Diamond Trading Company's GCC Diamond Jewellery Design Competition opens for entries

The deadline for entries to the competition, which is aimed at promoting creativity in diamond design among the Arab world and highlighting emerging talent in the GCC Jewellery industry, closes on 15th April.

Both novice designers and experienced industry professionals have been invited to participate in the GCC Diamond Jewellery Design Competition to demonstrate their ability to craft designs specifically for the region and now all interested parties can officially enter. Entrants to the competition must send their design renderings with an official entry form on or before the 15th of April 2007. The entry form can be obtained by emailing the Diamond Trading Company representative on helmi.hasan@buchananme.com.

To enter the competition, participants will be required to draft a design for a new piece or set of diamond jewellery, inspired by Arab culture, under one of five categories listed on the entry form; The New Innovative and Extraordinary Piece of Diamond Jewellery, The Rayana Set, The Whisper Three-Stone Ring, The Bridal Set, Melange and the Black Attraction categories. The designs will be reviewed by a selection committee who will choose the final 12 designs, which will then be produced into final pieces.

"The competition has been designed to help develop young, successful and dynamic jewellery designers in the region. Prospective participants can now enter the competition, which we aim to aid the development of diamond jewellery designs created here in the Arab world specifically for the Arab market," said Anan Fakhreddin, Diamond Promotion Service (DPS) Director of the Diamond Trading Company.

The final 12 designs will be selected by 30th April and will be presented at a gala event in June 2007 where they will be finally judged by experts such as the international fashion designer Walid Atallah. Other judges include well known industry leaders such as Ahmed bin Sulayem, Chief Operating Officer of the Dubai Multi Commodities Centre. These 12 designs will go on to form "the 2007 collection", which will be revealed at the gala event in Dubai where the five category winners will then be finally selected.

The competition is being held in partnership with the Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC), a strategic initiative of the Dubai government and the Dubai Gold & Jewellery Group, a prestigious trade body with over 700 members aimed at promoting the Jewellery industry of Dubai both locally and internationally.