The one-of-a-kind winning pieces from Rio Tinto’s 2009 Champagne Diamond Design Competition do a wonderful job of utilizing the different shades of Champagne diamonds into their designs which allow the beauty that can be attained through the use of these natural colored diamonds to truly come to light.
Evelyn Huang of evelynH.Jewelry Inc. was awarded “Champagne Visionary” for her first place winning “Bulles de Champagne Collier (Champagne Bubbles Necklace)”.
Her objective was to create a modern piece that captures the elation, joy and spirit of champagne diamonds inspired by the French period of Rococo design.
BIOGRAPHY:
Evelyn Huang was born in New York but raised in the warm sunshine of Southern California. Her love affair with jewelry began at a very young age. As a child she was exposed to the many beautiful gems and diamonds in her father’s fine jewelry business located in the heart of downtown Los Angeles. Summer and winter vacations were spent running errands and helping out with the business. This helped develop her strong sense of customer care and service, while cultivating her natural instincts for discerning quality and beauty in
the pieces she was surrounded by.
As a young adult, Evelyn left her family business and earned a degree in Economics at the University of California at Irvine. Upon graduating she worked in different fields exploring the opportunities that awaited her; but jewelry was never far from her heart. After living a few years in Asia to develop her own unique style and outlook, she returned to the States and once again joined her father’s business as a fulltime associate. At the same time she enrolled herself in the Gemological Institute of America’s Graduate Gemologist program. Driven and determined, she completed the distance program in a single year and upon receiving her G.G. diploma she left her father’s business to work for De Beers on L.A.’s most famous street - Rodeo Drive. Working in Beverly Hills built upon her well developed foundation, and her open and honest attitude won over clients while earning respect from her peers. Although satisfying, the work never provided a creative outlet for her ideas. So taking what she learned from the experience, she left high-end retail to start her own business.
In the fall of 2006, evelynH. Jewelry Inc. was established. A few short months after launching the business Evelyn’s talent was recognized when her “Infinity” suite of bridal ring designs , placed 3rd in the 2007 DIVA competition and her “Cometes Cuff” design placed 1st in the bracelet category for the North America Division of the Tahitian Pearl Trophy. These two accolades would be the beginning of a long list of industry design awards for the gifted artist, culminating in this year’s Rio Tinto Champagne Visionary status awarded to her for her first place win. Ever the over-achiever, Evelyn finds time between designing and running her business with being a student at the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising’s Professional Designation; Jewelry Design program. She credits the school with opening her eyes to cutting edge fashion, color, and textures and how these elements can be used to further enhance her work while further honing her artistic ideas.
The inspiration that is in an evelynH. design lies in the many facets and experiences of life, from the past towards the future, a place where East meets West. What started as a childhood affair has blossomed into a passion that evelynH. hopes to share one day with the world.
MANUFACTURER BACKGROUND:
Uni-Creation Inc, produced the winning design, Evelyn’s Huang’s Bulles de Champagne Collier. Uni-Creation is one of the world’s leading rough and polished marketers operating at all levels of the market and is particularly noted for its expertise in naturally color diamonds.
Quote from Amita Mehta, Executive for Merchandising and Sales, Uni-Creation: “The process of manufacturing the winning necklace was a positive challenge! The diamond color selection was a lot of fun; it was like sitting with a plate of colors then mixing them together to create this intricate sculpture with over 25 castings. Balancing each piece was a very thoughtful process as we wanted the necklace to flow as it appears to do in the sketch. Our workers in the factory and those who have coordinated this process are thrilled with the result!"
Joana Miranda received the second place honor for her elegant Champagne diamond and pearl drop earrings. The “Champagne Tango Earrings”, inspired by the designer’s love of movement and tango are graceful and alluring, featuring champagne diamonds in graduated colors.
BIOGRAPHY:
Born in Portugal into an artistic family, award-winning jewelry designer Joana Miranda first discovered her love for making jewelry at the age of four when she and her father made a brass and imitation-pearl flower ring for her mother. She graduated to making her own wire and bead jewelry in her early teens and sold her small collection at a local fair. In 2004, not content with the limitations of beads and wire, Joana sought out training with Master Goldsmith David Liska in Milwaukee, WI. Obtaining the Accredited Jewelry Professional degree from GIA and a design certificate from GIA New York, she also pursued CAD training.
In 2006 Joana became David Liska's Design Associate, and was actively involved in every aspect of the business from design to benchwork to marketing. Joana left that position in July 2007 to start Joana Miranda Studio. Highlights of her first two years in business include winning design prizes in WJA Diva, GIA George A. Schuetz (both in 2008 and 2009) and winning the Champagne Wishes 2nd Place category in the 2009 Rio Tinto Champagne Diamonds Contest. Her other training and many years of professional work as a classical violinist and violist serve her well as she brings the same focus, discipline and deep search for beauty to her work at the jewelry bench. Joana's jewelry can be found online as well in galleries.
MANUFACTURER BACKGROUND:
D.NAVINCHANDRA GEMS PVT LTD, a large-scale polished diamonds business, produced Joana Miranda’s Champagne Tango Earrings. Established in 1970, D.Navinchandra Gems developed a large-scale polished business by 1975. In the year 1990 an in-house jewelry manufacturing unit was established. Today, they have emerged as one of the fastest growing manufacturing and exporting companies.
Since its inception it has been an integrated diamond manufacturing organization, managed by young and energetic professionals with a proud commitment of combining quality customer service in all aspects of their business.
Quote from Punit Mehta, Director, D.NAVINCHANDRA GEMS PVT LTD: “Our designers thrive on creating beautiful pieces that capture the magic of Champagne Diamonds throughout every phase of manufacturing and designing the Champagne Diamond Tango earrings truly fulfilled this passion. We are proud to have been involved in the exciting undertaking and are thrilled with the outcome of the piece”.
Graham Edney, the third place winner, created a delicate, yet bold set of butterfly drop earrings. These sparkling champagne diamond set butterflies feature a marquis diamond back cut peridot with a clip in the form of diamond set champagne grapes.
BIOGRAPHY:
Graham Edney began his career by attending Sir John Cass College of Art and Technologies in London, England where he studied jewelry related arts and crafts. Graham graduated first in his class, earning his degree in Jewelry Arts from the city of London Guilds, after being top student four years in a row.
After a five year apprenticeship with a leading designer, he was admitted to the ‘Freedom of the Mystery of Goldsmiths’ of London. He came to the U.S.A. where he has been creating one of a kind masterpieces in collaboration with corporate and private clients, including Neiman Marcus. Graham has more than 20 years experience, creating all work himself, and has produced many award-winning pieces. Graham Edney specializes in one of a kind couture jewelry.
MANUFACTURER BACKGROUND:
Interjewel USA, one of the oldest champagne diamond manufacturers, produced Graham Edney’s Butterfly Drop Earrings. Established in 1970, Interjewel USA has a deep understanding of the design potential of champagne diamonds and has produced many pieces of noteworthy champagne diamond jewelry.
Quote from Sanjay Kothari, President, InterJewel USA: “InterJewel USA presents these beautifully handcrafted earrings made with natural Champagne diamonds set in 18KT gold and designed by Graham Edney. The earrings flaunt chic style, luxurious quality and a timeless, classic appeal. The natural champagne diamonds from Rio Tinto’s Argyle Diamond Mine and the unique design make this jewelry truly timeless and universal.”
Vincent Bisazza was awarded fourth place for his “Flute” brooch. Designed to whimsically interpret the playful movement of champagne bubbles in a champagne flute, this brooch is composed entirely of the lighter shades of champagne diamonds.
BIOGRAPHY:
Vincent Bisazza was born and raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and has been creating art since childhood. He briefly attended The University Of The Arts, a fine arts college in Philadelphia. He left to apprentice as a bench jeweler in a custom shop, learning to fabricate fine jewelry and work with precious metals and stones.
In addition to freelance two and three-dimensional work, he has spent most of his professional career in the jewelry industry, with the majority of his experience being custom jewelry design. While living on the East Coast he worked for local custom jewelers while maintaining his own small shop doing bench work and custom design for his own clients.
Presently Vincent lives in San Diego California and works at Charles Koll Jewellers, one of San Diego’s leading custom high-end jewelers, designing and selling fine jewelry.
MANUFACTURER BACKGROUND:
Kiah Lifestyle PVT LTD., part of the Sheetal Group, a leading manufacturer of champagne diamonds, produced Vincent Bisazza’s Champagne Flute brooch.
Every piece of KIAH Diamond Jewelry is aimed at acknowledging various accomplishments in a woman’s life at various stages in both her personal and professional life. Each jewel speaks of romance and has that timeless quality with a spark to match every aura.
Quotes from Gautam Gulati, COO, KIAH LIFESTYLE PVT LTD: “Vincent Bisazza was extremely precise and sharp with the design and its brief. It was indeed a pleasure and privilege to manufacture a piece designed by him. We were extremely excited to see the design of the brooch come to life, it was challenging but we all enjoyed the experience”.
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