Sarah Ho named best young UK designer, Bulgari most innovative brand

By NICOLA FERLEI BROWN

NAPLES –  With the merging of both UK and Italian Designers, this past weekend witnessed Naples playing host to both Italian and British designers for the glittering second annual edition of the Italian Jewellery Awards.  

The event was held at the beautiful, monumental San Lorenzo Maggiore, moving north only slightly after last year’s edition took place in Amalfi. Entertainment was provided by hostess and actress Serena Autieri, who sang to live music towards the end of the evening. 

The location underlined the Campania region’s desire to promote the goldsmith traditions that have been used in its districts for centuries. Although focused primarily on the crafts of this region, the finalists represented regions across the whole of the peninsula, from Milan to Naples. 

The judging panel was made up of seven select editors from both Italy and England from leading Jewellery magazines, including Sarah Carpin, Editor of British magazine ‘Retail Jeweller‘and Ilaria Danieli, Senior Editor of Vogue Gioiello, of the Conde Nast group. 

Respected British designer Sarah Ho took the stage to accept her much-deserved award for The Best Young UK Jewellery Designer. Ho trained as a goldsmith at the London Metropolitan University and then graduated as a Gemolist from the HRD Institute of Gemology  in Belgium. With a passion for gemstones, she was involved in the Swarovski Runway Rocks exhibition  earlier this year in Japan. In 2008, she won the International Tahitian Pearl Trophy award. Her designs were featured in Vogue in 2008. 

Bulgari won The Most Innovative Italian Brand Jewellery Communication Campaign . Bulgari one of the worlds leading luxury jewellers, is still entirely run by the Bulgari family. They boast over 250 stores and two hotels in Milan. 

In all a total of eight Awards handed out for different categories: 

– The Best Young Italian jewellery Designer (Stefano Marchetti). Marchetti trained at the Pietro Selvatico National Art Institute in Padova, and his works are exhibited in major museums the world over.

– Best Young UK Jewellery Designer (Sarah Ho)

– Best Professional Italian Jewellery Designer (Gabriele DeVecchi)

 – Best Young Designer From The Campania Region (Mario Bottiglieri)

– Most Innovative Italian Jewellery Flagship Store (Pomellato).

– Most Innovative Italian Brand Jewellery Communication Campaign (Bulgari)

– Best Jewel Realised With Materials And Techniques Of Campania Jewellery (Loffredo)

– Most Innovative Jewellery Company (San Lorenzo).  

 This years winner for the Italian category in the UK, was Alessio Boschi. Italy has a category for the UK and vice versa. The IJA was the second held in Italy. A successful awards ceremony with a turnout of around 300 guests, a mixture of those from within the industry including buyers and designers. 

The prestigious magazine “Vogue Gioiello” was the national media partner for the event and the IJA was promoted by and organized in partnership with Universal Marketing. 

http://www.italianjewelleryawards.it