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Aqua Ambra Aquila 2026: Winners and Exhibition
Aqua Ambra Aquila 2026 – Celebrating Contemporary Jewellery
This week, the international jewellery competition Aqua Ambra Aquila 2026 opened its finalists’ exhibition at Museo Kruunu in Espoo, Finland and the winners were announced.
As the official prize sponsor of this year’s competition, Tavast Goldsmith Tools had the pleasure of being there in person. Our team, together with Roman Tavast, travelled to Espoo to meet the artists and present the prizes.
90 works. 17 countries. 10 finalists.
Aqua Ambra Aquila began with an idea around the sea and the materials found within it. Since its first edition in 2020, that idea has developed into an international biennial jewellery competition.
Its name translates from Latin as water, amber and eagle, reflecting both the competition’s origins and its connection to the sea.
This year marks the fourth edition, organised by the Finnish Goldsmiths’ Association in cooperation with Museo Kruunu and the Association of Jewellery Art. 90 entries from 17 countries were submitted, with ten works selected for the final exhibition.
For Tavast, supporting the competition felt particularly close to what we believe in. Tools are part of every maker’s journey, but it is the knowledge, curiosity and ideas in the hands of the artist that give them purpose.
That is why we chose to award the three prize winners with €1,700 in Tavast Goldsmith Tools gift vouchers, giving them the freedom to select new tools for wherever their craft takes them next.
1st place: Kristýna Španihelová, Czech Republic
Silence
The winner of this year's competition is Kristýna Španihelová, a contemporary jewellery artist and educator whose work has been exhibited and recognised internationally. Based in Czechia, she leads the Metal and Jewellery Studio at the Academy of Fine Arts and Design in Bratislava.
Her winning work, Silence, consists of three brooches made from wood, silver and salt.
See the exhibition in Espoo
The Aqua Ambra Aquila 2026 finalists’ exhibition is now open at Museo Kruunu, Ahertajantie 3, Tapiola, Espoo, Finland, from 16 September 2026 until 14 March 2027.
