From innovative jewelry designs to best company practices, it’s been a rewarding year for some, as IDEX Magazine reveals in this roll call of heroes.

Kudos to De Beers' Victor Mine in Canada for being named Mining Magazine’s “2009 Mine of the Year.” The mine is located in the James Bay lowlands of northern Ontario on the traditional lands of Attawapiskat First Nation. It is a fly-in, fly-out remote mine employing approximately 500 people. Opened in July 2008, the mine is an open-pit operation with an estimated 12-year life of mine. "This award is recognition of the dedication and commitment of our employees, business partners and community partners that pull together to make the De Beers Canada Victor Mine successful," said Victor Mine General Manager Peter Mah.

Israeli diamond manufacturer A.Dalumi won the 2008 Exceptional Exporter Award from the Israeli ministry of Industry, Trade and Labor. In 2008, Dalumi became the third largest diamond exporter from Israel, after its exports grew 7.1 percent to $182 million. Sightholder Dalumi was the only firm among the top five Israeli diamond exporters to increase its exports in 2008. The recipients of the honor – nine companies in total, including hi-tech, chemical and consumer goods companies – received their award from President Shimon Peres at a ceremony at the president’s residence on December 7.

Shree Ramkrishna Export (SRE) won the SAIL HR Award in recognition of its people practices. The large Indian-based diamond manufacturer was ranked 14 among the top 25 companies cited for their HR best practices. The award was given in collaboration with one of the country's leading business schools, the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad (IIM-A). The SAIL Excellence Awards are given in recognition of the "work done by any company in the past five years to effectively manage its talent through outstanding, innovative and cost effective talent enhancing practices that have contributed to the intellectual capital or other forms of capital formation of the organization, society or nation."

Evelyn Huang of evelynH. Jewelry Inc. was 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). 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. The third place winner was 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.

Isabelle Geeroms won the 2009 HRD Awards diamond jewelry design contest organized by Antwerp World Diamond Centre (AWDC). The theme of this year’s contest was “Once upon a time …my favorite fairy tale.” Geeroms’ entry, “Mirror Mirror on my hand” was a ring made of white gold and ceramics. Her inspiration came from the fairy tale Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. The 114 diamonds used in the winning design hd a total weight of 10.28 carats, and were provided by Luc Vets Diamant. The jewel itself was sponsored by Gemsset. The five finalists were Thitiwan Thubtimthong from Thailand; Cari-Mari Wilsenach from South Africa; Guerina Yoo from South Korea and Viktoras Sitalo from Lithuania. The HRD Awards contest is considered a premiere diamond jewelry design competition, with a focus on extravagance and avant-garde.

British jeweler Stephen Webster received the Best of Diamonds award at the 2009 Couture Design Awards. Webster’s winning entry was a one-of-a-kind diamond cascade necklace from his Jewels Verne fine jewelry collection. The 18 karat white gold piece included 16.22 carat of diamonds and a further 2.13 carats of white diamond drops, retailing for £88,000 ($144,197). This isn't the first time Webster has been recognized at Couture. Ten years ago, he won the Editor's Choice Award.

Back in February, Jewelers of America (JA) announced the winners of its 19th annual Affiliate Design Competition. A panel of industry experts judged the 27 entries on craftsmanship, marketability, practicality/wearability and overall design. JA New York attendees determined the fourth honor, the Buyers’ Choice Award, with a separate ballot. This year’s designers showed a flare for the dramatic, with many of the winning pieces involving striking, beautifully set gemstones and high-concept designs. The winners were: Category I ($1,000 & Under) – Jonathan Smiddy of Regan Jewelers of Garden City, Kansas. Category II ($1,001-$3,000) – Bill Wismar of Metal Benders Jewelry Gallery of Fairhope, Alabama. Category III ($3,001 and Over) (TIE) – Jason Baskin of The Gem Vault, Flemington, New Jersey and Randall R. Hurt of AVA Goldworks in Hannibal, Missouri. Mark Abbott of Mark Abbott Jewelers in Powell, Ohio won the Buyer’s Choice Award.

Early on in the year, Platinum Guild International (PGI) announced the winners of its 2008 “Platinum Sellers Contest,” a national contest recognizing sales associates within PGI’s 4P program who sold the most platinum units in their store from October 1 to December 21, 2008. The top four winners increased their platinum sales by more than 25 percent over 2007. For the third consecutive year, Richard Wubnig of Michael C. Fina in New York City and Lisa Binder of Mervis Diamond Importers in Tysons Corner, Virginia secured first and second place. Third and fourth places were won by Becky Hubbard and Gail Gamma, both of Mervis Diamond Importers. Wubnig, who increased his platinum sales by 53 percent over 2007 said, "A platinum ring will last forever and is simply the best; I wouldn’t buy anything less for my own wife.” PGI awarded each winner with a five day, all expenses paid trip to the Greek Isles courtesy of Modern Bride and Elegant Bride magazines.