Vicenzaoro Crowns International Jewelry Award Winners

Vicenza, Italy--It’s the height of awards season in both the entertainment and jewelry industries, and the Vicenzaoro trade show is no exception.

The show honored a number of brands at its annual Andrea Palladio International Jewelry Awards--so named for the Renaissance architect responsible for Vicenza’s famous basilica, among other architectural feats in Venice--held Friday night, on the eve of the show’s opening.

This year’s jury to select winners consisted of Franco Cologni, founder of the Cologni-Mestieri D'Arte Foundation; Silvana Annicchiarico, director of the Triennale Design Museum; Alba Cappellieri, design professor of the Milan Polytechnic Jewel; and Clare Phillips, curator at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.

Massimiliano Bonoli accepted an award for “Best Italian Jewelry Designer,” while “Best Italian Jewelry Collection” went to Carlo Palmiero of Palmiero for the brand’s “Underwater World” collection.

The “Best International Jewelry Designer” was awarded to Luz Camino of Spain and “Best International Jewelry Collection” was awarded to Chanel for their “Flying Cloud” fine jewelry offerings.

Chanel was the first of several iconic, international jewelry houses honored.

Diverting from the more traditional categories, an award recognizing a brand’s advertising also was on the agenda for the evening, with “Best Jewelry Communication Campaign” going to Cartier for their “How Far Would You Go For Love” marketing effort.

Van Cleef & Arpels won “Best Jewelry Communication New Media,” an award which specifically honored its traveling “Noah’s Ark” high jewelry collection, which made its way to New York last fall.

Tiffany & Co.’s new Italian flagship store in Milan, Tiffany House Milan, received the award for “Best Jewelry Flagship Store” and Elsa Peretti, who has been a designer at Tiffany with her own namesake collection for decades, won the “Lifetime Achievement Award.”

The Corporate Social Responsibility Award went to brand SeeMe from the Netherlands, specifically going to its CEO and founder, designer Caterina Occhio.

Vicenzaoro, The Jewelry Boutique Show, is owned by the Italian Exhibition Group and is held every September and January, plus has a Hong Kong, Dubai and Las Vegas presence within other trade shows.

The current January edition concludes this Wednesday, Jan. 24.