Cartier Diamond Dagger
カーティエ・ダイヤモンド・ダガー
Honorary award in the mystery/crime fiction genre awarded by the Crime Writers' Association (CWA) to honor lifetime achievements.
- Established
- 1986
- Organizer
- Crime Writers' Association (CWA)
- Category
- Genre Fiction
- Selection Method
- Recommendation
- Target
- Professional
- Frequency
- 1 per year
- Status
- Active
Description
The Cartier Diamond Dagger (CWA Diamond Dagger) was established in 1986 by the Crime Writers' Association (CWA) as an honorary award given to writers for their outstanding lifetime contributions to the mystery/crime fiction genre. Recipients' achievements are honored, and the list of recipients has been announced annually since Eric Ambler in 1986 (e.g., P. D. James, John le Carré, Sue Grafton, Lee Child, Michael Connelly, Walter Mosley, etc.). In 2024, James Lee Burke and Lynda La Plante were joint recipients. Award details (prize money, etc.) are not publicly disclosed or are limited, with recipients selected by the CWA selection committee.
Prize
- Main Prize
- Honorary award (commendation) for lifetime achievement
Selection
Selection Process
| Stage | Judges | Pass Rate | Announcement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Selection | Selection committee by Crime Writers' Association (CWA) | — | Announced via CWA official announcement, press release/website |
Criteria
- Outstanding lifetime contribution to the mystery/crime fiction genre
- Long-term influence and quality of achievements
- Achievements as a writer and contributions to genre development
Related Awards
- CWA Dagger Awards (Gold Dagger, etc.)
- CWA Ian Fleming Steel Dagger
- CWA International Dagger
- Other lifetime achievement awards (genre literature awards)