World-class Designers Scoop Prestigious 2013 Jewellery Awards

Emirati Student’s First-ever Creation Wins Jewellery Week Design Award

A host of global jewellery designers were awarded with some of the international industry’s most prestigious titles at last night’s fifth Dubai Jewellery Awards.

Attracting both amateur and professional designers, eight talented individuals were recognised and rewarded for excellence in the field of jewellery design, innovation and creativity at a glittering ceremony at Dubai’s Kempinski Hotel.

With entries from more than 500 local, regional and international designers, the winners walked away with a trophy and prizes awarded by GIA Middle East, the world’s foremost authority in gemology.

The National Institute of Vocational Education is displaying prototypes of the amateur winning designs, at Dubai International Jewellery Week, the Middle East’s most influential jewellery event, which runs at Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) until December 7.

‘The Emirati Jewellery Designer of the Year Award’ went to student, Alia Mohammed bin Omair Alfalasi, for her stunning diamond necklace ‘La Perle’. Commenting on her win, Ms Alfalasi said: “I was thrilled and shocked to win the award as this was my first design ever. I can’t believe my piece was presented in front of everyone. This win will now push me to do more designs. I must thank my professor, who gave me the idea to enter the competition in the first place.”

In the same category, Taiwanese amateur designerer, Kuo Hsin, picked up ‘The Innovative Jewellery Design Award’ for her stunning three-piece ‘Diamond in the Desert’ set, while the ‘Arabic Influenced Jewellery Design Award’ was won by Saudi Arabia’s Ebtihal Abdullah AlHuwaishel for her glamorous four-piece jewellery set ‘The Dome’.

French designer Chanelle Poncin Germain, runner up at last year’s awards, scooped ‘The Asian/Far East Influenced Jewellery Design Award’ in this year’s emerging talent category, with her spectacular silver and coloured gemstone necklace entitled ‘The Phoenix’.

“Winning this award could change my life. I have always dreamt about living in Dubai and now I may be given the opportunity to turn these dreams into a reality. I was so surprised when I found out I had won. I felt so proud to collect my award in front of some of the most elegant and sophisticated people in the world,” Ms Germain said.

“It is a great honour to see my design on display at Dubai International Jewellery Week. Dubai is a central place of the world, equal distance between orient and occident and I can’t believe that my design is being shown with some of the best pieces in the industry.”

A new addition to this year’s Professional category, ‘The CAD/CAM Technology Award’, which recognises the best use of creativity and technological know-how, was awarded to UAE-based designer Andun Weerasekara for his unique holy ring, entitled ‘Profane’ – a piece inspired by Islamic mosques.

“This new category is very important to promote and develop modern technology in the jewellery industry. It enables an illusion to turn into a reality. I feel so privileged to have met some of the most prestigious professionals in the jewellery industry and I still can’t believe I have won the award,” said Weerasekara.

In the Professional Designers category, the ‘Bridal Jewellery Set’ was won by Indika Wijayarathna, from L’zaurde Jewellery group in KSA, for his four-piece butterfly design ‘Feel the Love’. Another new addition to this year’s Professional category was ‘The Futuristic Award’, which was won by Dhanushi Mekhaala Aluthwala, for her diamond dual purpose pendant come ring, ‘Powering the Future - Ring Turbine’.

The ‘Objet D’Art Award’ was won for the second time by Orsolya Nagyne Raski and her husband Daniel Nagy for their ‘Dancer’ piece of art. “This is our 55th trophy winner piece and our second win in Dubai. Last time I came to the event, I fell in love with the Arabian culture and we hope this win will help us find new customers in the Arabian region. We have worked with some royal families too and after travelling to many different jewellery shows, I honestly believe this is the Middle East’s most important jewellery event.”

The competition, which has steadily grown over the years, is a trademark of the four-day show, which has attracted thousands of visitors to DWTC. Prototypes of all the winning pieces from the professional designers are also on display outside Hall 7, along with photographs of all the runner-up designs from both categories. Trixie LohMirmand, Senior Vice President, DWTC, organiser of Dubai International Jewellery Week, said: “This region is full of gifted amateur and professional designers and it is important to provide a platform which showcases their unique talents amongst some of the world’s leading designers. The quantity and quality of entries made the final decisions for the judges extremely difficult and the winning designs deserve unanimous praise for claiming the top prizes.” The prestigious event, which is located in Halls 5-8, will draw to a close tomorrow evening at 10pm.

Emirate:  Dubai

Date: Dec 6, 2013

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