36th German Young Talent Competition for Gemstone and Jewellery Design Idar-Oberstein 2026

 

 

 

THEME:

„My Talisman"

Both the gemstone design and the design of a jewellery piece with precious stones were permitted. Thus, unmounted gemstones, the gemstone in finished jewellery, the gemstone object and the gemstone sculpture were allowed. The use of synthetic gems was permitted. Pearls were only allowed in combination with gemstones.

   1st PRICE: GLORIA FORAT

FOHREN-LINDEN, CERTIFICATE AND 1500 EURO

Pendant jewelry made of rock crystal and silver

The award winner titled her competition entry “Wings of Hope”, which the jury considered the outstanding entry in this year’s Young Talent Competition.

“I deliberately chose rock crystal,” she explains in her poetic description of the work, “because it reminds me of clouds – light, calm and boundless. An angel’s wing hovers above the crystal, breaking through the setting and rising into freedom. In keeping with this idea, I engraved the word ‘Libertas’, the Latin word for freedom. Musical notes are also engraved on the silver setting. They represent music, because when I play the violin, I feel free. The notes are taken from the song ‘Von guten Mächten wunderbar geborgen’, based on a poem by resistance fighter Dietrich Bonhoeffer, who knew that he was going to lose his life and yet never lost hope.”

Jurors Gesa Hufmann and Michael Seubert agreed: “The theme has been interpreted wonderfully – a talisman that can be carried with you at all times. We were also impressed by the ‘Wings of Hope’ and the accompanying story, which brings together freedom, music, warmth, hope and inner strength, transforming them into the symbolism embodied by the talisman.”

The jury reached its decision by a large majority.

 

   2nd PRICE: LUCA SONNENTAG
WALDSTETTEN, CERTIFICATE AND 1000 EURO

Clip-on earrings made of palladium white gold, titanium, verdelite, apatite, rhodolite and tanzanite

The award winner titled his work “My Talisman – What the Eyes Preserve”. Juror Scott Wempe expressed his admiration: “Architecturally, the earrings are truly exceptional, with particular emphasis placed on the visual impact of very different gemstones combined in an extremely successful color composition. Very, very exciting, highly wearable and, with their colorful yet monochromatic appearance, equally convincing as pieces of ‘everyday jewelry’.”

The award winner himself offers a profound and philosophical description of his impeccably crafted competition entry: “The two clip-on earrings explore hope and disappointment – two states that seem contradictory yet are inseparably connected. Only those who hope can be disappointed. At the same time, new hope often arises precisely where disappointment has previously been experienced. The two emotions are mutually dependent and are as much a part of being human as the ability to remain open, aware and vulnerable. In this sense, disappointment is not simply a loss, but also the dissolution of an illusion.

Understood as talismans, the pieces are therefore not intended to protect the wearer from difficult experiences. Rather, they serve as a reminder to remain aware and open to closeness, change and hope, even where vulnerability arises. Perhaps it is precisely here that a form of inner strength can be found. Although the two clip-on earrings represent opposing emotions, they are exactly the same weight.”

The jury reached its decision by a large majority.

 

   3rd PRICE:  LENA ZWINGENBERGER
IDAR-OBERSTEIN,CERTIFICATE AND 500 EURO 

Pendant jewelry made of silver, emerald, pink tourmaline, rock crystal, mother-of-pearl, various synthetic stones and oil paint

The award winner named her personal talisman “The Angel’s Eye”. Juror Scott Wempe commented: “A truly beautiful talisman, exceptionally demanding in terms of craftsmanship, particularly given the fragility of the mother-of-pearl in combination with the clear rock crystal. A wonderful idea and a piece with an extraordinary interplay of colors, with the eye at its center providing an excellent interpretation of the competition theme.” The award winner describes her competition entry as follows: “An angel can take any form. Some may see an indistinct shape made of light, while others imagine a small child with wings. My angel, however, reveals itself as an eye surrounded by six dark wings. Its wings were created from two triplets. Rock crystal forms their transparent outer layer, while black mother-of-pearl forms their shimmering soul. They rest on either side of the body, three wings on the left and three on the right. In this piece, darkness and light come together not as opposites, but as two interconnected parts of a whole. Eyes are engraved on both sides at the center. My angel keeps watch over every danger. It is not a messenger of higher powers, nor a symbol of any faith, but simply a being made of stone, silver and imagination.” The jury reached its decision by a large majority.

 

 

   HONOURABLE MENTION: ANGELINA ROTH

IDAR-OBERSTEIN, CERTIFICATE AND 250 EURO

Charivari chain made of silver, rock crystal, green and blue agate, onyx, rose quartz, sphalerite and jasper

“My talisman is a Charivari chain,” explains the award winner. Commenting on her competition entry, Dr. Heide Rezepa-Zabel praised the concept: “Reinterpreting a Charivari chain as a talisman is a wonderful idea. It is highly wearable, particularly for a younger audience, and features carefully considered symbolism.” The award winner adds: “Several charms hang from the Charivari chain, which can be worn at the side of the trousers. Each has a special meaning and represents good luck, including a horseshoe, a lucky pig and a one-pfennig coin. At the center is a four-leaf clover made of green agate, set with a rock crystal cabochon. As a well-known symbol of good luck, the four-leaf clover forms the centerpiece of my chain. Together, these symbols are intended to bring me good luck, protection and positive energy and to accompany me in my everyday life.” The jury reached its decision unanimously.

 

 

   HONOURABLE MENTION: ALINE STANEK

NOHFELDEN, CERTIFICATE AND 250 EURO

Pendant jewelry made of silver, green agates and magnets

The award winner named her piece “Share Your Luck”, expressing the idea of being able to share a lucky charm with others. “At first glance, the piece appears to be a classic necklace in the shape of a four-leaf clover. Four faceted green agates come together to form the clover and rest on a gold-plated sun, which symbolizes energy and constancy and figuratively ‘recharges’ the individual talismans time and again,” explains the award winner, describing her technically demanding and successful interpretation of the competition theme.

Juror Dr. Heide Rezepa-Zabel was particularly impressed by the combination of design, symbolism and functionality: “The work stands out for its highly appealing use of color and its attractive contrasts. Particularly successful is the matte surface of the sun, which reflects the light with a warm and radiant glow.” “The special feature of this work,” the award winner explains, “is that the individual clover leaves are magnetically attached to the sun. They can be removed separately and worn in different ways – as earrings, as a pendant on the necklace or as a charm – and all the elements have been designed so that they can be recombined immediately. This allows the piece of jewelry to be shared with other people, creating a connection between them.” The jury reached its decision unanimously.

 

 

   HONOURABLE MENTION: NIKLAS VAITL

TÜRKHEIM, CERTIFICATE AND 250 EURO

Pendant jewelry made of silver, white and black diamonds, and a bronze coin from the Roman Empire

At the heart of this talisman is a nearly 2,000-year-old coin from the Roman Empire. The award winner explains that a family friend gave him the coin, telling him that one day he should turn it into a special piece of jewelry. Over the years, it became his personal lucky charm, accompanying him on his journey to becoming a goldsmith and coming to symbolize constancy, friendship and the courage to follow his own path.

The front of the pendant is surrounded by a circle of white diamonds, representing light, hope and the bright moments in life. The reverse, framed by black diamonds, symbolizes strength, perseverance and the challenges that accompany every journey through life. The award winner adds: “The talisman embodies my own personal journey through life and thus reflects all the happy and challenging moments along the way.” Jury member Michael Seubert praised the “outstanding craftsmanship in the interpretation of the competition theme”, while fellow juror Gesa Hufmann found “the story behind this piece both compelling and fascinating” and also praised the wearability of the talisman, which the award winner titled “A Coin Trough Time”. The jury reached its decision unanimously.