The Diamond Trading Company, the sales and marketing division of the De Beers, launched a new collection of diamond jewellery, the DTC Shining Light Awards Collection 2006.2007, on Tuesday, at the Venue in Melrose Arch in Johannesburg. The collection reflects the intrinsic values of diamonds and celebrates diamonds as natural treasures.

The collection is the result of the DTC Shining Light Awards for Excellence in Diamond Jewellery Design, which showcases the creativity and talent of designers from around South Africa. First launched in 1996, the objective of these awards has been to provide support for the future of the South African jewelry industry by helping to develop the technical and design skills of South African designers as well as an ethos for South African jewelry design.

Joyce Coetzee, Tshwane University of Technology Jewellery Design student, was the overall winner of the competition. Her bangle, sponsored by DTC Sightholder, Vancut DW (Pty) Ltd / Taché Company NV, is the centrepiece of the collection. The bangle was created in 18k yellow gold and is set with 668 round brilliant cut diamonds weighing of 22.55cts.

Nearly 1,000 designs from around South Africa went forward to the preliminary round of judging in July 2006, where 10 designs were selected to make up the new collection.

Intrinsic to this South African jewelry design competition, are the Design Workshops which are held around the country where designers in the competition are able to benefit from the input from each other, technical jewelry experts, and guest speakers from around the country.

JCK