Talent Shines Bright At Dubai International Jewellery Week Design Awards 2012
Design Competition Winners Announced at The Middle East’s Most Prestigious Jewellery Show of the Year
Professional and emerging jewellery design talent was recognised for creative prowess and outstanding designs at Dubai International Jewellery Week’s fourth annual Jewellery Design Awards. Eight winners were announced on the opening day of the show, which is taking place until 24 November at the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) in Za’abeel Hall.
Sponsored by internationally renowned jewelers Mouawad, the awards attracted hundreds of submissions from local, regional and international designers, competing in both professional and amateur categories. Design entries were evaluated based on originality, innovation, wear-ability and commercial viability.
In the amateur category Emirati design student Asma Karim scooped the “Arabic Influenced Jewellery Design Award” with her spectacular diamond and coloured gemstone necklace incorporating Arabic calligraphy, created in homage to Sheikh Zayed and the people of the UAE. The “Bridal Jewellery Design Award” in the same category was won by Marwa Mahallati for her glamorous diamond headdress entitled ‘Timeless Beauty’.
A new addition to this year’s competition, recognising the very best in imagination and design capability in contemporary wearable art, the “Objet D’Art Award” was awarded to UAE-based Naida Akaeva for her unique design ‘Angel Alighted’.
In the Professional Designers Category, the “Innovative Jewellery Design Award” was won by jeweller Vivek Tiwari for his white gold ‘Krasiviy Ring’. Commenting on his win, Tiwari said: “As a jewellery designer based in the region, I have followed the Jewellery Design Awards for the last few years and have always wanted to participate. I am absolutely thrilled to have received this award, and have no doubt that it will have an enormous impact on my career.”
The Emirati Jewellery Designer of the Year Award went to Noora Ali Mattar, for her stunning jewellery set ‘Allah’, inspired by the beauty of Islamic art and calligraphy. “It has always been a dream of mine to enter a competition of such high calibre and I am so happy to have won this award,” said Mattar.
Trixee Loh, Senior Vice President of DWTC, organiser of Dubai International Jewellery Week, said: “This region flourishes with creative talent of both budding and professional designers, and we are proud to be able to provide a platform to showcase their originality. The quality of submissions definitely gave the judges a difficult task, but all were delighted to see such strong design capability developing here.”
“It is a great pleasure for us to celebrate and reward excellence in jewellery design in the Middle East, the region where Mouawad has its roots,” said co-guardian of the luxury brand, Pascal Mouawad. “At Mouawad we aim to see the talent of regional designers grow and be recognised internationally. This competition provides an incredible opportunity for designers while at the same time, supporting the industry as a whole. We are very proud to be sponsoring the Jewellery Design Awards for the second consecutive year.”
In addition to the significant industry recognition the awards offer the winners, a trophy and comprehensive jewellery course from the internationally renowned Gemological Institute of America (GIA) were given to each winner. Judges at this year’s awards included: Judith Anand, General Manager of the GIA’s Middle East branch; Mohamad El Hoss, group marketing manager of Mouawad jewellers; Azza Al Qubaisi, professional jewellery designer; Rizwan Ali Mahmood, jewellery specialist at the National Institute of Vocational Education (NIVE) and Yasmeen Sami, brand manager at the Dubai Multi Commodities Centre.
All winning designs are on display throughout the exhibition at the Jewellery Design Awards booth L14. Partners of the 4th Annual Jewellery Design Awards include NIVE, for production of some winning jewellery pieces, and Thrust Entertainment. Dubai International Jewellery Week runs until 24 November 2012 and is open between 2pm – 10pm on Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday, and between 3pm – 10pm on Friday. The show is located in Za’abeel Hall at DWTC.
For more information on the competition, please visit www.jewelleryshow.com.
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Emerging Designers Award Winners
- Arabic Influenced Jewellery Design Award: Asma Karim, “Yal Zayed”
- Asian/Far East Influenced Jewellery Design Award:Elaheh Jafart, “No. 9”
- Bridal Jewellery Design Award: Marwa Mahallati, “Timeless Beauty”
- Innovative Jewellery Design Award: Wang Li Chun, “Touching”
Professional Designers Award Winners
- Innovative Jewellery Design Award: Vivek Tiwari, “The Krasiviy Ring”
- Contemporary Finished Jewellery Piece Award: Lia Staehlin, “Orchid Jewellery Set”
- Objet D’Art Award: Naida Akaeva, “Angel Alighted”
Emirati Jewellery Designer of the Year Award Winner: Noora Ali Mattar, “Allah”
Emirate: Dubai
Date: Nov 22, 2012
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