The Diamond Trading Company’s inaugural Southern Africa Shining Light Awards Collection of jewellery has gone on display in South Africa.
Featuring 18 pieces of jewellery set with over 14,000 diamonds including natural black, green and yellow coloured stones, the collection was crafted by designers from South Africa, Namibia and Botswana designers.
First launched in 1996, the objective of the DTC Shining Light Awards has been to provide support for the future of the South African jewellery industry by helping to develop the technical and design skills of South African designers.
This year’s competition was expanded to include South Africa’s diamond producing neighbours – Namibia and Botswana – and make it into an event for Southern Africa.
According to Thoko Modisakeng, the head of marketing for the De Beers Group in Southern Africa, the Shining Light Awards competition the DTC has pioneered the way for DTC Sightholders, the sponsors of the collection pieces, local manufacturers and designers to collaborate in producing innovative and progressive design work.
“A direct result of this collaboration has been the securing of employment at a time when the challenges in the global economy remind us of the interdependence of nations and economies, and of the necessity for us to meet our goals through cooperative endeavour,” she said.