Ahluwalia Reveals Rio Tinto Award Winning Canoe Diamond Necklace

(IDEX Online News) – Canadian jewelry designer Reena Ahluwalia has revealed the finished necklace that landed her an award in the Rio Tinto Diamonds Global Design Competition.

In November of last year, Ahluwalia was announced winner of the Canadian Diamonds Master Craftsman category for her "Canoe" necklace design.

Made of 18K white gold and set with 28.96 carat of diamonds, "Canoe" is inspired by a poetic image of the magical Canadian landscape and its pristine white winters. It captures a snapshot of a snow-covered canoe in a frozen crystalline lake.

“Celebrating the magic and beauty of Canada, my home, is the inspiration for my design. Canoe is a carrier of Canadian myths, a symbol unique to Canada that represents voyage, harmony with nature, discovery and courage. It is one of the greatest gifts the First Nations people gave to all those who came after. A crystalline perspective, this necklace hopes to capture the luminous magic of the True North,” said Ahluwalia.

The necklace comes together with two diamond-studded links embracing the neck that represent the fluidity of a lake. Irregular intersecting lines, studded with Ideal Square cut diamonds depict chunks of floating ice. The necklace culminates into a canoe shaped element.

“Canoe” has an angled faceted interior, “I wanted the diamonds to reflect on the opposite facets for a dramatic shine and create an icy crystalline look,” said Ahluwalia.

Crossworks Manufacturing Ltd., the largest manufacturer of branded Canadian diamonds in the world and a DTC Sightholder, sponsored the manufacturing of the jewelry item and provided the Canadian diamonds that it is set with.

Jewelry designers from across the globe were invited to submit designs in four categories: Champagne Diamonds, Silvermist Diamonds, Canadian Diamonds and Sustainable Jewelry.

In late February, the winning designs will be showcased at the annual Academy Awards 2012 with a chance to be selected and worn on the red carpet.

“The primary diamonds in the Canoe are the Ideal Square, a patented cut designed by a Canadian company and are set in a beautiful design by a Canadian artist," said Dylan Dix, Crossworks' group executive of marketing and external relation.

This is the ultimate reflection of our industry’s goal of celebrating the Canadian diamond pipeline from mine to market,” Dix added.