Slovenian Jewellery Week 2025

A Celebration of Contemporary Jewellery in Energy, Joy, and Harmony

From April 10 to 19, 2025, Slovenia hosted the 4th edition of Slovenian Jewellery Week (SIJW 2025), bringing together 165 creators from 30 countries. The festival showcased a fusion of art, design, identity, and storytelling through contemporary jewellery, further cementing its position as a key platform for innovative trends in the region.

Three Main Exhibitions – Three Worlds of Contemporary Jewellery

ENERGY | Center Rog, Ljubljana

This exhibition explored contemporary jewellery as a response to a rapidly changing world. It featured works by renowned artists and institutions from Belgium, Romania, and the United Kingdom. The event attracted over 1,500 visitors, who viewed jewellery as an artistic reflection of the times we live in.

JOY / ALEGRÍA | DRAT Gallery, Izola

This travelling exhibition featured 32 international designers celebrating life, emotions, and joy through colourful expressions and sustainable materials. The show also garnered significant interest abroad.

HARMONY | Slovenj Gradec

The exhibition presented works by 33 Slovenian designers, using exclusively Slovenian stones. This connection of natural heritage with high-end contemporary design paid tribute to locality, aesthetics, and harmony.

Rich Supporting Program

The festival was accompanied by a vibrant lineup of workshops, lectures, and guided tours held across various locations in Slovenia. The event drew in both professionals and the general public, reflecting the growing interest in contemporary jewellery as an artistic and cultural phenomenon.

Closing Ceremony and Award Presentation

The festival concluded with a gala award ceremony at the Grand Plaza Hotel in Ljubljana, honoring the most outstanding creators:

SIJW 2025 Award Winners:

  • Young Emerging Artist Award:
    Timon Lužar & Matija Tihelj – high school students creating with borosilicate glass, inspired by nature.
  • Best Young Artist Award:
    Sara Mermal – biologist and self-taught artist who combined technology and nature in the kinetic locket “Bloomlight”.
  • Best Slovenian Designer:
    Katja Marolt – impressed with her brooch “Orbital Duality”, blending traditional craft and modern design.
  • Best International Designer:
    Diogo Alves (Portugal) – merged sculpture and contemporary jewellery in his “Cobijo” series.
  • International Award – Invitation to Exhibit in Brussels:
    Stefano Fronza (Italy) – for a collection that pays a heartfelt tribute to love and memory.
  • Lifetime Achievement Award:
    Zdenka Šamec – legendary creator from Zlatarna Celje, who helped shape symbolic and recognizable jewellery for over 40 years.

Partners and Supporters

SIJW 2025 was made possible by:
Center Rog, Zlatarna Celje, Ministry of Culture, Carinthian Regional Museum, and DRAT Gallery Izola.

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Contemporary Jewellery as a Mirror of Our Time

Once again, the festival confirmed that contemporary jewellery is not just adornment, but a powerful artistic medium that expresses time, ideas, and emotion. The strong attendance and high engagement with online content demonstrate the emergence of a vibrant and internationally recognized contemporary jewellery scene in Slovenia.