October 28, 2011 New York October 18, 2011, Rio Tinto Diamonds has announced an elite panel of eight judges from the jewelry and fashion industries, to decide the winners of the Rio Tinto Diamonds Global Design Competition. The prestigious design competition was launched in August to inspire creativity and innovation across four categories of jewelry design, which reflect the diverse nature of Rio Tinto’s diamonds and its strong commitment to sustainable jewelry practices. These categories include Champagne Diamonds, Silvermist Diamonds, Canadian Diamonds and Sustainable Jewelry. The panel of eight judges will announce the winners at the awards event to be held at the Kristin Hanson Gallery, featuring a private diamond atelier, in New York City on November 1st. According to jewelry designer Kristin Hanson, "I am honored to be on the judging panel and hosting the 2011 Rio Tinto Diamonds Global Design Competition. As an educator and an artist it will be great to see the work of talented jewelry designers from around the globe." Entries for the design competition close on October 28th, 2011.

Eight winning designers will be selected, and their designs will be showcased at a suite at the 2012 Academy Awards. Details of the panel of eight judges are as follows:

Fern Mallis – Fern Mallis is widely credited as the creator of New York Fashion Week while Executive Director of the Council of Fashion Designers of America and later as Senior Vice President at leading events management company IMG, as their Fashion Week global ambassador. Fern is also President of her own international fashion and design consultancy firm.

Phillip Bloch - One of Hollywood’s premiere fashion stylists and commentators, Philip Bloch has styled many notable celebrities such as Halle Berry, Sandra Bulloch, Mariah Carey and Nicole Kidman. As an author, television personality, and fashion designer, Philip is in much demand for his insights into the world of fashion and style.

Ramona Singer - Ramona Singer is a New York businesswoman who has developed several innovative fashion jewelry collections that have earned the acclaim of design critics. Ramona is currently a cast member of the US television program, “The Real Housewives of New York City.”

Kristin Hanson - Kristin Hanson is a jewelry designer whose creative philosophy embodies contemporary designs to accentuate the innate beauty of rare diamonds and exotic gems. In 2006, Kristin Hanson established the Fine Jewelry School in New York.

Melissa Lum - Melissa Lum is the Senior Accessories Editor of the shopping and style publication, Lucky Magazine.

Jennifer Heebner - As Senior Editor of the Jewelers Circular Keystone (JCK) Magazine, Jennifer Heebner has covered jewelry and business trends for JCK for over 13 years.

Michael O’Connor - Jewelry and red carpet style expert with more than 25 years experience, Michael O’Connor is a coveted style correspondent and Style Editor for the television shopping channel QVC.

Glenn Curtis - Glenn Curtis is the Director and Founder of Curtis Australia, who specializes in fine, traditional handcrafted jewelry and object d’art.

Rio Tinto Diamonds Launches Global Design Competition

Rio Tinto Diamonds has announced the launch of an exciting global design competition aimed at inspiring creativity and innovation across four categories of diamond jewelry design.  These categories reflect the diverse nature of Rio Tinto's diamonds and its commitment to sustainable jewelry practices.

According to Rebecca Foerster, Manager of Rio Tinto Diamonds US Representative Office,

"We are delighted to be announcing this competition at a time when the jewelry industry is hungry for product innovation and design. This competition has a number of unique categories which will provide the opportunity for both new and emerging designers to showcase their craft."

The competition is open to entrants from the United States, Canada, Hong Kong, China, India, and Australia, who can submit designs in the following categories: Champagne Diamonds, Silvermist Diamonds, Canadian Diamonds and Sustainable Jewelry.  There are also two levels of entry - "Rising Star" and "Master Craftsman" - and participating designers will have the opportunity to express the unique story of inspiration for their design.

The design competition closes on October 26, 2011, with judging to take place in New York on November 2, 2011.  The eight winning designs will be chosen by a panel of elite jewelry designers, fashion experts and celebrity stylists. The winning designs will be showcased at a suite at the 2012 Oscars, along with significant media exposure.

For more information and to enter the Rio Tinto Diamonds Global Design Competition please download the rules and entry forms below:

RTDGlobalDesignComp_Facts.pdf (48.24 kb)

RisingStar_RTDCompRelease.pdf (139.89 kb)

MasterCraftsman_RTDCompRelease.pdf (139.74 kb)

RTDGlobalDesignComp_Rules.pdf (235.11 kb)

I even found insect designs on the fashion runway. They appeared in a major way in Lanvin’s Spring 2011 collection where Alber Elbaz incorporated insect accessories in almost all of his looks.  

I can’t say for sure that his designs contained diamonds but for the champagne color palate used in this beautiful shot below I had to feature it.  

I know you’re all sulking, myself included, that summer is over. Yes - its over! And although change is sometimes more frightening than being caught wearing linen after Labor Day the good news is we once again have a 'legitimate' reason to shop. 

Prada 

  Donna Karan  

                                                                           Richard Chai LOVE

 Valentino

More striking than the unique differences in each of the collections is the striking commonality - the color palettes used! Hues from light beige to cognac and browns were everywhere, and as you know it’s not only cut and style trends that make a look current but its color that really pulls a look together. This earthy color spectrum is fashion's most decadent neutral and the trend doesn’t end with clothing. It translates into jewelry as well and what better way to accessorize the season's hottest looks than with Champagne Diamond jewelry.

With soft, radiant tones and exquisite shades from light champagne to rich brown, natural color Champagne Diamonds radiate warmth, sophistication and beauty which make them the perfect accompaniment to your wardrobe.  

 The one-of-a-kind winning pieces from Rio Tinto’s 2009 Champagne Diamond Design Competition are debuting for the first time to the public. The designs, that began as sketches, are finally complete after months of anticipation! The winning designs - a necklace, two sets of earrings and a brooch - will form part of a nation-wide travelling exhibition, hosted by leading US jewelry retail locations! The winning jewelry designs will tour throughout the US to eight different US retail outlets from November 2 to December 27.

Diamonds have a life of their own. This was proved true at the Rio Tinto Champagne Diamond Design Competition, where four competitors succeeded in bringing champagne diamonds to life by combining the warm range of light champagne to deep cognac colors in their expressive and inspired designs.
 
Evelyn Huang of evelynH Jewelry Inc. was named the "Champagne Visionary" as the 1st place winner of Rio Tinto Diamond’s Champagne Diamond Contest! In her piece, "Bulles de Champagne Collier", she wanted to create a champagne diamond necklace that conveyed elation, joy, and spirit. Rio Tinto is honored to award Evelyn Huang with the title of Champagne Visionary for her beautiful necklace that best highlighted the range of light champagne diamonds to the deeper tones.

Joana Miranda was awarded the second place "Champagne Wishes" title for her "Champagne Tango Earrings". Her love for the tango comes across in the movement of these graduated color champagne diamond earrings which appear to twist magically through the ear.
 
The third place, "Champagne Evenings", was awarded to Graham Edney. He brought butterflies into his gorgeous design: a delicate yet bold pair of butterfly drop earrings. These gorgeous babbles made of marquis diamond back cut peridot were topped with a Tsavorite stem. This unusual design stems from his couture design studio work in Santa Barbara.
 
Vincent Bisazza, on behalf of Charles Koll Jewellers in San Diego, was awarded the fourth place prize entitled "Champagne Days." He designed a gorgeous brooch called "Flute", composed of a stunning range of champagne diamond colors. These colors made the brooch seem to move whimsically in the light as does bubbly Champagne in a crystal flute.
 
Congrats to the four winners of the Rio Tinto Design Contest!