The CPAA’s Annual Design Contest Starts Now

New York—The Cultured Pearl Association of America (CPAA) is now accepting entries for the 12th edition of its Annual International Pearl Design Competition.

The award categories will be the same as last year, CPAA said.

The “Spotlight Award,” which highlights one specific pearl variety annually, will this year be awarded to one design featuring 75 percent or more blue akoya pearls.

International and domestic entries will be judged separately, with a winner in each for every award category.

International entries will consist of renderings and sketches, while U.S. entries will be based on finished jewelry.

For the U.S., entries in the first round will consist of photographs of finished pieces, showcasing one to three angles of the work per the designer’s discretion.

Judges will announce finalists on Monday, Nov. 1.

In the second stage, those finalists will ship their jewelry for live judging in New York City.

Winners will be selected on Thursday, Nov. 18, and go immediately for sale at Aaron Faber Gallery.

Any items that do not sell will be returned in January 2022.

The judges are Aaron Faber co-owner Patricia Faber and Jean Francois Bibet, workshop and production director at Cartier.

Entries are being accepted now through Friday, Oct. 22.

CPAA has extended its special pandemic pricing for this year, with the first two entries costing a total $175, and each additional entry costing $150 each. Entries are limited to five.

The association encourages both new and seasoned designers to enter.

“The International Pearl Design Competition is now in our 12th year and is stronger than ever,” CPAA Marketing Manager Kathy Grenier said. “CPAA is especially excited for 2021 because creativity needs an outlet, and the circumstances of the pandemic have silenced many in the past year.

“Now is the time to bring those pearl creations into existence! The world of pearls is your oyster; let the designing begin!”

A cocktail reception will celebrate winners and finalists at Aaron Faber on Nov. 18, the day the winners are announced.

Winning designs must be available to go for sale at the gallery; designs that are already sold or otherwise unavailable should not be submitted.

Full rules and guidelines are available online.