Submission deadline: Jan. 15, 2009

General Information
The MJSA Vision Awards Design Competition annually recognizes the talent and innovation of designers whose work will have a profound influence on the future of jewelry design. In addition to the overall Professional and Student Awards, the competition features special Distinction Awards that allow us to recognize designers using specific materials or technologies in new and creative ways. This year’s featured Distinction categories include:

Enamel Distinction, sponsored by Rio Grande
Laser Distinction, sponsored by Crafford–LaserStar Technologies Corp.
Mokumé-gane Distinction, sponsored by Shining Wave Metals and Reactive Metals Studio
Palladium Distinction, sponsored by Hoover & Strong
Platinum Distinction, sponsored by Platinum Guild International

New for 2009! The Reactive Metals Challenge
The first 10 professional entrants for this challenge will have their $50 entry fees waived, courtesy of Reactive Metals Studio, if their designs incorporate the use of reactive metals. The winner of this challenge will receive a $500 cash prize.

All first and second place winners in all categories will receive cash awards of up to $1,000. Their winning entries will be on display for thousands of buyers and exhibitors during the annual MJSA Expo New York, the largest and oldest trade show in the U.S. dedicated to the design and manufacturing of jewelry.

MJSA promotes competition winners through E-newsletters, here on the association website, and through other leading industry publications. Winners will also be featured in an article in MJSA Journal, one of the jewelry industry’s most respected trade publications.

In addition to the overall professional and student awards, the competition features special distinction awards that allow us to recognize designers using specific materials or technologies in new and creative ways.

All first and second place winners in all categories will receive cash awards of up $1,000. Their winning entries will be on display for thousands of buyers and exhibitors during the annual MJSA Expo New York show. MJSA promotes competition winners through E-newsletters, here on the association Web site, and through other leading industry publications. Winners will also be featured in an article in MJSA Journal, one of the jewelry industry’s most respected trade publications.

Eligibility
Eligible contestants are independent jewelry designers, company-employed jewelry designers, and students enrolled in an art or design-related program at a college or university. By entering the MJSA Vision Awards Design Competition, winners agree to have their names, photos, and designs used and displayed in conjunction with Expo New York and in any publicity generated by MJSA.

Judging
Winners are selected by leading manufacturers, jewelry designers, and other industry experts on the basis of creativity, presentation quality, effective use of materials, wearability, and the design’s perceived manufacturing and marketing potential. MJSA Vision Award judges may reject any entry which, in their opinion, fails to meet competition standards.

Alan Revere pliers

After two years in development, a newly refined and improved set of pliers, designed by Alan Revere, is available for goldsmiths and jewelry makers everywhere. The result of research, refinement and redesign, the new pliers incorporate a unique textured grip, which was designed by goldsmith Alan Revere of San Francisco, California. “We started with the finest German-made pliers available and added a totally new grip that increases function and efficiency. These pliers help get the job done, rather than getting in the way,” says Revere of his latest design.

Alan Revere pliers

A prominent jewelry author and educator, Alan Revere is a German trained master goldsmith, award winning jewelry designer, and founder of the Revere Academy of Jewelry Arts in San Francisco, California. Dissatisfied with pliers currently available through suppliers, a few years ago Revere wrote an article in MJSA Journal. In it he suggested that bench jewelers rip the springs and brightly colored plastics handles off of their pliers for improved control and performance. These controversial instructions later become tip number 63 in Revere’s book, 101 Bench Tips for Jewelers, published by MJSA/AJM Press in 2004. Revere argued that both the handles and springs diminish tactile sensation, reduce kinesthetic feedback and ultimately lower the function of pliers.

Alan Revere pliers set

Shortly afterwards, Revere was invited to a small German factory, where they have been making pliers by hand for generations. In this workshop, which takes great pride in hand craftsmanship and quality, Revere was asked to design a set of pliers to meet his ultimate expectations. He had a good idea of what he wanted; sturdy, but precise, un-plated pliers with bare metal grips and no springs. The jaws had to have a #240 grit finish, which leaves a fine “tooth” that grabs onto metal but does not mar it, as well as slightly rounded corners. While plain bare metal was preferable to plastic covered handles, Alan wanted to develop something new, something unique as well as attractive, a design that would provide more functional grip than anything he had seen.

Beginning with patterns filed into his own pliers, Revere developed several possibilities. But he soon discovered that producing them in quantity would be impossible. So working further, he came up with a new and improved grip that the German workshop could reproduce. In order to add the pattern, a new tool was required to carve the notches just as Revere had filed into his own handles.

The new grips feature a series of graduated cylindrical notches to add surface contact. This increases sensitivity, adds kinesthetic feedback and therefore elevates precision control of the tool. In addition, the grip pattern is very attractive and comfortable

Revere’s ultimate pliers are intended for serious jewelers and bench workers. Revere Pliers come in flat, chain, round and half round/flat versions. Made of top quality high carbon steel, each pair goes through 50 exacting steps in forming, shaping, grinding, finishing, texturing, etc. from the rough blank to the final finish. Each pair receives extra care and quality control, to assure that they meet Revere’s standards.

Revere pliers are available across the United States and around the world, distributed exclusively through Euro Tool, Inc. Available individually or as a set with a wooden stand, Revere pliers come with instructions on use and maintenance, as well as the history of Revere pliers.