The Gemological Institute of America (GIA), in collaboration with the Gianmaria Buccellati Foundation, presented the ninth and final Gianmaria Buccellati Foundation Award for Excellence in Jewellery Design on February 6, 2026, to Catherine “Cathy” Aulick, a graduate of GIA’s Carlsbad campus.

The award was presented during the annual GIA Alumni Collective “Night at the Museum” event held at the University of Arizona Alfie Norville Gem & Mineral Museum in Tucson. The event coincided with the closing day of the American Gem Trade Association (AGTA) 2026 GemFair.

Aulick’s winning design, featuring gold, Ethiopian opal and peridot, was selected from a group of 12 finalists. The finalists represented GIA Schools of Gemology and Jewellery Arts across Carlsbad, London, Mumbai, New York and Taiwan, reflecting the institute’s global student base and design education network.

“I want to thank the Buccellati Foundation and GIA for the honor of this award. Hand rendering has given me a new and beautiful language for communicating my designs,” said Aulick. As part of the recognition, she will travel to Italy to meet with a representative of the Gianmaria Buccellati Foundation.

Established in 2018, the Gianmaria Buccellati Foundation Award was created to recognize jewellery design talent among GIA students. The 2026 presentation marked the final edition of the award following nine annual cycles.

“It’s been a pleasure collaborating with the Gianmaria Buccellati Foundation and presenting this award each year – recognizing all the wonderful talent in design among GIA students globally,” said Cathryn Ramirez of GIA. “GIA is currently planning its new design competition and details will be shared in the near future.”

The judging panel for the 2026 competition included Alishan Halebian, designer, goldsmith and owner of Alishan Jewelry Studio; Andrew Connors, Director of Albuquerque Museum; Charles Lewton-Brain, goldsmith, educator and author; Nanz Aalund, jewelry designer and educator; and Remy Rotenier, jewellery artist and designer.

GIA’s Jewellery Design course covers drafting, shading, design theory and illustration across multiple mediums. Students complete the program with a hand-developed design portfolio and digital documentation of their work.

In addition to foundational design training, GIA offers programs in Jewellery Design & Technology, Comprehensive CAD/CAM for Jewellery, and the Graduate Jeweller Program. These courses support skill development across design, digital manufacturing and bench jewellery techniques, preparing graduates for roles in jewellery manufacturing, design and retail sectors.

The Buccellati Foundation award has served as a platform for recognizing emerging design talent within GIA’s global education system since its launch. GIA has confirmed it is developing a new design competition, with further details expected to be announced.