2009 Contest Rules
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WHO MAY ENTER
Any jewelry or timepiece designer who is a current exhibitor at Couture 2009.
SUBMISSION PROCESS
- All entries must be submitted online.
- The online questionnaire must be completed before you may begin uploading your piece.
- Enter online at www.couturedesignawards.com.
- Entries must be uploaded between April 13 and May 11 in the applicable categories. Entries after May 11 will not be accepted.
- Each exhibitor is limited to ONE unique piece per category and up to a maximum of three categories. Each submission must be unique to that category.
- All submissions will be reviewed by Victoria Gomelsky, executive editor at the Nielsen Jewelry Group.
- See official rules for full details
THE VOTING PROCESS
COUTURE DESIGN AWARDS VOTING PROCEDURE
All submitted entries will appear anonymous. Submissions will only be posted according to selected category. Couture Design Awards 2009's voting process includes three important parts:
- "Round 1" will include "open" online voting by the Couture jewelry retailer community and online "closed" voting by Couture's distinguished audience of exhibitors, press, cornerstone retailers, and VIP retailers.
- "Round 2" voting will take place on-site during Couture 2009 where ONE representative from each company will cast their vote in each category
Part 1: "Round 1" Voting
Starting May 13, 2009 the Couture community (editors, retailers and all other visitors) will be invited to submit their online votes for their favorite designs in each category. There will be "open" voting where the Couture jewelry retail community and other site visitors are invited to cast a vote for their favorite designs. In addition, there will be "closed" voting, where cornerstone and VIP retailers, press, and exhibitors are invited to vote via a password protected site. "Round 1" voting will close Friday, May 22, 2009.
The panel of experts will review the tallied data and make recommendations for the final three nominees in each category.
Part 2: "Round 2" Voting for the Final Three in Each Category
The final three nominees in each category will be announced at the Couture 2009 Opening Night Reception on the evening of Wednesday, May 27. The final three nominees in each category will have the opportunity to display their entries in a vitrine at Couture 2009 where "Round 2" voting will take place on-site from May 28 - 29. The piece must be brought to the vitrines the morning of Thursday, May 28 at 8 am. Jewelry placed in the vitrines must be the same as that shown on the Design Awards website.
The vitrines housing the nominated designs will be grouped by category allowing voters to easily compare the pieces and cast an informed vote. Voting at Couture 2009 is open to confirmed registrants; each registrant (exhibitor, retailer, and press) may cast only ONE vote per category. Each registrant will be required to enter their Record ID printed on their badge at the time of on-site voting. Voting begins on Thursday, May 28th at 9:00 AM and ends at 5:00 PM on Friday, May 29, 2009. No late ballots will be accepted.
Part 3: "And the Winner is..."
Final on-site voting data will be provided to the panel of experts who will then determine the winner in each category. All finalists and winners in each category will be honored at an invitation-only reception on Saturday, May 30th at 6:00 pm.
Winning Package
Each "Best in Category" winner will receive a spectacular award; and the finalists will receive honorable mention at the awards presentation and on all at-Couture 2009 promotions and press releases. All finalists and winners will be featured on the Couture Design Awards 2009 website leading up to Couture 2010. All category winners' jewelry photos will appear in a two-page spread of September 2009 issue of National Jeweler magazine and Couture International Jeweler. Plus additional print and online coverage will be placed in various consumer media publications highlighting winners in respective categories.