Recognition platforms only matter if their decisions matter. An awards platform is, fundamentally, a credibility infrastructure — and credibility depends entirely on how decisions get made. The IIJA evaluation methodology is built around this single principle: the process must be defensible to anyone who asks.
The Jury
The IIJA jury comprises industry veterans, master designers, gemmologists and technical experts, trade body leadership, and international experts. Each juror's credentials are publicly disclosed.
Full jury composition for 2026 will be announced ahead of the evaluation cycle.
The Five-Step Evaluation Process
Step 1: Nomination. Nominations open to brand self-nomination, peer nomination, and IIJA research identification. All sources pass through the same process.
Step 2: Eligibility Verification. The IIJA Secretariat verifies eligibility against published criteria.
Step 3: Initial Jury Shortlisting. The jury produces a shortlist — typically 3–5 finalists per category — based on documented evidence.
Step 4: Deep Evaluation. Shortlisted nominations receive deep evaluation: physical inspection of pieces, in-person or video interviews, site visits to workshops or stores, verification of claims.
Step 5: Final Selection and External Audit. The jury convenes to deliberate finalists. Selection requires majority consensus. Final results are sealed and submitted to an external audit firm for independent verification before release.
The Four Independence Protocols
1. Sponsorship Separation. Sponsorship and jury operations sit in separate organisational functions. No sponsor has visibility into or influence over jury deliberations.
2. Jury Conflict-of-Interest Disclosure. Every juror discloses business interests, board positions, family relationships, and consulting engagements. Jurors recuse from any category with direct or indirect interest in a nominee.
3. External Audit. An independent professional services firm verifies the methodology was followed, conflict protocols were observed, and published criteria drove outcomes.
4. Published Methodology. The full evaluation methodology, including category criteria and conflict-of-interest framework, is published.
Category-Specific Criteria
- Jewellery Company of the Year: evaluated on commercial scale, brand strength, design originality, ethical practices, customer experience, and broader industry contribution. Multi-year performance, not single-year results.
- Lifetime Achievement Award: evaluated on multi-decade contribution at the highest standard, institutional influence, and lasting impact on the Indian jewellery industry. Commercial scale is not the primary factor.
- Regional Jewellery Retailer of the Year: evaluated on regional market leadership, customer experience, retail innovation and community standing within the region.
- Most Innovative Jeweller of the Year: evaluated on measurable innovation in product, process or customer experience, replicability, and contribution to defining the industry's future.
What the Jury Doesn't Use
- Sponsorship contributions have no influence on category outcomes.
- Nomination presentation quality — evaluation is on substance, not packaging.
- Brand age or scale unless relevant to the specific category.
- Prior awards from other platforms — pieces can be cited as context but evaluation is on work within the IIJA period.
Why This Matters
The methodology is not about administrative thoroughness. It is about credibility. When an industry insider hears that a brand won an IIJA Honour, they have to be able to nod and say 'yes, they deserved it.'
Frequently Asked Questions
How are IIJA honours evaluated? Every honour passes through five steps: nominations, eligibility verification, initial jury shortlisting, deep evaluation of finalists, and final jury selection with external audit verification.
Who is on the IIJA jury? Industry veterans, master designers, gemmologists, trade body leadership, and international experts. Full composition announced ahead of the 2026 cycle.
Does sponsorship influence IIJA awards? No. Sponsorship and jury operations are organisationally separate. The external audit verifies this before results are released.
Can brands nominate themselves for IIJA honours? Yes. Nominations are open to brand self-nomination, peer nomination, and IIJA research. All sources pass through the same evaluation process.
Honour your house at the inaugural IIJA.
Fifty-one honours. Independently juried. Audited by an external firm. ₹21,000 per category.