In a spectacular celebration of artistry, creativity, and the exquisite beauty of natural diamonds, Diamond Guild Australia proudly unveils the finalists of the 2023 Diamond Guild Australia Jewellery Awards. Now in its 18th year, this prestigious competition continues to spotlight the finest Australian jewellery designers, showcasing their talent and passion for crafting extraordinary diamond creations.
The panel of judges assembled for the 2023 competition represents some of the brightest stars in the Australian design and jewellery industry, including, Karlie Ungar, creative director of Carla Zampatti, Brandon Gien, chief executive officer of Good Design Australia, Bebe Bahkshi, jewellery blogger, influencer, and founder of Australia’s @champagnegem blog, and Lester Brand, managing director of Lester Brand Jewellery.
The judging event left the panel in awe of the exceptional quality and creativity showcased in the entries. “The standard of the entries has been truly outstanding, and it has been a privilege to see such a range of amazing pieces that clearly reflect not only the creative talent but also the heart and soul of each of the entrants,” commented the panel.
Here are the finalists of the 2023 Diamond Guild Australia Jewellery Awards:
Everyday Diamonds
Glistening Lagoon
Designer: Natalie Alegria
Company: Creations Jewellers Canberra
Retail Value: $8,300
A gold layered design, accented by pave-set diamonds and a satin bead blast and polished finish combination, “Glistening Lagoon” features the unsung hero of fancy cut diamonds, the Marquise. The central Marquise cut diamond floats down the gold lagoon with glistening diamonds at its shore, designed to be enjoyed and endure for all that life brings day to day.
Total Diamond Weight: 0.52ct
Diamond: One Marquise Cut 0.35ct, F, SI2. 24 x Total Weight 0.17ct, Round Brilliant Cut, D-F Colour, VS2 – SI1
Trois
Designer: Robert Musson
Company: Musson Jewellers
Retail Value: $10,000
An 18ct white gold, three-diamond set pendant featuring sculptured and polished wrought wire and metalwork with three central graduating diamonds. The flowing movement and lightness of the wirework create a combination of negative space and volume in the design, ultimately designed to be worn and enjoyed every day.
Diamonds: 3 x Total Diamond Weight = 1.00ct Oval Brilliant Cut, D-E Colour, VVS1 – SI2, Forevermark Black Label.
Diamonds for Men
Diamond Metropolis
Designer: Cassandra Nitschke
Company: Bell and Brunt Jewellers
Retail Value: $35,500
A handcrafted 18ct white gold diamond-set Men’s jacket pin designed to be worn as a pocket square. Inspired by the Art Deco style, the pocket square features a combination of natural white princess, tapered baguette, baguette, and round brilliant cut diamonds, creating a dazzling display for evening wear.
Diamonds: 80 x total diamond weight = 4.313ct, mixed fancy-shaped diamonds, F-G colour, VS- SI2.
Velocita
Designer: Chantelle Green and Andrew Want
Jeweller Company: Calleija
Retail Value: $70,100
An 18ct white gold diamond-set collar bar set with round brilliant and half-moon cut diamonds with threaded end caps.
Total diamond weight 3.59ct.
Red Carpet
Callistemon
Designer: Berj Ohanessian
Company: Berjani Jewellers
Retail Value: $76,120
A pair of handcrafted 18ct white gold 2 claw set multi-diamond set earrings, each stalk is individually articulated to create a sense of natural movement. Inspired by the flower of the Australian native Callistemon or Bottle Brush.
Diamond: 12.51ct Round Brilliant Cut F Colour, VS, Excellent Make*
Bloom
Designer: Robert Musson
Company: Musson Jewellers
Retail Value: $46,880
An 18ct rose gold 17 oval diamond-set sculptural right-hand ring featuring a natural gradient of fluorescence across the rows of angled white gold claw-set oval cut diamonds that are set between the polished rose gold panels. Bloom possesses a metamorphic quality inspired by the concept of an organic design coming to life. The natural fluorescence can be viewed under black light where the design’s unique feature can be fully appreciated.
Diamonds: 17 x Total Weight = 6.17ct, Oval Cut, D-G Colour, IF – SI1 Clarity. Forevermark Black Label Diamonds.
Peacock
Designer: Jeff Einstein
Company: Jeff Einstein Jewellery
Retail Value: $60,460
An 18ct yellow gold handmade two-piece diamond ring set comprised of a solitaire fancy modified step cut kite-shaped diamond set ring that interlocks with the fan-shaped baguette cut diamond set jacket ring to create a bold red carpet-worthy design. The ring set is inspired by the elegant show of a peacock.
Diamonds: 1 x 2.14ct Modified Step Cut Kite Shape, J Colour, SI Clarity. 36 x Total Weight 1.92ct, Graduated Tapered Baguette Diamonds F/G Colour, VS Clarity.
Design for Diamonds
Le Ruban d’Or
Designer: Louis Dauxais
Company: Matthew Ely Jewellery
Estimated Retail Value: $9,300,000 (if the design was to be made)
A hand-rendered sketch design finished in gouache paint of the conceptual design entitled “Le Ruban d’Or.” The design features a handmade fully articulated 18ct white gold setting adorned with a central fancy vivid yellow square radiant cut diamond and 40 fancy yellow Asscher cut diamonds running around the collar section. An additional 170 Asscher cut diamonds in an ombre of white to fancy orange colour run down the draped tie sections at the front of the collier.
Orionid
Designer: Alaine Anson
Company: Stephen Dibb Jewellery
Estimated Retail Value: $42,639,304 (if the design was to be made)
A hand-drawn rendered design finished in pencil and gouache of the conceptual design entitled “Orionid.” The design features a platinum, 18ct rose gold, and 22ct yellow gold necklace inspired by the Orionid meteor shower that will pass by the earth again on the evening of October 24, 2023. At the centre is a 13.33 rough pink diamond crystal representing the comet with a cascade of natural white pear, marquise, and round brilliant cut diamonds that symbolize the stars, planets, and moons of our galaxy set into a waterfall of chains to the front representing the orbits of the planets. Straight-falling lines of chain draping down the back reflect the grid lines of our Earth. Each diamond set into the necklace possesses a natural strong fluorescence that lights up the darkness of the night sky under black light. The total diamond weight of the design equals 166ct.
Fancy Coloured Diamonds
Summertime Sunset
Designer: Travis Trewarne
Company: Trewarne Fine Diamonds
Retail Value: $100,000
An 18ct rose gold diamond set ring featuring a rare Argyle origin natural fancy intense pink-orange centre pear-shaped diamond set into a wide open ellipse of gold set with curved rows of natural pink diamonds to the inside and outside faces. The central diamond is symbolic of an orange sun setting over the Australian landscape of sunburnt hilltops in a rose-pink sky. The design is an interpretation of nature’s finest work in a narrative of the bond we have with the earth.
Diamonds: 1 x 0.52ct, Pear Shape, Argyle Fancy Intense Orange Pink Colour, P1 Clarity; 134 x Total Weight 0.50ct Round Brilliant Cut, Argyle Natural Pink Diamonds, 4-5P – 7PP.
Eclosion
Designer: Ben Preston Black and Rowan Thin-Smith
Jeweller Company: Creations Jewellers Canberra
Retail Value: $135,900
An 18ct recycled rose and yellow gold and palladium set ring inspired by the emergence of a butterfly from its cocoon. The ring features hand-enamelled wing-shaped panels enveloped in a series of leaf-like structures that are textured and set with a combination of fancy yellow, pink, champagne, and white diamonds from which a central brilliant cut champagne-coloured diamond surrounded by a sinuous white diamond set thread emerges.
Diamonds: Total Diamond Weight = 3.75cts; 1 x 2.05ct, Round Brilliant Cut, Argyle Champagne C5, SI1 Clarity; 3 x Total Weight 0.209ct, Marquise Cut, Natural Fancy Intense Purplish-Pink, SI2-P2 clarity.
The Kaleidoscope
Designers: Nadia Neuman and Burt Muller
Company: Mondial Pink Diamond Atelier
Retail Value: $275,000
An 18ct yellow and white gold fully functioning coloured and white diamond-set kaleidoscope pendant that can be detached from the ornate necklace that is also set with a combination of fancy cut coloured diamonds. The necklace has been made with interchangeable components to allow versatility in how the piece may be worn.
Diamonds: Total diamonds weight = 32.26cts; Colored diamonds = 23.49cts total weight, including natural champagne, yellow, cognac, orange, blue, and pink diamonds of various cuts including rough yellow diamond octahedra, single cognac diamond octahedron, champagne diamond macle, bi-colour rough, 6 fancy yellow, pear-shaped, old rose cuts, and pink and blue round brilliant cut diamonds; White diamonds = 8.77ct total weight, baguette cut and round brilliant cut.
Solitaire Diamonds
Tears of Joy
Designer: Travis Trewarne
Company: Trewarne Fine Diamonds
Retail Value: $11,000
An 18ct palladium white gold solitaire diamond ring set with an Argyle natural white pear-shaped diamond that is enveloped by a highly polished oval open ellipse. The design has been inspired by the cycles of life, the endless ebb and flow of the seasons, of growth and decay in an endless circle of decline and renewal embodying the deep connection between humanity and the natural world.
Diamond: 1 x 0.50ct, Argyle Pear Shape, D Colour, VS1 Clarity.
Orsay
Designer: Benjamin Tracy
Company: Finelines Jewellers
Retail Value: $19,980
A handmade platinum solitaire diamond set ring featuring an end-set marquise cut diamond running across the finger with a swept-up sculptural shoulder detail.
Diamond: 1 x 1.00ct, Marquise Cut, D Colour, SI2.
The winners of the 2023 Diamond Guild Australia Awards will be revealed at a glamorous gala event held at the luxurious Langham Hotel Gold Coast on the evening of Tuesday, October 24, 2023. The event, attended by 100 VIP guests and hosted by Jessica Rowe, promises to be a sensational celebration of the exceptional talent and creativity that shines bright in the Australian jewellery design community.
Further reading: