IPL

The diamond- and precious stone-studded trophy might have cost a million bucks (and then some), but looks anything but. Designed by Orra, the India-shaped trophy is embellished with 2,554 round and baguette diamonds, 4,500 yellow sapphires, eight rubies, blue sapphires and gold. While the sapphires constitute the map of the country, the rubies have been used to mark out the eight city franchises.

All the diamonds, however, have failed to dazzle. The wooden background with the logos of the eight teams etched on it looks tacky. Lalit Modi may have set up a blitz of a tourney, but we could have done without the blinding bling to end the show.

French Open

The raja of Roland Garros Rafael Nadal has four of these bowl-like beauties. Swans for arms, peacock feathers and foliage engravings for embellishment — the French Open cup awarded to the men’s singles winner has a regal feel. We have to wonder why the women’s cup is so much smaller — the way the women hit those forehands, there can be no doubt that they will be able to lift it up.

Crafted from silver, both bear the name of the winner of the year’s championship. What the champion finally gets to take home is a replica that is manufactured by the Paris-based jewellery house, Maison Mellerio.

Euro Cup

This year, the trophy gets a makeover from the UK-based Asprey London, 48 years after Arthus-Bertrand of Paris came up with the Henri Delauny Trophy, named after the former President of the French Football Federation, with inputs from Delauny’s son Pierre.
The gorgeous sterling silver trophy resembling an urn has classic good looks. Standing taller now by 18 cm and weighing an extra two kg, the organisers wanted the new trophy to look more grand than its predecessor.

 

IIFA

The International Indian Film Academy trophy is crafted from brass with gold plating giving it the polish. At the heart of the 18-inch slender trophy is a sun — or rather half a sun — from which nine rays emanate representing the “navarasas”, or the nine emotions that are integral to the performance arts. Not bad overall, but the black base could be done away with, or at least classed up.

 

Grand Prix de Monaco

McLaren’s young star Lewis Hamilton lifted a stark but beautiful trophy this year. The three-sided silver cup is long with classic straight lines that are befitting Monte Carlo’s reputation as being the most stylish race on the Formula One circuit.

 

Wimbledon

The king of tennis tourneys has the most gorgeous of all prizes. The Gentlemen’s Singles Trophy bestowed by the All England Club is gilded, with a pineapple adornment topping the lid of this 18-and-a-half-inch-high beauty with floral moulding. It bears the inscription “The All England Lawn Tennis Club Single Handed Champion of the World” on its glittering surface.
The silver tray that is the ladies’ singles trophy is just as stunning. A creation of the Birmingham-based Messrs. Elkington and Co. Ltd, the partly gilded design of the Rosewater Dish was inspired by the German artist Caspar Enderlein’s take on an artefact in the Louvre. With a diameter of 18-and-3/4 inches, it is crafted from sterling silver and is etched with characters from mythology, Temperance and Minerva