The necklace is featured in the brand’s “Rebel Heart” campaign starring Adam Levine and Behati Prinsloo.
PGI, Pratt Announce Winners of Platinum DNA Awards
The three winning students’ designs will be produced into finished jewelry and showcased this spring.
New York—Platinum Guild International and Pratt Institute announced the winners of the inaugural Platinum DNA Awards.
Jewelry design students Celine Dussaud, Jo Sabavala and Maria Baquerizo took the first, second and third place prizes, respectively, at a virtual awards ceremony held late last month. Each designer created a rendering of a platinum pair of earrings (seen at top).
PGI-USA Vice President Kevin Reilly said in a statement: “We could not be happier with the results of this inaugural program. The designs submitted truly pushed the boundaries of innovative platinum design and have us very excited to watch these talented young designers progress in their jewelry journey. The future of platinum jewelry is truly bright.”
The winning Pratt students impressed an illustrious array of jewelry design experts.
The panel of judges consisted of designer Zoltan David of his eponymous label; author and editor Marion Fasel of The Adventurine; designer Deirdre Featherstone of Featherstone Design; this publication’s editor-in-chief Michelle Graff; fine jewelry brand Gumuchian’s Patricia Gumuchian; former Hyde Park Jewelers CEO and co-founder Michael Pollak; and John Carter of Jack Lewis Jewelers, who is also immediate past president of the American Gem Society.
Pratt Institute professors and designers David Butler, Russell Jones, Patricia Madeja and Katrin Zimmerman rounded out the panel.
Zimmerman commented: “Material exploration is a central tenet of our jewelry education at Pratt Institute. Introducing our students to the most precious of materials, platinum, through this amazing collaboration with Platinum Guild International is a meaningful and important expansion of our teaching. The impact on the students has been immediate, positive and measurable.”
The competition’s next step will see the three winning designs produced by New York-based manufacturer Paul Catania of PCAT Custom.
The finished jewels will be on display at the annual Pratt Design Show, scheduled for spring 2021.
All of the competition’s entries are available for viewing on virtual art platform CritiArt.
The Latest
Big changes appear to be on the horizon for the diamond miner and its parent company, Anglo American.
Jesse Cole, founder of Fans First Entertainment, shared the “five Es” of building a fan base during his AGS Conclave keynote.
With Ho Brothers, you can unlock your brand's true potential and offer customers the personalized jewelry experiences they desire.
The Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar "John Mayer" was celebrated at a star-studded party in LA last week.
The announcement came as the company reported a 23 percent drop in production in Q1.
The three-time Pro Bowler continues to partner with the retailer, donating to a Detroit nonprofit and giving watches to fans.
For over 30 years, JA has advocated for the industry, fought against harmful legislation and backed measures that help jewelry businesses.
A double-digit drop in the number of in-store crimes was offset by a jump in off-premises attacks, JSA’s 2023 crime report shows.
Inspired by the Roman goddess of love, the designer looked to the sea for her new collection.
The luxury titan posted declining sales, weighed down by Gucci’s poor performance.
The selected nine organizations have outlined their plans for the funds.
The mining company’s Diavik Diamond Mine lost four employees in a plane crash in January.
The crown introduced a dozen timepieces in Geneva, including a heavy metal version of its deep-sea divers’ watch.
Emmanuel Raheb recommends digging into demographic data, customizing your store’s communications, and retargeting ahead of May 12.
Located in the town of Queensbury, it features a dedicated bridal section and a Gabriel & Co. store-in-store.
A 203-carat diamond from the alluvial mine in Angola achieved the highest price.
Ruser was known for his figural jewelry with freshwater pearls and for his celebrity clientele.
The “Rebel Heart” campaign embodies rebellion, romance, and sensuality, the brand said.
Editor-in-Chief Michelle Graff shares the standout moments from the education sessions she attended in Austin last week.
The overhaul includes a new logo and enhanced digital marketplace.
The money will go toward supporting ongoing research and aftercare programs for childhood cancer survivors.
A new addition to the “Heirloom” collection, this one-of-a-kind piece features 32 custom-cut gemstones.
Last month in Dallas, David Walton pushed another jeweler, David Ettinger, who later died.
The move will allow the manufacturing company to offer a more “diverse and comprehensive” range of products.
From now through mid-May, GIA will be offering the reports at a 50 percent discount.
De Beers’ rough diamond sales were down 18 percent year-over-year in its latest round of sales.