International Jewellery Icon Katerina Perez Joins Judging Panel for the 9th Diamond Guild Australia Jewellery Awards
Diamond Guild Australia has officially announced the judging panel for the highly anticipated 9th Diamond Guild Australia Jewellery Awards, with internationally recognised jewellery expert and content creator Katerina Perez confirmed to join the 2026 program.
Widely regarded as one of Australia’s premier jewellery design competitions, the Awards celebrate excellence in natural diamond jewellery design and craftsmanship across the retail jewellery industry. The biennial event has become a major platform for recognising Australian talent, innovation and artistry, attracting entries from some of the country’s leading jewellers and emerging designers alike.
The addition of Katerina Perez to the judging panel marks a significant milestone for the Awards. With more than 400,000 Instagram followers and a respected international reputation within the jewellery world, Perez brings both global visibility and deep industry expertise to the competition.
Originally from Russia and now based in Paris, Perez began her career working with prestigious jewellery houses including Tiffany & Co., Chaumet, Asprey and Boghossian before launching her own media platform in 2013. Since then, she has become one of the jewellery industry’s most influential voices, known for championing exceptional craftsmanship, original design and emerging creative talent from around the world.
Diamond Guild Australia Executive Officer Melissa James said Perez’s involvement will elevate the profile of the Awards internationally while inspiring more Australian jewellers to participate.
We are delighted and honoured to have Katerina Perez accept our invitation to visit Australia and join the panel of judges for our upcoming Awards,” James said. “To have a guest judge with a substantial global audience will elevate the Diamond Guild Australia Jewellery Awards to new heights and allow us to showcase the best of Australian jewellery design talent to the world.
Perez will join returning judges including respected industry technical adviser Lester Brand and Dr Brandon Gien, founder and Chairperson of Good Design Australia. This will be the fourth time Dr Gien has participated in the Awards judging panel, bringing extensive expertise in industrial and environmental design.
The judging process for the 2026 Awards will take place in Sydney during August, with finalists and winners announced at the gala Awards event on 13 October 2026. Entries are assessed anonymously against strict criteria focused on originality, craftsmanship, wearability and overall design excellence.
As anticipation builds for the 9th Awards program, Diamond Guild Australia expects the announcement to drive even greater participation and raise the benchmark for creativity within the Australian jewellery industry.
“We look forward to showcasing an amazing collection of entries in 2026,” James said.
To view further information about our three judges, please click here.
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