In 2007, Charles & Colvard created Moissanite launched a U.K. design competition for moissanite jewelry designs with the self-purchasing woman in mind.

The competition was created to raise awareness of moissanite in the jewelry industry and promote that over 71 percent of moissanite customers are women who buy for themselves. Julie Wright (pictured), a designer from Devon, England, won the 2007 competition and was awarded an all inclusive trip to JCK Las Vegas held this past month.

Wright just returned to London from the JCK show as a guest of Charles & Colvard where she showed off her winning design, a moissanite pendant set in 18K white gold valued at approximately $4,000 (pictured). Her piece was chosen as the winner because it truly reflected the trend for soft and geometric pieces, encompassed in an innovative design, Charles & Colvard said in a statement.

“From a young age I would get great joy from making things; to the dismay of my parents, when lovingly given gifts were pushed aside to make something much more exciting with the box” Wright said. “As a British designer I feel privileged to have had an opportunity to observe such a cross section of international influences at the JCK Show and to debut my moissanite piece.”

Wright is a graduate of Plymouth University with a BA (Hons) degree as a Designer/Maker who now works for Gerry & Co Jewellers, in Devon where she is involved in the design of unique pieces of jewelry.

The first phase of the 2008 design competition “Adventurous Moissanite” has begun with a panel of U.K. judges reviewing all the design entries submitted in the form of jewelry renderings and sketches.

This year’s contest encouraged applicants to create bold and adventurous designs making use of the wide selection of shapes and sizes available in moissanite.

Five semi-finalist renderings will be selected and their designers will receive moissanite jewels up to a value of $1,000 to use in the actual manufacturing of their design. These semi-final manufactured jewelry designs will be judged. One finalist will be selected to win an all inclusive trip to the Hong Kong Jewelry Fair in 2009. This grand prize will include three nights accommodation in a luxury hotel and a celebratory dinner.

“We believe that last year’s theme would show that moissanite, set into 18K gold, would lead to the creation of a more fashion-forward approach and Julie’s stunning piece demonstrated this concept quite flawlessly” said Dennis Allen, U.K. business development consultant, who administers the competition for Charles & Colvard. “The contest was such a tremendous success that we are looking forward to debuting this year’s entries that are sure to push the imaginative boundaries of moissanite jewelry design.”

JCK