SPECIAL INVITATION: Join the 9th Diamond Guild Australia Jewellery Awards Exclusive Preview

Diamond Guild Australia

Key Facts:

You are invited to view the best of Australian diamond design and speak to our illustrious panel of judges on jewellery trends and innovation on Tuesday 11th August 2026 from 3pm - 4pm at our central Sydney judging location.

MEDIA RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

SPECIAL INVITATION:
Join the 9th Diamond Guild Australia Jewelley Awards Exclusive Preview

THURSDAY 6 AUGUST 2026: The Diamond Guild Australia Jewellery Awards will be judged by four leading industry experts on Tuesday 11^th August 2026 in Sydney. You are invited to view the best of Australian diamond design and speak to our illustrious panel of judges on jewellery trends and innovation.

Regarded as the foremost jewellery design competition in Australia, the Diamond Guild Jewellery Awards has traditionally been a biennial event since its establishment in 2005. Hosted by the members of the Guild, the Awards are open to all members of the retail jewellery trade operating within Australia.

The line-up of categories contested at The 9th Diamond Guild Australia Jewellery Awards are as follows:

SOLITAIRE
DIAMONDS FOR MEN
EMERGING TALENT (STUDENT CATEGORY)
FANCY COLOUR
DESIGN FOR DIAMONDS (RENDERING CATEGORY)
DIAMONDS REIMAGINED (REMODELLING CATEGORY)
RED CARPET
DIAMONDS FOR EVERYDAY
THE SUPREME AWARD
PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD

From each category, up to three finalists will be selected on Tuesday 11^th August and the winner chosen based on the stringent points based judging system. The winners will then contest the prize of SUPREME AWARD WINNER based on the entry with the highest overall score.

The judges for the Awards include:

Dr. Brandon Gien

Dr Brandon Gien is the CEO of Good Design Australia, Chair of the Australian Good Design Awards, and Deputy Chair of the Australian Design Council.

This is Brandon’s third time judging the Diamond Guild Jewellery Awards.

Katerina Perez

If you love jewellery, you may already know Katerina Perez – she’s the globetrotting jewellery aficionado whose passion has blossomed into a thriving career as an authoritative voice in the industry. With more than 500,000 followers on Instagram, you could call her an influencer too, but as a jewellery insider with more than 13 years of experience in the business, her expertise goes much deeper than that.

Joash Teo

Alongside a diverse roster of international couture clientele, fashion designer Joash currently creates under Joteo, his namesake label established in his 2018 sophomore year. He has received acclaim with exhibitions in Artisan Australia’s boutique gallery, inclusion in Bura Singapore’s ‘SFW Best Dressed List’ and a shortlisting for IMG’s Next Generation Prize.

Lester Brand

Lester Brand, from Lester Band Jewellery, is our technical advisor.

About the 9th Awards

The Diamond Guild Awards began more than 20 years ago with a clear goal: promote excellence in the diamond industry and showcase the depth of Australian design and craftsmanship. The Awards are a practical way to bring Diamond Guild Australia’s mission to life by celebrating the creativity and capability of jewellers working with natural diamonds.

Over time, the Awards have evolved with new categories and updated criteria to stay relevant to the modern jewellery trade, while keeping a strong focus on design innovation and natural diamond jewellery.

One of the most exciting updates for 2026 is the introduction of Diamonds Reimagined, a new category celebrating redesign and repurposing.

Many jewellers are regularly asked to redesign family pieces, remake heirlooms, and reuse existing gold and diamonds. This category brings that everyday skill into a design competition format, including the story of transformation from the original piece to the new design.

It also helps lower the cost barrier for some entrants, supports sustainability in practice, and gives jewellers a powerful story to share with clients.

Your Invitation

If you would like to book a one-on-one session with our judges, times are available from 3pm - 4pm on Tuesday 11^th August 2026 at our central Sydney judging location. Please contact Melissa James, Executive Officer, Diamond Guild Australia via email [email protected] or 0438 239 455.

Our Sponsors

Diamond Guild Australia thanks our sponsors:

Dialog - Major Sponsor - https://www.dialogvault.com/
Carat IQ - https://www.caratiq.com/
Chemgold - https://chemgold.com/
Joteo – Fashion Partner https://www.instagram.com/_joteo_/
Fine Jewellery Images - https://finejewelleryimages.com/
Jewellery Industry Network - https://jewelleryindustrynetwork.com/
Mastercare Insurance https://www.diamondguild.com.au/mastercare-insurance/

ENDS

For further information, imagery or comment relating to this release please contact Melissa James, Executive Officer, Diamond Guild Australia via email [email protected] or 0438 239 455.

Contact details: