DES Jewellery Design Competition 2026
100 years of Monet - from Canvas to Carat
100 years of Monet - from Canvas to Carat
Presented by the Diamond Exchange of Singapore, this international competition invites students, emerging designers, and professionals from around the world to create contemporary jewellery inspired by the legacy of Claude Monet.
Marking 100 years since Monet’s passing, the 2026 edition explores colour, light, and form, and challenges participants to translate those qualities into original, wearable design.
Open to students, emerging designers, and professionals worldwide
Up to 2 entries per participant
Submission deadline: 1 July 2026, 11:59pm Singapore Time
About the Competition
The DES Jewellery Design Competition 2026 returns with renewed ambition in a landmark year for Singapore’s jewellery industry. Taking place alongside the Singapore International Jewellery Expo, the World Diamond Congress, and the wider momentum of the inaugural Singapore Diamond & Jewellery Week, the competition celebrates excellence in gemstones, craftsmanship, and design.
Marking 100 years since the death of Claude Monet, this year’s theme invites participants to explore the interplay of colour, light, atmosphere, and form, and to translate those qualities into jewellery that is contemporary, wearable, and emotionally resonant.
Rather than simply quoting a painting, entrants are encouraged to interpret Monet’s spirit of observation, nuance, luminosity, texture, and feeling, and transform those ideas into compelling jewellery for a global audience.
By presenting this competition, the Diamond Exchange of Singapore reaffirms its commitment to design excellence, international dialogue, and the continued development of Singapore as an important centre for diamonds, gemstones, and fine jewellery.
Competition Snapshot
Theme
1
100 Years of Monet: From Canvas to Carat
Eligibility
2
Open to students, amateur jewellery designers, and professional jewellery designers aged 18 and above
Entry Limit
3
Up to 2 entries per participant
Submission Format
4
Digital sketch, rendering, or illustration, plus concept statement and material details in .jpeg, .png or .pdf file formats.
Estimated Retail Value
5
The estimated retail value of the submitted designs should not exceed S$30,000 per piece
Finalists’ Showcase
6
Selected finalists will be exhibited at the Singapore International Jewellery Expo 2026
Who Can Enter
The competition is open internationally to:
professional jewellery designers
amateur jewellery designers
design students
Applicants must be 18 years or older on the submission closing date.
What to Submit
Each submission must include:
a design title
a design sketch, rendering, or illustration
a short written concept statement
material details
entrant profile or biography
any additional materials required in the official submission form
Participants may submit up to two (2) entries.
The estimated final retail value of the piece should not exceed S$30,000.
Awards
Grand Prize
Chosen by the official judging panel
The Grand Prize will include:
sponsored travel and accommodation for either:
a visit to SIJE 2027, or
a visit to Vicenzaoro
manufacture of winning design
exhibition and publicity opportunities through DES and its official channels
People’s Choice Awards
Chosen by public vote from among the shortlisted finalists exhibited at SIJE 2026
Visitors to SIJE will be invited to vote for their favourite shortlisted design.
Why Enter?
Gain international visibility through the Diamond Exchange of Singapore
Have your work seen by an expert judging panel
Be showcased at SIJE 2026
Join a platform celebrating excellence in gemstones, craftsmanship, and contemporary jewellery design
Compete for recognition and meaningful exposure
Enter the Competition
If you are ready to translate colour, light, and feeling into jewellery, we invite you to submit your design.
For enquiries, please contact design@diamondexchangeofsingapore.org