APIO celebrates talent at the 17th Jewellery Contest

Creativity, technique, and contemporary vision marked the most recent edition, whose ceremony took place on December 12th at the Maritime Museum, Lisbon

Created by the Portuguese Jewellery Industry Association (APIO), the contest has evolved over time into a key reference for the sector, distinguishing works that combine artisanal precision with contemporary language. It has become a benchmark event, recognising projects of high technical mastery and artistic expression.

This year’s ceremony also marked the opening of the exhibition of competing pieces at the Maritime Museum, a venue that evokes the country’s deep connection with the ocean and the Age of Discoveries. Another major highlight was the UniqueMark® digital certification, provided by INCM’s Assay Office for all competing works, a gesture that links centuries-old tradition with the latest traceability technology, strengthening consumer protection and adding value to national production.

The 17th APIO Jewellery Contest proved that Portuguese jewellery continues to sail steadily between heritage and innovation — and that the future of the sector is already being forged, piece by piece, by a new generation of creators.

An edition between heritage and the future

Diana Loureiro, winner of the 1st prize, described her victory as a form of “recognition” that goes beyond a simple trophy. Her piece was born from an intimate fusion between the maritime imagination — ropes, ships, nautical structures — and her own biography, inspired by her husband’s long career in the rope manufacturing industry. “My life has always been my inspiration. This is a large piece to be cast directly and come out perfect. It took a lot of work, but that’s why I participate, to refine my technique. It was a pleasure”.

Rafael Silva, who placed 2nd, is a student of the Goldsmithing Course at EB23 School in Vialonga. He expressed his excitement at “seeing his work recognised on his very first participation.” The award carried “a special meaning, as it comes during his training years,” serving as “an incentive to keep exploring creative paths within the discipline”. His piece resulted from extensive online research and successive sketches, a patient process where design preceded every formal decision. Nautical ropes, caravels, and maritime symbols gradually took shape as the initial idea became clearer.

Holding a degree in Philosophy and currently working at Joalharia do Carmo in Porto, he explained that his piece, entitled Além-Mar, was conceived as a metaphor for Vasco da Gama’s boldness and, by extension, for the courage required to take artistic risks. Bernardo did not hide the challenges he faced: mastering filigree, a technique he was not yet familiar with. “It was challenging to combine green volcanic lava stones with red ones and find the right distance for the third-by-third filling. I deconstructed the entire piece through the concept and tried to adapt each technique to it”.

Read the full article in JoiaPro 103.

1 de April, 2026
Events