The International Silver Accessories Contest is the premier competition for artisans creating with Art Clay Silver. Since 1999, over 7,500 submissions have been received from all over the globe. This year celebrates the 19th International Silver Accessories Contest, with a theme of "Future."
The 2026 International Silver Accessories Contest offers opportunity for artists to win one of 20 amazing awards, with the Grand Prix alone valued over $3,500. The contest is judged by a panel of industry experts, with diverse backgrounds including jewelry design, metalsmithing, gemology, jewelry craft education, and of course silver clay. Read about the judges and awards HERE
Guidelines
The contest is open to all individual hobbyists, enthusiasts, and professional artists; submission by a group is not allowed.
Pieces must be a first-time submission; they cannot have been previously published anywhere (even shown online) or submitted to any other competition or exhibition.
Submissions must be primarily composed of Art Clay Silver, though may combine Art Clay Silver with other media. Art Clay Silver MUST be the majority of the item
Designs must be completely original to the submitting artist.
Contestants must choose either the theme, "Future," or "Open Theme."
The entry fee is $30 per piece or series.Be prepared to pay this amount in full, plus the shared international shipping fees, when contacted by Art Clay World USA upon receipt of your items. Due to the ever-increasing costs of shipping and unpredictable tariffs, the exact shipping total will be shared equally amongst all applicants and billed by Art Clay World USA to each person once all submissions are received and the combined shipping rate calculated.
Rings: Single or multiple bands can be submitted as one entry. They must be in ready-to-wear condition.
Accessories: Fashion accessories in single or multiple series form, such as pendants, brooches and rings. They must be in ready-to-wear condition.
Silver Quilling and Origami: A single work or series of works using Silver Quilling and/or Origami, incorporating Art Clay Silver Paper Type and Art Clay Silver in the same piece(s).
Mokume-Gane and Nerikomi: A single work or series of works with Mokume-gane or Nerikomi technique combining Art Clay Silver and Art Clay Copper in the same piece(s).
Rings, Accessories, Quilling, Origami, Mokume-Gane, and Nerikomi entries must fit within a 30×30×20 cm (12x12×7.75in) space. Do not place or fix your entry in any kind of display case or box, such as onto a bust or stand, otherwise those fittings will be removed for judging and formal display.
Framed Decoration: A single work or series of works contained within one wall-hanging frame. All parts must be pre-arranged within the frame, ready for display.
Framed Decoration entries must fit within a 70×70×70cm (2'4" square) space. Pieces must be affixed firmly, and the entire display must be in ready-to-hang condition, with adjustable string or wire for hanging its entirety. All the framed works will be displayed as wall hangings.
1. Deadline for North American submissions is August 4, 2025
2. First Screening: October 8, 2025 Only submissions which pass the first screening will be featured in the contest booklet and displayed at the contest exhibition.
3. Final Judging: October 9, 2025 Winners of awards will be chosen from the nominees of the first screening. Results will be announced to the Distributors promptly after the final judgment; Distributors will notify their respective artisans soon thereafter.
4. Exhibition: January 7, 2026 through January 12, 2026 at the Tokyo Metropolitan Theatre The award ceremony date will be announced as soon as it is available.
5. Return of Submissions: After February 2, 2026 All entries will be shipped from Japan to the respective Distributors after February 2, 2026. Please plan accordingly; no entries will be able to be returned prior to 02/02/2026.
Print the Checklist, Application, and Labels. Use the Checklist for each and every separate entry to ensure you don't miss any required actions or items. Complete an Application and Labels for each piece or series to be entered into the contest. Use these links:
Plan to ship your pieces so that they ARRIVE to Art Clay World USA by August 4, 2026!
Pieces should be insured to their materials value, NOT to a retail sale price. ACWUSA and Aida will NOT include mark-ups in the insured shipping fees.
Step 2
Following all guidelines, ship your items to: Art Clay World USA Attn: 2026 SAC 10240 W Roosevelt Rd #8117 Westchester, IL 60154
Reminders: Unless your submission is a Framed Decoration, do not include any display items (such as busts or stands.) If you are sending multiple pieces, each should be packed and properly labeled in a separate container within the main shipment box. Make sure your piece(s) are made durably and packed well enough to survive shipping overseas, unpacking, handling, display, judging, photographing, exhibiting, and resending overseas. Your original packing material may not be returned.
Step 3
Email us to let us know your pieces are on the way! Send clear photos of your included pieces so that we can have them on record prior to overseas shipment. We will contact you for one total payment, which will include your $30-per-submission entry fees plus the shared international shipping fees, and email you a receipt when your piece(s) arrive safely at Art Clay World USA.
