The Hong Kong Jewelry Manufacturers� Association ((HKJMA) announced the launch of International Jewelry Design Innovation (JDI) Competition, which will be held in conjunction with the Jewelry Design Creativity & Technology Conference. Submission deadline for the competition is May 31, 2006. The Conference, at which the competition results will be announced, will take place from December 7-12, 2006 in Hong Kong.

The competition will aim at promotion of design excellence in culturally diverse jewelry markets and increase public awareness of the achievements of the jewelry industry. It will also promote talented designers and foster the understanding of the importance of design excellence in jewelry products. The JDI competition invites both professional designers and students to submit entries.

Winners will receive cash prizes totaling over US $45,000, as well as other benefits, including international media coverage, touring exhibitions in key world centers, and a catalogue which will be distributed to top international jewelry business executives. The entries will be assessed by an elite panel of judges from around the world, including personalities from academic, jewelry, watch, design and literary circles.

The highlight of the competition is the Jewelry Design Excellence Award (JDE). This prize will be given to �the best of the best winning jewelry designs.� Competing for this award will be award winning jewelry designers, who have won First Prize in international design competitions during the period of March 2004 � February 2006. Organizers say that the JDE Award will build a new platform on which the champions of jewelry design will be able to contend for the highest honor.