Australia's own Stacey Lindsell won the Rising Star Award with this design in the Champagne category
Rio Tinto Diamonds announces competition winners
Posted November 15, 2011 | By Aaron Weinman
Local jewellers met with success at the inaugural Rio Tinto Global Design Competition.
Three Australians were among nine winners at the awards ceremony in New York, which encourage creativity and innovation in diamond jewellery design. Winners were grouped into four categories: Champagne, Silvermist, Canadian Diamonds and Sustainable Jewellery, with each area sub-divided into two levels; Master Craftsman and Rising Star.
Stacey Lindsell from Australia was named the Champagne Diamonds Rising Star Award, while Nejal Rajesh Mehta from India took out the Champagne Diamonds Master Craftsman award.
Joseph Weinreich from the US and Australia’s Dean Walker shared the honour of Silvermist Master Craftsman while Vijayshree Sovani of India took out the Silvermist Rising Star category.
Reena Ahluwalia from Canada was awarded Master Craftsman for the Canadian Diamonds category, and Michelle Buxani from Hong Kong claimed the Rising Star Award.
Finally, Sustainable Jewellery Master Craftsman went to Australia’s Nadia Neuman and another Indian, V. Saravanan, took out the Sustainable Jewellery’s Rising Star Award.
The judging panel consisted of jewellery designers, fashion experts and celebrity stylists. All were impressed with the variety of designs, which ranged from classic pieces to contemporary interpretations.
Judge Michael O’ Connor said the designs were beautiful and highlighted the use of Rio Tinto’s diverse diamonds portfolio.
“I was extremely impressed with how each of the designers interpreted the challenge,” O’Connor told IDEX Online. “They came up with unique and beautiful jewellery pieces.”
Rebecca Foerster, manager for Rio Tinto Diamonds in the US mirrored the judges conclusions and said she looked forward to working with the winning designers.
As previously reported in Jeweller the winners of this year’s awards will see their pieces festoon celebrities at the 2012 Academy Awards, where they’ll appear in a dedicated showcase.
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Rio Tinto initiate jewellery competition
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