De Beers Unveils Winners of Shining Light Awards

(IDEX Online News) – Lilja Pesanka Hastie, from the Tshwane University of Technology in Pretoria, was named as the overall winner of the 18th Shining Light Awards. The designer was awarded a year’s training scholarship with De Beers Group’s Forevermark design team in Milan, Italy.

Louise Kriek and Madeli Viljoen, both also from the Tshwane University of Technology, received ‘The Cursor Sursum Award’ as runners-up. They will be offered three-month training scholarships in Milan.

Each producer country finalist also received a two-year scholarship with the Keith White School of Jewellery Design and Manufacturing in South Africa. They were Julius Brettschneider, from Adrian & Meyer Jewellers (Windhoek, Namibia), Mpho Mokgatle, from the Oodi College of Applied Arts & Technology (Gaborone, Botswana), and Omphile Sibanda, from the Tshwane University of Technology.

This year, entrants were required to design a commercial collection including a ring, a bracelet, a pendant and earrings under the theme “The Promise.”

“My collection is inspired by the romance of marriage and the promise that binds the union of true love, that their hearts will forever be intertwined,” said Lilja.

“The twisted shank symbolises two lives intertwined and tied by a diamond infinity band. The band serves as a bezel for the hero diamond, and the ultimate meaning for the diamond is eternity and love bonding the commitment of two people. All this is symbolised in the ring design and it is carried through the entire collection - that includes a pendant, earrings and a bangle.”

“As the modern diamond jewellery designer needs a head for business, just as much as they need an artistic eye and a skilled hand, this year’s awards have sought to identify those that have the commercial acumen to match their creative flair,” said De Beers chief executive Philippe Mellier at the awards, which were held in Johannesburg, South Africa.