GIA (Gemological Institute of America) students put their skills and talent to the test for the third annual Gianmaria Buccellati Foundation Award for Excellence in Jewelry Design. Yi-Hsuan Chiang, who earned her Jewelry Design certificate at the GIA Taiwan campus, received the top honor at the GIA Alumni Association event in Tucson, AZ on Wednesday, Feb. 5. In addition to the recognition, Chiang will travel to Italy to meet Rosa Maria Bresciani Buccellati, president of the foundation, and visit the foundation’s collection.

 “All of the students’ designs exhibit immense natural talent, revealed through the techniques they learn in the Jewelry Design course at GIA,” said Laurie Bailyn, senior manager of jewelry manufacturing arts, research & development. “Yi-Hsuan’s piece exhibited exceptional detail and craftsmanship.”

Chiang’s winning design was a necklace that featured amethyst, diamond, moonstone, conch pearls, coral, black opal and baroque pearl. The design depicted a butterfly that had fallen into a spider’s web, “…like a beautiful girl who has fallen inextricably into the web of love,” said Chiang.

More than 200 students competed to be finalists for the Gianmaria Buccellati Foundation Award for Excellence in Jewelry Design. The designs by 18 finalists from seven GIA campuses were evaluated by peers, faculty and ultimately by a panel of distinguished judges – including Paula Crevoshay, owner and jewelry designer of Mellika Co. Inc.; Victoria Gomelsky, editor-in-chief of JCK Magazine; Alishan Halebian, owner and jewelry designer of Alishan; Alan Revere, founder of The Revere Academy of Jewelry Arts; and Rémy Rotenier, owner and jewelry designer of Rémy Rotenier, Inc. The students’ designs were presented in their original, hand-rendered format, accompanied by statements that identified the materials used and what the inspiration of the piece was.

 “On behalf of the Gianmaria Buccellati Foundation, we want to congratulate Ms. Yi Hsuan Chiang on becoming the third winner of the Gianmaria Buccellati Foundation award for Excellence in Jewelry Design. A competition created by our partnership with the GIA,” said Larry French, chief officer of North America strategies for the Gianmaria Buccellati Foundation. “The designs that were selected as the 18 finalists and exhibited in Tucson beautifully illustrate the passion and dedication of those who created them. It is in honor of Gianmaria Buccellati's name that we will welcome, as our guest, Ms. Chiang to Italy.”

 The award was created in partnership with the Gianmaria Buccellati Foundation in 2018 to recognize outstanding talent in design among GIA students globally. The 2020 Gianmaria Buccellati Foundation Award for Excellence in Jewelry Design competition is underway and open to students in GIA’s Jewelry Design courses who meet the eligibility requirements. For more information, visit GIA.edu/buccellati-foundation-award-jewelry-design.

GIA’s Jewelry Design course teaches drafting, shading, design theory and illustration using several mediums. At the completion of the course, students have a hand-developed portfolio of their work and a digital copy. GIA also offers courses in Jewelry Design & Technology and Comprehensive Computer-Aided Design and Computer-Aided Manufacturing (CAD/CAM).