Who can enter?

Independent, multiple and ecommerce retailers in the UK and Ireland whose primary business is the design and creation of bespoke jewellery for customers. This bespoke jewellery must represent a significant portion (more than 35%) of your total turnover in the 2025/26 year

What to include in the supporting materials

Please include professional images of your store/stores (all images must be high res and bigger than 300 dpi)

Who can enter?

Independent, multiple and/or ecommerce retailers in the UK and Ireland where the bridal jewellery (wedding, engagement rings and commitment rings) part of your business represented a significant portion (more than 25%) of your total turnover in the 2025/26 year.

What to include in the supporting materials

Please include professional images of your store/stores/web platform (all images must be high res and bigger than 300 dpi)

Who Can Enter?

Any UK or Irish-based jewellery designer behind a jewellery brand (such as John Smith’s Jewellery Design) or working in-house as a designer for another jewellery brand/supplier. The brand must have been producing jewellery for more than four years at the closing date of 30 January 2026.

Please note that this category focuses primarily on the commerciality of your designs and how this translates into a being a commercial designer for a jewellery brand. If you consider yourself to be a creative jewellery designer, then please enter Creative Jewellery Designer of the Year instead.

If you enter this category but, the judging panel deems you to be more suitable for Creative Jewellery Designer of the Year, you will automatically be shortlisted in the other category. Please note you cannot enter and/or be shortlisted for both categories, so please read the entry questions of both categories first, before deciding which one to enter.

To be eligible for entry into this category you MUST have stockists or distribution in the UK/Ireland (or your own ecommerce site). If you don’t, then your entry won’t be considered.

What to include in the supporting materials

Please include at least five professional images of your designs (all images must be high res and bigger than 300 dpi)

Who Can Enter?

Any UK or Irish-based jewellery designer that has been producing jewellery commercially for more than three years at the closing date of 30 January 2026.You can work for your own brand/label or be designing in-house for another company.

Please note that this category focuses primarily on the creative design process and your skills/aptitude as a jewellery designer. If you consider yourself to be a to be the designer of a commercial jewellery brand, then please enter Commercial Jewellery Designer of the Year instead.

If you enter this category but, the judging panel deems you to be more suitable for Commercial Jewellery Designer of the Year, you will automatically be shortlisted in the other category. Please note you cannot enter and/or be shortlisted for both categories, so please read the entry questions of both categories first, before deciding which one to enter.

To be eligible for entry into this category you MUST have stockists or distribution in the UK/Ireland (or your own ecommerce site). If you don’t, then your entry won’t be considered.

What to include in the supporting materials

Please include at least five professional images of your designs (all images must be high res and bigger than 300 dpi)

Who can enter?

Department stores in the UK and Ireland – either bricks-and-mortar, online, or both – that dedicate a section of their retail offering to jewellery and/or watches. This includes stores with dedicated jewellery departments, concessions, branded areas or strong online categories, as well as those integrating jewellery within their wider fashion, lifestyle and luxury offer.

This category is aimed at recognising department stores that excel in delivering an exceptional jewellery retail experience, through product curation, customer service, staff expertise and digital innovation.

What to include in the supporting materials

Please include professional images of your store/website (all images must be high res and bigger than 300 dpi)

Who Can Enter?

Any UK or Irish-based jewellery designer that has been producing jewellery commercially for more than six months but fewer than three years at the closing date of 30 January 2026.You can work for your own brand/label or be designing in-house for another company.

Please note that to be eligible for entry into this category, you MUST have already secured stockists or distribution in the UK/Ireland. If you do not currently have any wholesale stockists, or a functioning UK-based ecommerce business, your entry will not be considered.

What to include in the supporting materials

Please include at least five professional images of your designs (all images must be high res and bigger than 300 dpi)

Who can enter?

Any brand (jewellery or watches) which has been in existence for three years or fewer OR has been distributed in the UK for three years or fewer (at the closing date of 30 January 2026).

Please DO NOT enter this category if the business/brand has been in existence for longer than three years/distributed in the UK for longer than three years, as your entry will be automatically discounted.

The business MUST have distribution/stockists in the UK. The brand must be able to demonstrate significant and continuous growth since launch.

What to include in the supporting materials

Please include professional images of your brand/designs and/or promotional material (all images must be high res and bigger than 300 dpi)

Who can enter?

Any employer in the jewellery and/or watch industry that employs a total of more than 10 full-time or part-time staff. This can include retailers, suppliers, brands or manufacturers.

What to include in the supporting materials

Please include examples of any supporting evidence such as training material or details of bonus schemes.

Who Can Enter?

Independent and small chain retailers in the UK and Ireland with five or fewer stores, where at least 40% of the store footprint or total business turnover is dedicated to jewellery.

This category is open to multi-brand retailers only. Franchise stores will not be counted towards the store total. For example, if you own three stores trading under your own name and also operate eight Pandora franchises, you would still be eligible to enter this category as you would be considered to have three stores.

What to include in the supporting materials

Please include professional images of your store/stores (all images must be high res and bigger than 300 dpi)

Who Can Enter?

Manufacturers and/or UK and Irish-based suppliers/distributors of jewellery or watches with a core retail selling price of £500 or below. You must have a full support and distribution operation in the UK or Ireland, not just sales representatives/agents, and you must have been operating in the UK for at least four years by the closing date of 30 January 2026.

This category is open to suppliers who specialise in accessible fashion, branded or white label silver, gold, or plated jewellery, and watches that primarily retail at £500 or below. If you have some pieces that retail for over £500, you are still eligible for entry in this category, providing the majority of your ranges retail for under £500.

What to include in the supporting materials

Please include professional images of your product/services (all images must be high res and bigger than 300 dpi)

Who can enter?

Manufacturers and/or UK and Irish-based suppliers/distributors of jewellery or watches with a core retail selling price of over £500. You must have a full support and distribution operation in the UK or Ireland, not just sales representatives/agents, and you must have been operating in the UK for at least four years by the closing date of 30 January 2026.

This category is open to suppliers specialising in fine jewellery, bridal, luxury jewellery brands and prestige/luxury watches that primarily retail above £500.

What to include in the supporting materials

Please include professional images of your product/services (all images must be high res and bigger than 300 dpi).

Who can enter?

Any brand, retailer, designer or supplier of jewellery and/or watches who launched a new marketing, or social media campaign and/or collaboration at any time during the last 12 months (up until the 30 January 2026 closing date).

This can include print, online, social media, outdoor, TV or radio campaigns or collaborations a combination of all of the above. Campaigns can be either B2C or B2B focused.

What to include in the supporting materials

Please include professional images of the campaign and/or video if appropriate (all images must be high res and bigger than 300 dpi)

Who can enter?

Any business in the jewellery and/or watch industry (retailer/designer/supplier/manufacturer) with a strong focus on responsible business practices, including but not limited environmental, social and governance considerations. This can include retailers (independents, multiples or etailers), suppliers, designers, brands or manufacturers.

What to include in the supporting materials

Please include examples of any supporting evidence

Who Can Enter?
Retailers of jewellery and/or watches who have shown outstanding innovation in the use of digital tools and technology to grow their business, improve customer experience, or connect channels seamlessly.

This category is designed to recognise retailers who are harnessing innovation in areas such as ecommerce, social commerce, digital marketing, clienteling, AI, live shopping, and other tech-led solutions that keep them ahead of the curve.

What to include in the supporting materials

Please include screenshots/images of your website, social media channels, or other examples of your digital initiatives. All images must be high res and bigger than 300 dpi.

Who Can Enter?

Retailers of jewellery and/or watches in the UK and Ireland with six or more stores.

This category is open to multi-brand retailers only. Mono-brand boutiques are not eligible.

What to include in the supporting materials

Please include professional images of your store/stores (all images must be high res and bigger than 300 dpi)

Who can enter?

Any team of sales and/or shopfloor staff working in a retail business of any size or type (independent, multiple, department store, or online with customer-facing staff) that sells jewellery and/or watches directly to consumers.

Teams may include staff at all levels — from part-time sales assistants to store managers — provided they are actively involved in the day-to-day selling of jewellery and/or watches.

Entries can be submitted directly by the team themselves, or by a manager, business owner, or colleague nominating them. If nominating, please ensure answers are completed with the nominated team in mind.

What to include in the supporting materials

Please include professional images of the team at work/in the store (all images must be high res and bigger than 300 dpi)

Who Can Enter?

UK and Irish-based businesses supplying services to jewellery and watch retailers, brands, designers, or manufacturers. Eligible services could include (but are not limited to) marketing, PR, logistics, training, technology solutions, repairs, packaging, display/visual merchandising, finance, recruitment, insurance, or business consultancy.

Entrants must have a full support operation in the UK or Ireland (not just representatives/agents) and must have been operating in the UK or Ireland for at least four years by the closing date of 30 January 2026.

What to include in the supporting materials

Please include professional images of your product/services (all images must be high res and bigger than 300 dpi)

Who can enter?

This category is open to all sizes and type of store (jewellers, watch retailers, mono-brand boutiques etc) that have either been newly opened or fully re-furbished/re-fitted in the 12 months up to 30 January 2026.

What to include in the supporting materials

Please include professional images of your store (all images must be high res and bigger than 300 dpi)

Please also include a short video (no more than two minutes) showing the interior of your store (this can be filmed on a mobile phone– it is merely used to give the judges an idea of the interior and bring it to life)

By nomination only

By nomination only

This award recognises and honours one particular individual who has made an outstanding contribution to the industry throughout the course of their career.

Although the recipient is ultimately chosen by the Retail Jeweller editorial team if you have any suggestions of people you would like to be considered for this accolade, then please contact ruth.faulkner@emap.com before 30 January 2026.