Get Ready for the 2026 Diamond Guild Awards
Diamond Guild Australia is pleased to share highlights from a recent Jewellers Podcast conversation with three of the people shaping the 2026 Diamond Guild Awards.
Host Laura Moore was joined by:
- Janelle O’Connell, newly appointed Chairperson of Diamond Guild Australia
- Stephen Dibb, 2026 Vice Chair
- Nadia Newman, Diamond Guild member and 2024 Supreme Award winner
Together, they unpacked the purpose of the Awards, what makes them unique, what’s new for 2026, and why more jewellers across Australia should consider entering this year.
A tradition built on excellence in natural diamonds
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. As Janelle explained, 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.
What makes the Diamond Guild Awards different
A defining feature of the Awards is the focus on natural diamonds. That focus creates a unique creative challenge, especially in categories with tight constraints.
Janelle noted that designing with a limited palette can actually push creativity further. The Solitaire category is a great example. Entrants work with a single diamond, which demands stronger concept development and design problem solving.
How entries are judged
The judging criteria is designed to reward creativity and real world excellence, not just spectacle:
- 50% Design innovation
- 25% Craftsmanship
- 25% Wearability
Wearability matters because jewellery ultimately lives on the body, and many entrants aim to create pieces that can be sold, worn, and loved well beyond the Awards night.
Open to the trade, not just Guild members
A key message from the episode was simple: you do not need to be a Diamond Guild member to enter.
The Awards are open to retail jewellery businesses and jewellers selling to the public, as long as the piece aligns with the natural diamond requirement. There is also a strong push to welcome new and emerging talent into the process.
New for 2026: Diamonds Reimagined
One of the most exciting updates for 2026 is the introduction of Diamonds Reimagined, a new category celebrating redesign and repurposing.
Stephen described it as a category grounded in real trade work. 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.
2026 Award categories
Entrants can consider a wide range of categories, including:
- Solitaire
- Diamonds for Men
- Diamonds for Everyday (maximum retail price of $10,000)
- Fancy Coloured Diamonds
- Emerging Talent (for apprentices and students, including design and jewellery related study pathways)
- Design for Diamonds (hand sketch, Procreate, CAD and other design media)
- Red Carpet Diamonds
- Diamonds Reimagined (new for 2026)
Winners across categories are considered for the ultimate title, the Supreme Award.
More than a trophy: marketing, photography, and international exposure
Beyond peer recognition, the Awards deliver tangible benefits to finalists and winners.
Diamond Guild Australia invests in professional photography of finalists and award winning pieces. That content is then provided back to entrants for use across social media, client presentations, and marketing.
Nadia also spoke about the broader impact of winning, including opportunities to be recognised beyond Australia through international competitions that select winners from around the world. For her, the Supreme Award created momentum for both business growth and personal confidence as a designer and maker.
Advice from the panel: start early and just enter
If there was one repeated theme across the episode, it was encouragement.
Janelle and Nadia both urged jewellers to back themselves and enter even if they feel uncertain. Stephen added a practical tip that every jeweller understands: leave time for problems, because problems will happen. Build your timeline to finish at least two weeks early so the process stays enjoyable.
They also highlighted that entries can be collaborative. If you are a designer who needs a maker to bring the piece to life, partnering is welcomed and has been part of past winning work.
Key dates for the 2026 Awards
If you are considering entering, here are the important dates shared in the podcast:
- Awards launch and expressions of interest open: 1 February 2026
- Entry forms due: 31 July 2026
- Physical pieces submitted: 3 to 6 August 2026
- Gala dinner and winners announced: 14 October 2026 (Sydney)
Ready to enter
If you have been waiting for the right moment to create something bold, refined, commercial, experimental, or deeply personal, this is it.
The Diamond Guild Awards are designed to celebrate Australian jewellery at its best, build networks across the trade, and encourage the next generation to step forward.
Entries are open to the industry. Create the piece. Tell the story. Enter the Awards.
