The four winning jewelry designs from Rio Tinto’s champagne diamond competition will today begin a promotional tour throughout the US.
The design competition, launched in May, was aimed at attracting talented new designers who could demonstrate the beauty of champagne diamonds, from which Rio Tinto’s Argyle Diamond Mine is a leading supplier.
The winning designs - a necklace, two sets of earrings and a brooch - have been crafted into exquisite pieces of jewelry and will now form part of a nation-wide travelling exhibition, hosted at leading US jewelry retail locations.
According to Jean-Marc Lieberherr, General Manager for the sales and marketing of all diamonds from Rio Tinto’s mines, “The manufacturers chosen to bring these designs to life represent the best in their craft. The finished pieces of jewelry are a testament to new design talent and uncompromising manufacturing.”
The manufacturers selected to produce the winning champagne diamond designs are:
Uni-Creation Inc, a vertically integrated diamantaire, produced the winning design, Evelyn’s Huang’s Bulles de Champagne Collier .
D.Navinchandra Gems, a well established, award winning diamond jewelry manufacturer, produced the second prize, Joana Miranda’s Champagne Tango Earrings.
Interjewel USA, one of the oldest champagne diamond manufacturers, produced the third prize, Graham Edney’s Butterfly Drop Earrings.
KIAH, part of the Sheetal Group, a leading manufacturer of champagne diamonds, produced fourth prize, Vincent Bisazza’s Champagne Flute brooch.
The winning champagne diamond jewelry will be on display at seven US retail outlets from November 2 to December 27.