The three winners of the jewelry competition, with designs inspired by “Israeli Childhood,” were announced last week. The competition is an initiative of the Gemstone and Jewelry Administration at the Israeli Ministry of Economy and Industry.

First prize and 25,000 NIS were awarded to designer Stav Davidovitz, who created earrings inspired by the eastern groundsel flower (known as “Grandpa’s Flower” in Hebrew). Davidovitz, 31, is a graduate of the Jewelry Design Department at the Shenkar College of Engineering, Design and Art. She is the owner of Stav Fine Jewelry.

Second place winner with a prize of 15,000 NIS is designer Adi Greenstein, who designed earrings inspired by the popular Israeli children’s game “5 Stones.” Greenstein, 42, is a graduate of the jewelry design department at the Bezalel Academy of Art and Design. A decade ago, she and her husband Alon opened a studio for teaching classical jewelry-making, the Veraino Design school.

In third place with a 10,000 NIS prize is Shiri Slutzker Mizrachi, who designed a ring in the shape of a beach ball. Slutzker Mizrachi, 34, has a BA in jewelry design and a master’s degree in combined design. She is the owner of Jon Jon Jewel.

The “Israeli Childhood” jewelry competition is an initiative of the Gemstone and Jewelry Administration at the Israel Ministry of Economy and Industry in cooperation with its Buy Israel Division. This is the second annual competition and is intended to encourage the creation of gold and silver jewelry in Israel, with precious stones, gems and diamonds. The competition aims at nurturing design talent in the Israeli jewelry industry and to bolster awareness in Israel and around the world about unique Israeli jewelry.

The jewelers and designers who took part in the competition were asked to design jewelry inspired by Israeli childhood. The panel of judges, made up of leading representatives and designers from the industry, faced a difficult challenge of selecting the ten leading pieces of jewelry. The criteria for the winners were: quality of the piece, comfort and the potential for mass production. The judges also examined aesthetics, creativity and originality, as well as the idea behind the design and the connection between the design experience and their childhood experience.

The jewelry designs were submitted to the judges with no identifying details to ensure fairness. The prize ceremony, where the ten finalist designs were showcased, was held as part of the “Jovella” jewelry exhibition at the David Intercontinental Hotel in Tel Aviv.

Racheli Betzalel, Head of the Gemstone and Jewelry Administration at the Israeli Ministry of Economy and Industry, said: “The ‘Jewelry in Song’ jewelry contest held last year was a great success and was a testament to the fact that Israel has a thriving jewelry industry with talented designers and unique and original jewelry. This year, we continued the tradition, this time inspired by ‘Israeli Childhood’. Dozens of designs were submitted from an interesting variety of designers. The Gemstone and Jewelry Administration will continue to promote and nurture Israeli designs, in an effort to bolster Israeli designers and the Israeli jewelry industry in Israel and throughout the world.”

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)