Jewellery design is where art, technical mastery, and emotional narrative converge. In Australia and New Zealand, one of the most prestigious platforms recognising these qualities is the JAA Australasian Jewellery Awards (run by the Jewellers Association of Australia).
Over decades, certain pieces and designers have stood out not just once but repeatedly. They have won multiple awards across categories such as Precious Metals, Colour, CAD/CAM, Diamond, and the top honour — Jeweller of the Year. This article explores what makes a design “award magnet,” highlights some of the most decorated works, and provides a year-by-year lens on notable winners.
What Makes a Design “Most Awarded”?
When a piece of jewellery wins multiple JAA awards, several factors tend to be present:
- Technical Innovation — Use of cutting-edge techniques (e.g. CAD/CAM, lost-wax casting, micro-setting, hybrid fabrication) often sets works apart.
- Cohesive Design Concept — A strong narrative or concept (nature, geometry, symbolism) helps judges see unified vision.
- Material & Gemstone Mastery — Exceptional use of metals (white gold, platinum, mixed metals) plus gemstones (coloured gems, fancy cuts) helps across multiple categories.
- Marketability & Wearability — It’s not just art; the design must be sellable or wearable in real life, with structural integrity and finishing.
- Versatility Across Categories — A piece that can compete in “Precious Metal,” “Colour/Gemstone,” “Diamond,” or even “Men’s / Accessories” categories has more opportunities to win.
Designers who master blending innovation with strong narrative and commercial viability tend to accumulate awards over time.
Yearly Highlights & Standout Winners
Below is a snapshot of some notable years, their winners, and pieces that exemplified excellence. (This is not exhaustive, but illustrative.)
2017
- Precious Metal Award: Shiree Hobson — To Hold and to Have jaa.com.au
- Colour Award: Alistair Kelsey, Alistair Kelsey Jewellery jaa.com.au
- Diamond Award (Showcase Jewellers): Gregorie Vende (MDTdesign), Victoria jaa.com.au+1
- CAD/CAM / Cast Award: Roberto Mattei
- Jeweller of the Year (Roy Worfold Trophy): Alistair Kelsey jaa.com.au
- People’s Choice (Marie Claire): Jeremy Fleming
In 2017, Alistair Kelsey’s strong performance (winning both Colour and Jeweller of the Year) suggests a design that resonated both technically and aesthetically across judging criteria.
2010
From the JAA 2010 Awards:
- Precious Metal: Emily Snadden (Collins Jewellers, Tasmania) jaa.com.au
- Silver Award: David Clayton jaa.com.au
- Pearl Award: Lynn Barker & Paul Taseff (Linneys, Western Australia) jaa.com.au
- Opal Award: Leon Parry (Jewellery By Leon, Queensland) jaa.com.au
- Coloured Gemstone: Roy Wilson (Roy Jewellery, NSW) jaa.com.au
- Diamond (retail value up to $5000): Steve Pallas (G & N Designer Jewellers, Victoria) jaa.com.au
- Diamond (above $5000): Varoujan Djevahirdjian (Varoujan Jewellers, NSW) jaa.com.au
- CAD/CAM Award: Sarah Radloff (McCarthy Jewellers, QLD) jaa.com.au
- People’s Choice: Micheal & Dale Trenberth (The Gold Factory, SA) jaa.com.au
- Apprentice/Student of the Year: Chia-an Cheng (Sayang’s Touch, QLD) jaa.com.au
- Jeweller of the Year / Roy Worfold Trophy: Emily Snadden (Collins Jewellers) jaa.com.au
Here, Emily Snadden’s win in both Precious Metal and the top prize highlights her work’s balance of artistry and execution.
2021 / 2022
The 26th JAA Awards, labeled 2021–2022:
- The awards emphasized design, innovation, craftsmanship, and marketability. jaa.com.au
- (The published winners list is partial in the source, but the awards resumed after COVID-19 delay.) jaa.com.au
2023
From the 2023 Awards:
- The JAA Awards are still the longest running local jewellery design and manufacture competition in Australia. jaa.com.au
- Benjamin Tracy was the Colour Winner in 2023. jaa.com.au
- Nazanin Mohammad Khani won Sketch in 2023 for her design, Lorikeet ring. jaa.com.au
These more recent winners show how newer design voices are being recognised, particularly in conceptual and sketch phases as much as in finished works.
Most Awarded Designs & Designers — Trends & Patterns
While it’s challenging to definitively list a single “most awarded design” (because awards are per piece per year), some designers and types of design have recurred across years:
- Alistair Kelsey — winning both Colour and Jeweller of the Year in 2017 demonstrates a design that appeals across categories. jaa.com.au
- Benjamin Tracy — his success in the Colour category in 2023 marks him as a rising multiple-award contender. jaa.com.au
- Emily Snadden — winning both a category prize and the top prize in 2010 speaks to a strong, multi-faceted design. jaa.com.au
- Artists who shine in sketch & concept phases — Nazanin Mohammad Khani’s Sketch winner status shows that not just finished pieces, but the creative ideation phase is now being rewarded. jaa.com.au
Design trends that tend to yield repeated recognition include:
- Nature & biomorphic motifs — rings, pendants, and brooches inspired by flora, fauna, birds (e.g. “Lorikeet”)
- Mixed metal and surface finishes — combining polished, matte, sandblast, texture contrasts
- Innovative gemstone cuts and colored gemstones — using less common gem species or unusual cuts
- Technical integration of CAD/CAM — seamless translation from digital concept to wearable form
- Narrative backstory — pieces that tell a story or express a theme often resonate deeper with judges
Challenges & Gaps in the Public Record
A full list of all winners over all years, or a tally of which particular design has won the most, is not easily accessible in publicly archived pages. The JAA site provides year-to-year winners and finalists, but often omits images or full portfolios of the submitted pieces.
To fully identify “the most awarded design,” one would ideally collate data across all years, tracking which specific piece or designer name appears repeatedly across multiple categories and years. That kind of archival database is not currently public.
Suggested Feature Case Study: A “Most Awarded” Design Prototype
If one were to choose a prototypical “most awarded” piece, it might look like:
- A striking ring or pendant with a vivid coloured gemstone as focal
- Intricate metal articulation or kinetic elements
- Execution across both precious metal & gemstone categories
- A compelling story or theme (e.g. nature, metamorphosis, cultural symbolism)
- Technical feats (micro-setting, filigree, hidden mechanics, mixed finishes)
That kind of piece would be positioned to succeed across multiple award categories in a single year — and potentially be re-entered in derivative or variant forms in later years.
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