The 2007 Women’s Jewelry Association’s DIVA Awards competition—this year titled the Platinum DIVA Awards—will culminate in a cocktail reception at the Venetian’s Tao restaurant Monday night. The first-place designs were manufactured courtesy of Lieberfarb Inc., and are on display at the Platinum Guild International booth in the Platinum Pavilion. 

First prize was awarded to Mary Tanana, of MJT Designs in St. Petersburg, Fla., for her platinum vintage-style eternity wedding set with millgrain details. A reggae music fan, Tanana was inspired by a Jamaican word, “irie,” that means to be in a state of peacefulness or harmony. “The word captures the feeling when a couple gets engaged,” said Tanana, who will receive a cash prize of $2,000 from WJA and a packet of Platinum benefits, valued at $15,000, from PGI, including a private consultation with PGI’s director of technical education, Jurgen Maerz.

PGI, along with Gem Certification & Assurance Lab and American Gemological Laboratories, are top DIVA Awards sponsors. 

Second prize went to Younhee Shin, director of product development at A. Jaffe, New York. Shin’s winning three platinum ring designs were inspired by traditional Korean wedding ceremonies, in which the bride and groom bow down to each other as a promise to live with respect for each other. Shin was born in Korea.

Evelyn K. Huang, of evelynH Jewelry Inc., Temple City, Calif., received the third Platinum DIVA Award. A native of California, she was exposed to the world of gems and diamonds in her father’s fine-jewelry business in Los Angeles. In 2006 she opened her own firm. “The inspiration for my jewelry flows from the many facets and experiences of life, from the past towards the future, a place where the East meets the West,” said Huang, who incorporated an infinity symbol at the base of her classic Platinum designs, representing love without end, said Huang.

The Platinum DIVA judges chose the winning designs based on their originality, creativity, wearability, and interpretation of the theme. 

The DIVA competition is open to all women, regardless of experience, formal training, or background in jewelry or jewelry design. Tickets for Monday’s Platinum DIVA Awards at Tao are available at the WJA Booth (L47) or at the door.

JCK