The Award Ceremony for the young participants of the international competition promoted by Progold took place on the stage of the Teatro Palladio at VICENZAORO.
Exceptional partner of the 2026 edition: the jewellery Maison Pomellato
Vicenza, 16 January 2026 – Creativity, experimentation and a vision for the future of jewellery took centre stage at the Award Ceremony of the PROGOL3D DfAM CONTEST, held today at the Teatro Palladio at Fiera di Vicenza. The international competition promoted by Progold S.p.A., a company based in Trissino, in the province of Vicenza, and a leading reference in the development and manufacturing of alloys and master alloys for the jewellery industry, celebrates its tenth edition this year, confirming its role as a privileged observatory on the emerging languages of contemporary jewellery design.
Each year, the contest brings together the most promising talents from the world's leading jewellery design schools. For the 2026 edition, the jury, composed of experts from Progold, a reference company in direct precious metal 3D printing, from Pomellato, the exceptional Maison partner, and from Platinum Guild International, long committed to promoting platinum and the most advanced technologies in the sector, selected 12 finalist projects from 280 proposals submitted by 165 students from 14 international higher education institutions.
The jury announced the following winners: the Live Audience Choice Award 2026 was presented to Daniel Gayed of Galdus Goldsmith Academy for the project "Drops". The Online Audience Choice Award was assigned to Bianca Mesturini of IED Turin for the project "Embrace", through an online public vote. The Technical Jury Award was conferred on Inkan Lee of IED Rome for the project "Milky Way". The finalist creations were presented to an international audience of professionals, students and enthusiasts, giving rise to an immersive and engaging event, full of creative energy.
"The PROGOL3D DfAM Contest is a platform that unites talent, technology and experimentation, offering young designers the opportunity to freely explore the potential of additive manufacturing. Thanks to direct 3D printing in precious metal, students can give shape to ideas that until a few years ago would have been impossible to realise, thanks to DfAM, Design for Additive Manufacturing. Each year we are amazed by the quality, passion and boldness of the projects submitted. The contest proves that the future of jewellery is built through the dialogue between artisanal expertise, advanced technology and pure creativity. Supporting initiatives like this means nurturing an ecosystem in which talent, innovation and responsibility come together, generating new opportunities and raising ever higher standards for the industry," declared Damiano Zito, CEO of Progold.
The theme of the 2026 edition, "Free Volume – Pomellato Earrings in the Additive Era", invited participants to reimagine the earring as a space for free experimentation, exploring volumes, forms and new aesthetic balances through the potential of additive manufacturing technologies and the DfAM approach, using 18K rose gold, platinum and titanium.
Through its participation in the contest, Pomellato reaffirms its commitment to supporting projects that celebrate creativity, excellence and responsibility. Being part of this initiative represents a moment of sharing and pride for the Maison, a concrete contribution to the development of a contemporary jewellery culture that is attentive to innovation and positive impact.
Among the jury members, Tai Wong, Global Innovation Director at Platinum Guild International, highlighted the educational value of the competition and the opportunities offered by additive manufacturing: "I am honoured to be part of the PROGOL3D DfAM CONTEST jury again. Our shared mission goes beyond technology: it is about shaping the next generation of designers. Giving students access to additive manufacturing is the most effective way to develop fundamental design thinking skills, and Progold's consistent commitment to this contest is truly admirable. Having collaborated with Progold in additive manufacturing for over four years, we have consistently observed the superior quality and efficiency of platinum in jewellery production. The properties of platinum make it an exceptional material for SLM printing, enabling the creation of pieces with extraordinary strength and hardness. Moreover, this technology is opening unprecedented creative possibilities in jewellery design. This year's contest introduces rose gold: exploring its warm tone alongside the natural white of platinum creates a harmonious and beautiful contrast. This combination is rare in today's jewellery market, but could give rise to a new trend in colour aesthetics."
Increasingly recognised at an international level, the PROGOL3D DfAM CONTEST confirms its place as an unmissable event in the jewellery design calendar, as demonstrated by the record results of the 2025 edition, a signal of the constantly growing interest in a new generation of creatives and in the endless possibilities offered by the dialogue between craftsmanship and technology.
Media Contact
Meneghini & Associati
Cinzia Di Rosa
E-mail: dirosa@meneghinieassociati.it
M. +39 347/1010498