<i>The objective of this year's Prix Golay was to create a piece of jewelry that embodied the theme `Pearls to Play'. Each entrant received seven cultured pearls, one South Sea pearl and six freshwater pearls and then let their imaginations run wild. </i>




The annual Prix Golay competition is organized and sponsored by Swiss-based Golay, a leader in the global pearl trade. With the goal of encouraging young talent, it is open to students and apprentices preparing for their exams for the four-year program culminating in the Swiss Federal Diploma as a goldsmith. To be accepted into the contest, students must first submit a drawing, followed by the finished creation, designed and crafted by themselves. Their work is then judged by a jury, who come from the jewelry, fashion and design worlds.
The Grand Prize of 6,000 Swiss francs was awarded to Ramona Matthaei (Goldschmiede Atelier Schuppisser in Winterthur, Allgemeine Berufsschule ZÜrich). In her `pearl piano' bracelet, seven pearls are held by piano strings. As the wrist moves, the pearls move over the strings, making `music'. Each string is tightened in the cylindrical frame and a rhodium-plated housing discretely covers the mechanism and amplifies the sound.
The Technical Prize of 2,000 Swiss francs was awarded to Aude Houlmann (Ecole d'Art des Montagnes Neuchâteloises in La Chaux-de-Fonds) for her playful ring. Six freshwater pearls move freely under a round window in their golden bowl. For each one, a small chamber in the wooden frame can be opened and closed by rotating the South Sea pearl on the top. As a result, the pearls appear to be set in the wood. Because of its excellent mechanism, the look of the ring can be changed.
The Conceptual Prize of 2,000 Swiss francs was awarded to Sarah KÜffer (Bijouterie Zigerli + Iff AG in Bern, Schule fÜr Gestaltung Bern) for her ring combining ebony wood, silver and pearls. The upper and lower parts join in harmony to make a runway for the pearls, for playing games while the ring is worn. On a flat surface, the ring becomes a spinning top. As it spins, it plays with the pearls' colors.
The Special Prize of the Jury, valued at 2,000 Swiss francs, was awarded to Anouck Bregnard (Ecole d'Art des Montagnes Neuchâteloises in La Chaux-de-Fonds). Her jewels come straight out of a fairy book. In fact, they are kept in a book. The small puppet theater was created with so much love and flair that it charmed the Jury who rewarded it their Special Prize. From left: - The Grand Prize winning bracelet was created by Ramona Matthaei. - For its very clever mechanism, Aude Houlmann's ring was awarded the Technical Prize. - The Conceptual Prize was awarded to Sarah KÜffer for her playful ring. - Anouck Bregnard's fairy tale jewelry won the hearts of the jurors who gave it the Special Prize of the Jury.

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Source: Couture International Jeweler
August - September 03 issue