GEMFIELDS PARTNERS WITH GUILD TO PRESENT THE SECOND ‘AURORA AWARDS INTERNATIONAL GEM AND JEWELRY COMPETITION’
10th October 2023
The 2nd ‘Aurora Awards International Gem and Jewelry Competition’ hosted its gala ceremony at the IBC International Business Centre in Shenzhen, China. The event was organized by GUILD Institute of Gemology, the first and only international gemmological institute in China, and Gemfields, a world-leading responsible gemstone miner. It featured participants from around the world, who came together to celebrate the future of innovation in the gem and jewellery sector.
The competition was divided into five major categories: loose colored gemstones, pearls, jewellery, cutting and polishing, and designer awards. In just over two months, the Aurora Awards received thousands of entries from all over the world, and after rigorous review, 208 finalists were shortlisted. Over two million votes were cast online by an expert panel, industry leaders and the public to determine the final award recipients. The winners were announced at a glittering ceremony, attended by an in-person audience of 315 and a further 57,000 joining via livestream.
Gemfields – a world-leading responsible miner and marketer of colored gemstones, specifically Zambian emeralds, and Mozambican rubies – is proud to have been the platinum sponsor and co-host of the Aurora Awards.
Sean Gilbertson, CEO of Gemfields, who last month received one of the “Extraordinary 40” Awards – a Jewellery World Awards (JWA) accolade, symbolizing excellence in the worldwide gem and jewellery industry – made his debut visit to China to witness and co-host the Aurora Awards presentation.
This collaboration underscores Gemfields’ commitment to advancing the colored gemstone industry, enhancing responsible sourcing, and promoting market demand.
Ruby Liu, founder of GUILD Gem Laboratories (Asia) and GUILD Institute of Gemology, president of GUILD Gem Laboratories said: “As one of the most distinguished leaders of the colored gemstone industry, Gemfields has brought revolutionary improvements to the global supply chain, the highest ethical standards, and an unwavering commitment to professionalism. All of us benefit from their great efforts.”
With consumer demand for colored gemstones – notably rubies and emeralds – continuing to rise in China, Sean Gilbertson’s visit represented an opportunity for an exchange of ideas and trend-sharing in this growing market. He said: “This has been an eye-opening trip to Shenzhen. I am awed by the scale of the gem and jewellery sector in the Shubei area, having seen the thousands of points of sale – and the many experienced hands running them – with my own eyes. Thanks to GUILD’s kind introductions, I see tremendous opportunity for ruby engagement rings in particular, and Gemfields has set the wheels in motion to further support this segment.”
In the report “Sustainability: The Future of Colored Gemstones in China”, released in July 2020 by Gemfields, it was recognized that China plays an increasingly significant role in the gem and jewellery industry. Acknowledging this, Sean Gilbertson further commented: “China is a very important market to Gemfields, and integral to the ongoing growth of the colored gemstone sector. We expect responsible sourcing will continue to receive ever increasing attention and become progressively more important to Chinese jewellery buyers.”
About Gemfields:
Gemfields is a world-leading responsible miner and marketer of colored gemstones. The operator and 75% owner of both the Kagem emerald mine in Zambia (believed to be the world’s single largest producing emerald mine) and the Montepuez ruby mine in Mozambique (one of the most significant recently discovered ruby deposits in the world), Gemfields believes that those who mine gemstones should do so with transparency, legitimacy, and integrity.
Gemfields introduced a technologically advanced colored gemstone sort house at its operation in Mozambique, with state-of-the-art equipment, like optical sorting machines. In addition, a proprietary grading system, a pioneering auction platform and an active marketing presence have all contributed to Gemfields playing a significant role in the rise of African gemstones. Underlying this achievement has been the strong belief that colored gemstones should create a positive impact for the country and community from which they originate.
Responsible mining for Gemfields means implementing industry-leading policies and practices across operations, transparency in its auction sales process, an active role in working groups to modernize the sector, projects to improve health, education, and livelihoods for the communities around its mines and conservation efforts (#conservationgemstones) to protect Africa’s great wildlife and biodiversity.
About GUILD:
Founded in 1980 in Los Angeles, United States, GUILD Gem Laboratories is one of the world’s top gemological laboratories in the identification, grading, origin determination, treatment detection, and other aspects of colored gemstones. With a wealth of experience, a comprehensive database, in the field firsthand research, and a deep academic research background backing up every report. GUILD has created a comprehensive database that covers all important gemstone varieties in the market. Professionalism, Experience, Science, and Innovation, from the start-up gemstone identification institute to the authoritative brand based in the Asia-Pacific region and radiating the world, every standard of GUILD Gem Laboratories resonates with the international-colored gemstone industry at the same frequency. Currently GUILD Gem Laboratories has branches in Los Angeles, Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Zhuji (Pearl City), and Bangkok to provide professional gemstone identification services for domestic and foreign practitioners.
