The 2024 Australian Opal Awards honor jewelry design and carving with Australian Opal, with competitors from around the world competing for a share of $35,000AUD in cash and awards.
“The awards, which have been running for over 20 years, have recently attracted significant sponsorship, allowing for a comprehensive overhaul of the awards and increasing exposure of Australian opal on the global stage,” says Kavitha Barron, president of the International Opal Jewellery Design Awards Association (IOJDAA).
“The Open Prestige Jewellery category is open to all shapes of Australian opal including cabochon, freeform and undulating opal, with the category receiving significant support from the Australian opal industry, funding the $15,000AUD first prize.”
“All other categories feature freeform or undulating opal, allowing competitors to promote methods of opal cutting that conserve opal and increase international demand for freeform opal, encouraging both sustainability but also showcasing the individual beauty of each stone.”
To appeal to those in more remote regions, we have made advancements in how contestants can enter the competition, with a new category allowing a digital entry, with videos assessed by judges,” Kavitha continued.
Entries must be received by July 5, 2024. Selected entries will be on exhibit at the Lightning Ridge Opal Festival on July 24-27, 2024. The winners will be announced during a gala banquet at Lightning Ridge on Friday, July 26, 2024.