Diamond Packaging Wins Six Awards in 33rd Annual FSEA Gold Leaf Awards Competition
Awards showcase Diamond’s folding carton decorating capabilities, including printing, foiling, and embossing.
ROCHESTER, NY – July 28, 2026 – Diamond Packaging today announced that it won six awards in the 33rd Annual FSEA Gold Leaf Awards Competition, the industry's premier showcase for foiling, embossing, and other specialty effects. Awards were presented during the FSEA Print Embellishment Conference in Nashville, TN.
The competition celebrates the quality, added value, shelf presence, security, and brand recognition that specialty finishing processes lend to the printed sheet. A panel of industry experts judged entries on several criteria, including design, execution, and level of difficulty.
Diamond won Gold Leaf and Silver Leaf awards in the “Best Use of Embossing (Creative)” and “Best Use of Foil/Embossing - Calendar” categories, respectively, for its 2026 10th Anniversary Grandfather Clock Calendar.
The commemorative calendar combines the classic charm that made its award-winning 2016 design so beloved, with fresh updates that reflect Diamond's evolution over the past 10 years. It showcases the craftsmanship and attention to detail that have become the company's hallmarks, while celebrating the partnerships, innovations, and sustainable practices that continue to shape its journey.
The calendars were converted utilizing Clearwater ReMagine 30% PCW paperboard, cold foiled, and offset printed with four color process inks, supplied by Ink Systems, in-line with UV matte, UV gloss, and reticulated specialty UV coating.
Tightly-registered coatings enhance the design and highlight the individual calendar components. UV matte varnish was used throughout the design. UV gloss coating was used on all foiled areas. Reticulated specialty coating, supplied by ACTEGA, was applied to the dark areas behind the weights and pendulum.
Silver cold foil, supplied by Kurz, delivers shimmering metallic effects on all of the clock faces, weights, and pendulum. The components were cold foiled and offset printed with semi-transparent inks to create stunning shades of gold and bronze.
Multi-level embossing and debossing – developed in collaboration with Universal Engraving – was tastefully applied to the calendar to add depth and realism. Many of the grandfather clock components were embossed, including the wood frame, door, clock faces, weights, and pendulum. The Diamond Packaging text and year were debossed to create more depth.
The calendar pages were converted utilizing Domtar Cougar Smooth 80# Text paper and offset printed with four color process inks and UV matte coating. The watermarks of the weights and pendulum setting add realism.
The recyclable shipper was converted utilizing Clearwater Candesce SBS paperboard laminated to E-flute corrugated fiberboard, and offset printed with four color process inks, in-line with aqueous gloss coating. The structural design replicates the wooden shipping crates used to transport grandfather clocks.
Diamond won a Silver Leaf award in the “Best Use of Cold Foil - Folding Carton” category for Parlux Fragrances’ Paris Hilton Pink Rush fragrance packaging.
The folding cartons were converted using a specialty confetti-patterned holographic foilboard and offset printed with four-color process inks plus one PMS ink, in-line with a UV high-gloss coating.
Embossing draws attention to the product name and logo, further enhancing the graphics and reinforcing the brand's upscale positioning.
The carton's distinctive hexagon shape stands out on shelf, defying the conventional rectangular format typical of perfume cartons.
Diamond won Bronze Leaf awards in the “Best Use of Cold Foil - Folding Carton” and “Best Use of Foil/Embossing - Folding Carton (Difficult)” categories, respectively, for Inter Parfums’ Abercrombie & Fitch 100% Passion fragrance packaging.
The folding cartons were converted utilizing Clearwater Candesce paperboard, cold foiled, and offset printed with three PMS inks, in-line with satin aqueous, UV matte, and UV high gloss coatings.
The design features an overall embossed pattern that replicates the brand's signature textures, raising sections of the paperboard to catch light from multiple angles. A centralized metallized badge on the front panel wraps around the side of the box and is multi-level embossed, giving it the look and feel of an authentic raised metal plate fused directly into the paperboard.
Diamond won a Bronze Leaf award in the “Best Use of Holographics” category for Parlux Fragrances’ Paris Hilton Iconic fragrance packaging.
The folding cartons were converted utilizing rainbow holographic foiled paperboard and offset printed with four color process inks and two PMS inks, in-line with UV high gloss coating.
The shimmering holographic surface delivers a dynamic play of iridescent color that shifts with every viewing angle, creating exceptional shelf presence and reinforcing the fragrance's contemporary, fashion-forward identity.
Thoughtful embossing details further elevate the package's premium appeal. A large embossed "P" on the front panel and an embossed "H" on the back panel add striking depth and dimension, while the vertically embossed ICONIC PARIS HILTON branding on both side panels provides a tactile finishing touch that enhances the luxurious look and feel from every perspective.
All of Diamond’s entries were produced with more sustainable converting methods and manufactured from recyclable paperboard using 100% wind energy in a Carbon Neutral (Scope 1 and Scope 2), Zero Waste to Landfill facility, reflecting Diamond's commitment to combining innovation and visual excellence with environmental responsibility.
About Diamond Packaging:
Established in 1911, Diamond Packaging is a WBENC-certified, industry leader specializing in developing innovative and sustainable packaging solutions. Utilizing state-of-the-art technologies, Diamond designs and manufactures folding cartons for the personal care (cosmetics, hair care, skincare, fragrance, oral care, and shaving), health care, pharmaceutical, cannabis, and consumer electronics markets. Its client portfolio includes Bausch + Lomb, Inter Parfums, Kendo, L’Oréal, MAËLYS, Procter & Gamble, and many other leading consumer packaged goods (CPG) companies. Diamond differentiates itself through award-winning creative design, packaging innovation/technical expertise, and its greenbox sustainability initiative. For more information visit www.diamondpackaging.com, or follow Diamond on Facebook, X, Instagram, and LinkedIn.