De Beers Group Marketing Diamond Jewellery Design Competition 2007 grande finale

The Grande Finale of the first pan-GCC De Beers Group Marketing Diamond Jewellery Design Competition, following in the wake of the international 'Diamonds: Nature's Miracle' competition.

GCC designers set their creativity free to produce some of the most awe-inspiring diamond jewellery pieces and sets ever seen in the region, valued at over $2,000,000. The glittering gala celebration featured eight finalists' pieces and sets of imaginative and innovative jewellery designs - all inspired by one of nature's most precious creations - the diamond.

The event, designed within a luxury venue at a prestigious Dubai hotel, took VVIP guests, hailing from the international and local jewellery industry, through a series of rooms themed around the piece of jewellery on display. From a waltzing bride and groom in one setting, to luxuriously clad models viewing 'Breakfast at Tiffany's' on a cinema-style big screen in another - each intricate design was displayed to highlight it's individual symbolism.

Anan Fakhreddin, Regional Director of the Diamond Promotion Service (DPS) at De Beers Group Marketing, the largest producer of rough diamonds in the world says, 'From its birth billions of years ago to the journey it endured to the surface of the earth, to the legends and myths surrounding it, to its elusiveness and rarity - each piece of jewellery captures the diamonds true magic and mystique.

'Diamond jewellery has the ability to capture the heart. It symbolizes love, eternity and glamour, and our Diamond Jewellery Design Competition, as well as our themed gala event was aimed at allowing designers to put their diamond jewellery dreams into reality, thereby highlighting the emerging talent in the GCC jewellery industry.

'Both novice designers and experienced industry professionals were invited to participate in the competition to demonstrate their ability to craft designs specifically for the region.'

To enter, participants were 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; A new piece of Diamond Jewellery, The Rayana Diamond Jewellery Set, The Whisper Three-Stone Ring, The Bridal Diamond Jewellery Set, Melange and the Black Attraction categories.

The eight diamond jewellery designs chosen to go into the final stage of the competition were produced into actual pieces which went on to be judged by a panel of expert judges including Mr. Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Executive Chairman DMCC, International fashion designer Walid Atallah and Anan Fakhreddin, Diamond Promotion Service (DPS) Director of the De Beers Group Marketing.

The final pieces and sets were modeled at the event alongside Walid Atallah latest designer dresses collection.

Winners who received De Beers Group Marketing trophies include:


• Damas with 'A Melange and black attraction piece' consists of a choker identical in style to the traditional Agal - the black band used in Arabic headdress. The piece makes use of 3635 diamonds and is worth $117 463.50.


• Rafi Sarki with 'A Melange and black attraction piece' consists of a 'new generation' bangle incorporating 7 diamonds set in white gold and fixed at different angles to create an atom-like figure representing energy. The piece is worth $76 905.75 and make use of 2 387 brilliant round diamonds.


• Rosy Blue Trading with 'A new piece of Diamond Jewellery', inspired by water droplets shimmering on a sunlit lotus leaf, this necklace incorporates 2501 diamonds set in white gold and is valued at $7 120.


• Scintilla Monaco with 'The Rayana Diamond Jewellery set' including necklace, earrings and ring valued at $1.5 million. This piece makes incorporates pear, oval and marques diamonds set in 18 karat white gold.


• Al Moallim Jewellery with 'The Whisper three-stone ring' made up of round, heart-shaped and oval diamonds.


• Hajar Bashir Almas Faraj from High College of Technology with 'A Bridal Diamond Jewellery set' manufactured and sponsored by Damas, including necklace, bracelet, earrings and ring. This set makes use of 1249 diamonds set in white 18 karat gold, valued at $2.708 million.