THE GOLDEN NOVA offers young talents a great opportunity to present their own creations to a broad trade audience and to make a successful entry into the industry. For the eighth consecutive year, we are inviting young designers, students, apprentices and graduates, start-ups, as well as newcomers and career changers to compete with talents from the jewellery industry. Our high-calibre jury of experts has nominated 10 creations from all entries, which will be presented during the INOVA COLLECTION from 28 to 30 August 2026. The top three winners will be announced by our jury at the opening of the fair on Friday morning, and can look forward to receiving high-quality cash and material prizes from our sponsoring partners. In addition to the jury awards, our trade audience will vote for their favourite during the INOVA COLLECTION. The winner of the Audience Award will have the opportunity to present their work in a complimentary exhibition space at the INOVA COLLECTION 2027. By fusing fine gold onto the surface, I was able to unite the metals in their most refined form. The warm tone of the gold creates a perfect contrast to the cool silver, resulting in a harmonious piece of jewellery with striking visual impact. The gold setting edges echo the fine gold as it flows towards the stone. The title ‘in fluxu temporis’ – in the flow of time – speaks to the enduring yet ever-changing nature of relationships. Each link has its own distinct form, yet only becomes part of a whole through its connection with the others. The combination of gold and silver, together with the articulated construction, makes this ongoing process visible. In this way, the interplay of the metals becomes an expression of togetherness and shared growth over time. Three floral elements arrange themselves around a central point, their interplay constantly shifting as they rotate. In this ring, silver and golden tones combine to form a delicate blossom full of lightness and depth. Contrasts merge into a harmonious whole, revealing the beauty of the interplay between these precious metal colours. The green diamonds add vibrant accents, bridging the delicate lightness of the design with the floral motif. Yellow gold wires and a deep violet amethyst evoke the image of a low-hanging sun against a dark night sky. Inlaid gold wires break through the blackened silver surface like rays of light, creating an interplay of light and shadow. The contrast of silver, gold and amethyst lends the ring an air of mystery. The organic lines bring the surface to life. Using the traditional Mokume-Gane technique, copper and silver are fused together, creating striking contrasts as the individual metals merge into a shared surface. Conceived as a game board, the ring also brings people together, providing a setting for encounter and exchange. The interplay thus takes place on two levels – between the metals themselves, and between the people who wear and share it. Three spheres – which together would form exactly a 750 gold alloy – rest freely beneath a glass. The interior of the setting has been blackened to create a contrast between the spheres and the background. Every gold piece of jewellery begins with precisely these elements: gold, silver and copper. It is the hand of the goldsmith that brings them together. With this ring, I wanted to capture that very foundation. This hair clip was inspired by ancient Roman-Etruscan jewellery, with its articulated and richly varied graphic elements. The deliberately simple, solid silver faces are soldered with 0.2 mm gold sheet. The eyes and mouths have been milled out and filled with niello. The hollow-mounted pin is gold-plated at the rear end, picking up the colour accents of the faces once more. The silver base symbolises the refined structures that connect all elements, lending the piece stability and harmony. The circular brass and copper elements enclose it like a protective shell. Their varying sizes create a dynamic and balanced visual language, adding depth and movement to the piece. The set gemstones give the brooch its distinctive presence. The small yellow gold spheres are reminiscent of tiny soap bubbles, reflected in or merging with larger ones. The chime balls concealed within make movement audible, adding an unexpected and delightful dimension to the bangle. A hidden box clasp and hinge mechanism integrate seamlessly into the overall design. The bangle is intended to be experienced as an interplay of form, sound, movement and the metals united within it. The interplay of open spaces and closed surfaces gives the bangle a lively, dynamic quality. Light becomes part of the design, creating a compelling relationship between material and space. The two different metals each retain their own character, support one another and together give rise to a new form. It is only through the precise interplay of all elements that the bangle achieves its shape and expressive power. Thanks to the support of our partner VALORIMA – the jewellery insurance of the Mannheimer, all nominees will be perfectly showcased in the Award area of the GOLDEN NOVA: Each of the ten pieces of jewellery will be displayed in a high-quality presentation showcase during the INOVA COLLECTION 2026, ensuring optimal visibility among trade press, key industry representatives, and an interested professional audience! A heartfelt thank you also goes to Parcel Broker. The business shipping partner for valuables organizes the free round-trip shipping of jewellery pieces for our emerging talents. In addition, places 1 to 10 will be supported by professional product images from our partner scope Marketing. Lastly, all nominees can look forward to media exposure: We will feature the best pieces of jewellery in our partner medium, Goldschmiede Zeitung, and on our website in detail. The first place of the GOLDEN NOVA will be awarded by Carl Schaefer Gold and Silver Refinery with a precious metal account worth € 1,600. For over 160 years, Carl Schaefer has been one of the renowned refineries and is now a specialist in precious metal recycling, as well as a competent partner for industry, trade, and craftsmanship. Additionally, Carl Schaefer invites the winner and the associated training company to take a behind-the-scenes look at the refinery! The winner of second place can look forward to a shopping voucher from RUDOLF FLUME Technik worth € 1,200. As a wholesaler for watch and jewellery technology, RUDOLF FLUME Technik offers a broad portfolio of equipment and machines, watch and jewellery spare parts, tools, care and cleaning supplies, and much more. In addition, FLUME will enable the runner-up to take part in a 2- to 4-hour electroplating workshop in Essen free of charge. The third place will be awarded with a shopping voucher from Handelswaren Vertrieb Schulz – flexistrong worth € 900. The traditional company specialises in high-quality neck rings with double clip closure as well as fine cultured pearls and jewellery. For more than 50 years, the name Schulz has stood for reliable quality, careful craftsmanship and fast delivery. Additionally, the winners of places 1 to 3 will once again receive a complimentary annual subscription to Goldschmiede Zeitung this year. In addition to the jury award, our professional audience will vote for their favourite during the INOVA COLLECTION from August 28th to 30th, 2026. The winner of the Audience Award will have the opportunity to present their work in a complimentary exhibition space at the INOVA COLLECTION 2027. Furthermore, the winner of the Audience Award can look forward to a professional foto shoot by Studio Pixelgold worth € 600. Malte Guttek studied art history and Christian archaeology in Bonn and Rome. After completing a scholarly traineeship at the Kolumba Art Museum in Cologne, he worked as a freelance curator on various exhibition projects with a focus on applied arts. Since 2024, Malte Guttek has been Managing Director of the Gesellschaft für Goldschmiedekunst e.V., a non-profit organisation dedicated to the promotion of gold and silversmithing. He also heads the German Goldsmiths’ House in Hanau, one of the leading museums for international jewellery and object design. Luzia Vogt Luzia Vogt is a trained goldsmith who studied jewellery and object design at the University of Pforzheim, in Halifax and in Tokyo. As a jewellery and product designer, she became self-employed in Basel and has since also been teaching in goldsmith training programmes in Lucerne, Bern and Basel, as well as holding teaching positions at the University of Liechtenstein and the University of Pforzheim. In 2018, she completed a Master’s degree in product design at Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts. Her work has received several awards, including the Swiss Federal Design Award and the Inhorgenta Innovation Award. Her pieces can be found in various collections in Switzerland and abroad, including the National Museum in Zurich, the Château Borély in Marseille and the Dallas Museum of Art. Michael Jahr Michael Jahr completed his training as a goldsmith with Uhren Weiss in Rüsselsheim. After three years, he decided to further his education by training to become a state-certified jewellery designer in Idar-Oberstein. During his training, he also became a master goldsmith at the Chamber of Crafts in Koblenz. In July 1992, Michael Jahr turned to self-employment running his own goldsmith’s studio in Rüsselsheim. He is head of the guild Gold- und Silberschmiede-Innung sowie Juweliere in Frankfurt am Main. He has won the FBZ Ahlen international design competition and sat on the jury of the 16th Hessian Design Prize. Prof. Dr. Thomas Hensel studied philosophy, art history, classical archaeology and business management in Hamburg, Munich and Vallendar. He is a winner of the Aby M. Warburg Prize awarded by the Senate of the Free Hanseatic City of Hamburg. In 2013, he was appointed Professor of Art and Design Theory at the School of Design at the University of Pforzheim. He is also a member of the Faculty of Danube University Krems, Director of the Institute for Human Engineering & Empathic Design in Pforzheim (HEED) and exhibition curator. His main research areas are media history and the history of knowledge and science in art science (especially Aby Warburg), game studies, Old German painting and drawing (esp. Albrecht Dürer and the Danube School) and design history and theory (esp. Bauhaus and Ulm School of Design). Axel Henselder Axel Henselder is a qualified publisher and graduate in business administration who has been editor-in-chief of the leading industry journal, GZ Goldschmiede Zeitung, since 2004. As such, he has been a member of the jury panel or assessor for several well-known awards, including selections for the Talents Area at the Tendence trade fair in Frankfurt, the German Jewellery and Gemstone Prize in Idar-Oberstein and the Tahitian Pearl Trophy. He was previously responsible for special interest and trade titles at Frankfurt-based publishers Umschau Zeitschriftenverlag and for the corporate communication publications service at Hoechst AG. Motto 2025: ‚The fascination of tourmaline – a gemstone at the heart of creation‘ You can find even more impressions in our flickr gallery.
THE COMPETITION FOR ALL BUDDING TALENT
Motto 2026: ‘Noble combinations – the interplay of metals’
We congratulate all nominees and look forward to the award ceremony
on Friday, 28 August 2026 at 11:00 am at the award area OG 224.Powered with love by...
THE GOLDEN NOVA 2026 – these are the nominees!
Rebecca Criegee | Altstadt Galerie Weinheim
The metals appear as one – united by their very nature.Ear jewellery with carnelian | Ear jewellery
925 silver | 900 yellow gold | fine gold | carnelian (approx. 2.8 ct) | diamonds (0.08 ct)
Alicia Eigenbrodt | aurifique Goldschmiedeatelier
in fluxu temporis | Arm jewellery
925 silver | 750 silver | fine gold plating | brilliant-cut diamond (0.05 ct)
Daria Hanas | Die Platinschmiede
Solea Lumina | Ring
925 silver | 925 silver, gold-plated | treated green diamond (0.25 ct)
Kristina Jung | Staatliche Zeichenakademie Hanau
Mitternachtssonne | Ring
925 silver | 900 yellow gold | 585 yellow gold | amethyst (7.6 ct)
Annelie Klimmek | Zwei machen Schmuck
Tic Tac Toe | Ring
925 silver | copper | brass
Rona Lange | Goldschmiede Link
Der Weg des Goldes | Ring
925 silver | fine gold | fine silver | copper
Afra Opperer | BFS Glas UND Schmuck Neugablonz
Schau mal | Hair jewellery
925 silver | 750 gold
Maximilian Przybylka | TAGD.JWLR
Le Secret d’Argent, Cuivre et Laiton | Brooch
925 silver | brass | copper | diamond | ruby | sapphire | emerald
Pia-Christina Schöbel | Insane Design
Sphärenflüstern – Elfenklang in Seifenblasen | Arm jewellery
925 silver | 750 yellow gold
Paula Zentgraf | BFS Glas UND Schmuck Neugablonz
Gesteckt | Arm jewellery
925 silver | copper, reddenedAward Sponsors & Prizes 2026
Place 1 – 10
1st place
€ 1,600 | CARL SCHAEFER GOLD AND SILVER REFINERY
2nd place
€ 1,200 | RUDOLF FLUME TECHNIK
3rd place
€ 900 | HANDELSWAREN VERTRIEB SCHULZ – flexistrong
Audience Award
Expert jury 2026
Malte Guttek
Director of the German Goldsmiths’ House | Managing Director of the Society for Goldsmithing 
Goldsmith and product designer
Head of Gold- and Silversmiths’ Guild and Jewelers Frankfurt am Main
Prof. Dr. Thomas Hensel
Chair of Art and Design Theory | Pforzheim University
Editor-in-Chief of the goldsmiths’ newspaper, GZ Goldschmiede Zeitung
ENTRY CRITERIA – REQUIREMENTS FOR YOUR PARTICIPATION
This was the GOLDEN NOVA 2025
