Rio Tinto Announces Champagne Diamond Design Competition Winners

Evelyn Huang of evelynH. Jewelry Inc. is the Rio Tinto Diamonds’ “Champagne Visionary” winner. The award is the top honor in Rio Tinto’s champagne diamond competition.

Huang won the award for her Bulles de Champagne Collier (Champagne Bubbles Necklace). Her objective, according to a release, was to create a modern piece that captures the elation, joy and spirit of champagne diamonds inspired by the French period of Rococo design.

She has won numerous design awards including the 2009 WJA DIVA Design Competition for the Red Carpet Category.

The second place honor of “Champagne Wishes” was awarded to Joana Miranda for her Champagne diamond and pearl drop earrings. Miranda

The third place winner is Graham Edney, who created a “delicate, yet bold” set of butterfly drop earrings. Fourth place was awarded to Vincent Bisazza on behalf of Charles Koll Jewellers in San Diego, CA for his “Flute” brooch.

Rio Tinto Diamonds said the designs were testimony to the strength of creative jewelry design in the U.S.

Submissions were reviewed by a panel of judges from the fashion and jewelry industries.

The judging panel referred to the role of contrasting color settings in bringing a champagne diamond jewelry piece to life. “In the case of champagne diamonds from the Argyle diamond mine the range of total color from the lightest of champagnes hues through to deep cognac tones provides a wonderful palette for a designer,” said Fern Mallis, one of the judges and vice president of marketing for International Management Group models and IMG fashion.