JAA award winner snags global prize

Posted February 08, 2011 | By Sonia Nair

Tasmanian-based Emily Snadden has made history by becoming the first Australian jeweller to win an accolade in Hong Kong’s International Jewellery Design Excellence Awards.

Snadden won the award for her ‘Precious Limb Bangle’, the same piece that landed her the Grand Prix Award and the Precious Metal Design Award at last September’s JAA Australian Jewellery Awards.

Snadden was as astonished as she was at the JAA awards after being told of her international victory.

“I am totally shocked yet again. It is very humbling and exciting,” she said.

The biennial International Jewellery Design Excellence Awards is open to jewellery designers who have won an industry award in their own country in the past 14 months. In 2009, the competition attracted 170 winners of global jewellery design competitions from 27 countries and regions.

Entries are judged on the basis of innovativeness, craftsmanship, aesthetics, wearability and functionality.

Snadden edged out her competitors to win one of four merit awards that will be handed out at a ceremony on the first day of the Hong Kong International Jewellery Show on March 4.

Snadden’s bangle will be on display throughout the fair. Snadden told Jeweller, “I’m very excited! I have never been to Hong Kong and I am looking forward to exploring the city and seeing my piece on display.”

Snadden works as a jeweller at Collins Jewellers in Hobart and is currently developing a new range for the store, which is due to be released in a few months.

“I’m inspired by organic forms, trees in particular, which I then use to create minimal and modern designs,” she said.

More reading:Tasmanian designer wins top jewellery award
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