visualise concepts and realise them.”

Siddharth Kasliwal, Founder, Gem Palace said:

“What really stood out to me while judging at the Artisan Awards was the sheer fearlessness in creativity. There was a beautiful balance—designs that respected tradition, yet weren’t afraid to push boundaries and explore something new. That’s exactly the kind of mindset our industry needs today. Platforms like the Artisan Awards play such an important role in encouraging artisans and designers to think bigger, take risks, and evolve. It’s genuinely exciting to see this level of talent shaping the future of jewellery design.”

Milan Chokshi, Founder, Moksh, said:

“The structure of the Artisan Awards pushes the participants to really explore ideas, and at the same time present originality—extremely relevant in these times of excessive mechanical reproduction, where almost nothing seems original and everything can be made in unlimited quantities.”

Winners: The Artisan Awards 2026

Winner Suraji Bhosal

1ST RUNNER UP – Lekshmi Raj Manju

2ND RUNNER UP – Prajakta Vesvikar

WINNER – Kavitha Rajendran

1ST RUNNER UP – Elena Pari

2ND RUNNER UP – Archangel Caszo

WINNER – Namira Shaikh

1ST RUNNER UP – Nayonika Chatterjee

2ND RUNNER UP – Abhijit Das