Platinum Guild International joined forces with Couture in Las Vegas to award six distinguished manufacturers during the first annual Platinum Couture Style Challenge.

The contest, judged exclusively by top fashion/industry media as well as Hollywood stylists, was a multi-category design competition that allowed exhibiting Couture designers to draw attention to their most distinguished platinum pieces. The winners received an official Platinum Couture Style Challenge trophy and each will be featured in at least two of PGI’s consumer media programs in 2008-‘09.

Winners of the 2008 Platinum Couture Style Challenge include:

• Platinum Couture Red Carpet: Erica Courtney
Erica Courtney (above) won for a platinum lariat comprised of 315.24 carats of black diamonds with platinum and diamond stations.

• Platinum Couture Luxury for Everyday: Erica Courtney
Erica Courtney won for a pair of platinum and diamond everyday hoops accented with flower crosses.

• Platinum Couture Colors: Steven Kretchmer
Steven Kretchmer won for the “Superman” ring; A helix tension ring containing a pink tourmaline center and a trillion cut diamond set into platinum.

• Platinum Couture Bridal Atelier (higher end platinum bridal above $5,000 MSRP): Tie – Kwiat and Rotenier.
Kwiat designed a Platinum and diamond headband, an updated tiara style with platinum and diamond flowers. Rotenier created a platinum mini deauville link necklace with a platinum disc enhancer with 10 carats of diamonds. Hanging from the necklace was a one-of-a-kind hand carved Aquamarine with tassel chain.

• Platinum Couture Bridal Boutique (Unique platinum bridal below $5,000 MSRP): Sholdt
Brian Sholdt won for its platinum petite 3-ring with pave sides.

More than 40 exhibitors participated in the inaugural challenge. Editor and stylist judges scored each piece from one-to-five based upon the item’s originality, wearability and appropriateness in its category.

Some honorable mentions across the five categories included a Platinum drop pendant by Ilias LaLaounis, a carved deco baguette platinum ring by Diana Heimann, a one-of-a-kind cabochon Aquamarine ring in platinum by Gurhan and long platinum earrings with Tahitian pearls and blue and pink sapphires and diamonds by Fei Liu.

JCK