AJDC New Talent Contest Info

STORY SOURCE: American Jewelry Design Council Bob Mitchell, Executive
Director (877) 558-8566 @Bob_Mitchell

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

American Jewelry Design Council Announces 2000 New Talent Contest

The American Jewelry Design Council is holding its 9th annual contest
to select an outstanding new fine jewelry designer for the year 2000.
The winner will be awarded a complimentary booth in the New Designer
Gallery at the July JA Show in New York. The winner will also be
presented the prestigious Mort Abelson Award.

The winner and finalists is honored at an awards ceremony during the
show. The winner�s booth is also identified within the New Designer
Gallery, an important highlight of the show. Each year buyers
representing thousands of retail jewelry stores attend the JA show and
many go first to see newcomers in the Designer Gallery. AJDC finalists
are frequently invited to exhibit in the New Designer Gallery as well.

The contest is open to all designer/manufacturers of fine jewelry in
the U.S. who sell on a wholesale basis to retailers. A committee of
JDC members selects the winner and finalists. Among the factors
considered are originality, craftsmanship, innovation, marketability
and cohesiveness of the collection.

The AJDC is composed of 33 prominent jewelry designers who are
dedicated to increasing the awareness and appreciation of fine
jewelry as an art form. Jewelers of America is the largest jewelry
trade association in the United States. Each year the AJDC works with
the JA to identify an outstanding emerging talent to receive these
awards. The competition is a major event on the American fine jewelry
scene and the winner is the focus of industry-wide media attention,
which propels him or her into a national spotlight.

The deadline for applications is January 1, 2000. For more
or additional entry forms, please write to:

American Jewelry Design Council
Alan Revere - Talent Contest Chairman
760 Market Street , Suite 900
San Francisco, California 94102
t 415-391-4179 f 415-391-7570
AlanRevere@aol.com