India’s Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC) revealed the winners of its fifth Artisan Awards at a ceremony in Mumbai on April 14.

The theme of this year’s Artisan Awards was The Collectors, an homage to three iconic ladies with a passion for jewels: Elizabeth Taylor, Wallis Simpson and Barbara Hutton. 

The competition received 570 entries from India, the UK, the UAE, Egypt and Turkey, among others. The entries were evaluated based on the versatility, technicality, and adaptability of the classic designs to modern times.

A total of nine awards were given away, three in each category. Pratiksha Gandle won the Elizabeth Taylor category, with Jayaprabu B and Divya Banjare named as first runner-up and second runner-up, respectively. In the Wallis Simpson category, Dip Sit was declared the winner while Vishnupada Das was first runner-up; and Suryadeb Ghosh, second runner-up. Shurutika Shinde topped the Barbara Hutton category, with Pooja Mohnani coming in second and Ruchira Singh third.

Apart from cash prizes, the winners of the Artisan Awards will be offered internships with top brands in the industry. Moreover, the winning pieces will be showcased at international trade shows under the India Gallery organised by GJEPC. 

Colin Shah, chairman of GJEPC, said, “This has been a year of revival and resilience. The Artisan Awards is one of the main initiatives to showcase India's design prowess and position the country as one of the main design destinations for jewellery. Through the Awards, the GJEPC has been encouraging designers to think fearlessly and shape the future of design with unbridled creativity.”