The JJS–IJ Design Awards 2025 Jury Meet, held on November 24, 2025, brought together a distinguished panel of experts from the jewellery, design, and fashion industries, as well as academic institutions, to evaluate this year’s finalists for the upcoming JJS-IJ Design Awards. This rigorous selection session forms the core of one of India’s most respected jewellery design awards, setting design and craftsmanship benchmarks for the year ahead.

This year, 834 entries were received from 30 cities across India, spanning 19 categories. From these submissions, 135 pieces successfully qualified for the final physical judging round and were displayed at the meet. The shortlisted creations represent a wide cross-section of the country’s design talent — from emerging houses and regional manufacturers, to established national players — underscoring the position of the JJS-IJ Awards as a true pan-India platform.

The evaluation was led by a highly accomplished and diverse jury panel. The experts included Rajiv Jain, Secretary, Jaipur Jewellery Show; Shantanu Garg, Chief Designer & Founder, Shantanu Garg Design; Arjun Pansari, Director – Education, GIA India; Prachee Shah Paandya, actor and Kathak dancer; Sonaakshi Raaj, Founder, Label SonaakshiRaaj; Ken Ferns, fashion designer; Sonam Babani, celebrity stylist and luxury consultant; Gautam Banerjee, jewellery designer and founder of Gautam Banerjee’s Academy of Jewellery Designing, Mumbai; Ar Ricky Doshi, Principal Architect & CEO, ARD Studio; and Dr Sachin Laddha, Principal & Director, SNDT Women’s University. Together, they brought perspectives spanning design, craft, fashion, aesthetics, retail relevance, and consumer sensibility, ensuring a well-rounded, credible judging process.

The jury conducted a meticulous examination of the 135 finalist pieces, assessing each creation in terms of innovation, craftsmanship, aesthetic appeal, technical execution, and market viability. The discussions of the jury members highlighted the industry’s continued push towards experimentation, storytelling, and material diversity. Across categories, jurors observed a noticeable rise in refined detailing, bolder silhouettes, and contemporary interpretations of traditional motifs — a clear reflection of evolving consumer preferences.

New Award Categories Introduced

A defining highlight of the 2025 edition of the event will be the introduction of six new award categories, each designed to acknowledge emerging trends and new creative directions within the industry. These include:

• Alternate Jewellery of the Year: Honouring jewellery crafted without traditional precious metals, celebrating innovation with materials like wood, thread, ceramics, shells, and recycled elements
• Artefact of the Year: Recognizing exceptional non-wearable creations featuring precious materials, spotlighting artistic expression beyond adornment
• Pret Jewellery of the Year: Celebrating accessible, ready-to-wear jewellery in line with contemporary fashion sensibilities
• Best Groom’s Jewellery of the Year: Highlighting standout masculine jewellery that blends tradition with modern design
• Couture Jewellery of the Year: Rewarding exclusive, high-craftsmanship pieces retailed as couture statements
• Statement Brooch of the Year: Awarding brooches that make a strong design and style impact

These additions underscore the industry’s progression towards new materials, gender-inclusive designs, lifestyle-driven categories, and the growing blend of fashion with fine jewellery.

The jury meet concluded with the selection of the winning pieces, which will be unveiled during the awards night in December. With its expanded categories, nationwide participation, and high calibre of entries, the 2025 JJS–IJ Design Awards reaffirms its role as a platform that both reflects and shapes the future of Indian jewellery design.