The winner of the Botswana Collection designed by Banyana Mpete.

(IDEX Online News) – The Diamond Trading Company's Southern Africa Shining Lights Awards diamond jewelry design awards have been announced.

 

Competitions were held in Botswana, Namibia and South Africa with the theme being Women of Africa, Your Light Shines.

 

There were 103 entries for the Namibia Diamond Trading Company (NDTC) competition with the awards evening showcasing eight pieces of diamond jewelry from the seven finalists containing more than 14,000 polished diamonds with a combined wholesale value of in excess of $1 million.

 

The overall winner of the Botswana Collection was Banyana Mpete who designed an 18K white and yellow gold neckpiece set with 486 round brilliant and fancy diamonds with a total weight of 36.64 carats sponsored by Blue Star Diamonds.

 

The other winning items were sponsored by Ankit Gems, Eurostar Botswana (Pty) LTD, Swana Diamonds, Teemane Manufacturing Co, Steinmetz Diamonds, Chow Tai Fook (Botswana) Diamond Cutting Works, Shrenuj Botswana and Pluczenik.

 

The overall winner for the Namibian Collection was Erkki Hifindwako, whose design was sponsored by Julius Klein Diamonds Namibia (JKD) and was a basket ring made from 18K white and yellow gold and set with 575 round brilliant cut diamonds with a total weight of 13.57 carats.

 

Ankit Gems, Pluczenik, Steinmetz Diamonds, JKD, Almod Diamonds and NU Diamond Manufacturing sponsored the other winners.

 

In South Africa, the winners were Tsholofelo Sefako, Lucinda Dabbs, Hunandi Tlomatsana, Lea Ann Coetzee, Thulisile Matshika, Retha Minnie, Retshepile Mametja, Genenvieve Wocke, Robyne Cowling and Vernon Harry Korff.