PGI changes judging process for innovation awards

New York--The Platinum Guild International has simplified the judging process and cut down on the number of categories in its Platinum Innovation Awards, the organization announced at its annual breakfast held last week in New York. 

Beginning this year, a panel of judges will perform the first round of voting using pictures of the entries that will be uploaded online. The exact composition of this panel is still undetermined but PGI said it will be a mix of editors and jewelry industry representatives.

Then, at the JCK Las Vegas show, there’ll be a second panel of judges, makeup still undetermined, who’ll make rounds at the show and make their picks after seeing the pieces in person. There’ll be no voting by the retailers in attendance at the show as there was before.

In addition, PGI has cut down the number of categories from seven to three. 

The three categories are: platinum bridal; fashion jewelry; and entry-level platinum jewelry, pieces that retail for $3,500 and below. There will be multiple winners per category. 

PGI will begin accepting submissions for the awards later this year, on March 17. The deadline for photo submissions is April 24, and a photo of the finished piece is preferred, since that’s what the first round of judges will see. 

The Platinum Innovation Awards are open to exhibitors of JCK Las Vegas, the AGTA show in Las Vegas and Luxury by JCK, as long as they’re also exhibiting at JCK. Exhibitors must have the piece finished in platinum and present at the show. 

In addition at the breakfast, PGI announced that it’s returning to the Couture show, which is scheduled for May 28 to June 1 at the Wynn Las Vegas, this year. 

Prior to Las Vegas the organization will exhibit at the upcoming Centurion show in Scottsdale, Ariz., where it will be promoting and sharing more details on its new Hall of Fame, which it started in December. The Hall of Fame recognizes retail store sales associates who scored 100 percent during one of PGI-USA’s mystery shopping trips.