Divas: Innovation and Glamour

By Carrie Soucy, Senior Editor -- JCK Online, 10/1/2001 2:00:00 AM

The Women's Jewelry Association's fifth annual DIVA award winners—in true diva form—showed a taste for high glamour and sophistication, along with a rule-breaking and tradition-challenging tenaciousness.

The grand-prize winner, Marsha Donahue, created a necklace dubbed "Reel" Hollywood Glamour. It was created with a black velvet ribbon threaded underneath a diamond-studded brushed and high-polished 18k white gold film-like choker. According to Donahue, the piece also offers versatility and may be worn with actual film instead of velvet ribbon.

Second place went to Astrik Jarajian, who created "Eye Frames with Wings and Vision." Jarajian was inspired by Cher to create the piece, she said. Third place winner Joeng-Eun Kim created a flower collar, inspired by the elegance of Audrey Hepburn.

Also recognized by the WJA were honorable mentions Maria Canale, Shinka Kimura, and Aiko Iwashita Massoud.

The DIVA awards were established to allow women the opportunity to design jewelry and receive publicity and recognition for their talents. The competition accepts only renderings as entries, allowing all designers to compete.