The Design Competition for Retail Jewelers
The 2018 CASE Awards winners have been selected and will be displayed at the JA New York Winter Show March 11-13. Fifty-six pieces were submitted into the 2018 competition, and the five pieces below were selected as showcasing the most creativity, artistry, style and excellence in design. Congratulations to all the winners -- pieces with intricate designs and unique gemstones!
2018 CASE Award Winners
Jewelry Up to $2,000
A hand carved raw Selenite crystal pendant accented by a .66 carat pear shaped grossular garnet, a .50 carat oval green tourmaline, a .66 carat round andalusite, a .27 carat andalusite, and six 4 mm round assorted green tourmalines (1.65 ctw). Set in sterling silver and 14K gold.
Jeweler: Chris Jensen
C3 Designs
South Milwaukee, WI
Jewelry $2,001 to $5,000
18K yellow gold hand carved ring featuring a center set natural golden rutilated quartz cabochon (21.18 ctw) and 92 round brilliant cut diamonds (0.28 ctw). Diamonds are highlighted with rhodium plating.
Jeweler: Ricardo Basta
Ricardo Basta Fine Jewelry
Los Angeles, CA
Jewelry $5,001 to $10,000
18K gold handcrafted vintage coral and diamond pendant with a center coral cabochon, coral beads, and rose cut milky diamonds.
Jeweler: Faye Kim
Faye Kim Designs
Westport, CT
Jewelry $10,001 to $50,000
18K green gold alloy (24K gold and Sterling Silver) bracelet with round brilliant cut diamond FVS (0.10 ctw).
Jeweler: Faye Kim
Faye Kim Designs
Westport, CT
People's Choice
14K white gold pendant with a precision cut Trillion Madeira Citrine center stone accented by a .15ct princess cut diamond bail with full filligree basket setting.
Jeweler: Bernie Benavidez
Master Jewelers, Inc.
Rochester, MN
See all the entrants here >
With the CASE Awards, Jewelers of America shines a spotlight on the custom design craftsmanship found in the jewelry stores of Jewelers of America Members nationwide. Jewelers of America’s national retailer design competition – The CASE Awards – honors the jewelers who create jewelry pieces with the highest levels of creativity, artistry, skills and excellence in quality and style.
To be recognized with a CASE Award, Jewelers of America members must express their individuality and craft through the design and manufacture of one-of-a-kind jewelry pieces. The jewelry is judged by a panel of industry experts on overall design, marketability, wearability and quality of manufacture. The "People's Choice" winner is determined by consumer votes during an online voting period. Winners receive a prize of $500 (cash or Facebook ad campaign), a feature in
National Jeweler, national recognition and more.
The CASE Awards are sponsored by
Synchrony Financial and
Jewelers Mutual Insurance Group.
CASE Awards FAQs
The CASE Awards Dates
The 2018 CASE Awards has closed. Pieces entered into the CASE Awards jewelry design competition will be displayed online during the consumer voting period and seen by thousands of consumers. CASE Award winners are displayed during the JA New York Show at Jewelers of America's booth.
Interested employees of Jewelers of America Retail Members stores can enter during the entry period -- which is closed for 2018. Entries are selected in the order they are received, up to a maximum of 125 entries.
See Entry Guidelines
Regional Jewelry Association Winners
If your piece has won first place in a design competition sponsored by an eligible regional jewelry association, it receives automatic entry into The CASE Awards (entry fee: $50). The individual entrant must meet all eligibility and procedural requirements outlined in the CASE Award guidelines.
At-Large Entries
Members of Jewelers of America who do not participate in regional jewelry association design competitions, may submit “at-large” entries (entry fee: $80.00). At-large entries will be accepted in the order entry forms are received, after any eligible state and regional jewelry association competition winners.
- Jewelry to $2,000 retail value
- Jewelry $2,001 to $5,000 retail value
- Jewelry $5,001 to $10,000 retail value
- Jewelry $10,001 to $50,000 retail value
Jewelers of America will award a maximum of 5 CASE Awards: First-Place CASE Awards in the four competition categories and a "People's Choice" winner selected by consumer votes via an online vote.
See Complete Entry Guidelines Individuals submitting pieces must be employed in a JA Retail Member jewelry store prior to the final submission deadline. Only one entry per category per designer is permitted. Entries are accepted in the order they are received up to 125 maximum entries.
- Prizes: $500 cash prize for first-place winners of the four jewelry categories; $500 worth of Facebook advertising for the winner of the "People's Choice" CASE Award
- A customized CASE Awards trophy from Jewelers of America
- Professional, high-resolution images of the winning piece, for use in store marketing and promotion
- Major promotion in national and local press, featuring photos and descriptions of winning pieces
- Promotion at Jewelers of America’s website, www.jewelers.org
- Opportunity to be featured in Jewelers of America's Fine Jewelry Press Preview later in 2018
