Antwerp: Since its inception in 1985, the HRD Design Awards have given young and innovative
designers the chance to showcase their talent on a global stage. This edition, HRD Antwerp decided to plan it’s final night outside of the European Union for the first time ever. The oldest, most international and biggest jewellery design competition wanted to bring this finale to a place where east meets west, bridging different cultures and traditions. It became time to live up to our values and show the international community the power of connecting people through beautiful and stunning designs.

HRD Antwerp: A Catalyst for Innovation and Talent:

HRD Antwerp is committed to nurturing talent and innovation in the jewellery industry, and with this year’s competition, they aim to do just that. This edition featured three categories: Diamond Jewellery, Gemstone or Pearl Jewellery, and Accessories. The competition’s theme, “A Thousand and One Nights,” invites participants to draw inspiration from the enchanting world of Arabian nights. Winners from each category see their designs come to life, with the added benet of joining the HRD community, which offers various professional advantages.

Winners and Runner Ups:

This edition has truly crossed all countries with winners and runner ups from across the globe. Here are the names of the Winners and Runner Up category-wise:

Global Winner: Audrey Leconte – France

Diamond Category Winner: Thiago Moisés Pereira Aleixo de Araújo – Brazil

Diamond Category Runner Up: Erjian Xu – China and Pratiksha Tambe – India

Gemstone Category Winner: Audrey Leconte – France

Gemstone Category Runner Up: Huang Suling – China and Chamal Jayaratna – Sri Lanka

Accessory Category Winner: Afrooz Iravani – Iran

Accessory Category Runner Up: Maha Salameh – Dubai and Sumayah Al jaede – Dubai

Ellen Joncheere, CEO of HRD Antwerp, stated, “2025 is the year of connection, and who better to lead this charge than our creative talented designers? We look forward to seeing how they will bring hope and beauty to the jewellery world. This competition was not only exciting, but also very symbolic for the future of our company. Istanbul has always had a special place in our heart. Our return to the city with a diamond lab speaks volumes on how important Türkiye has become in the diamond and jewellery world. As I said with the re-opening of our local operations almost more than 1 year ago: we are here to stay. We kept that promise and we even expanded on it. Istanbul will be a driving force in connecting the world of diamonds and jewellery and we are happy to playour role in that beautiful story.”