In August, 2011, Rio Tinto Diamonds launched an exciting global design competition aimed at inspiring creativity and innovation across four categories of diamond jewelry design including Champagne Diamonds, Silvermist Diamonds™, Canadian Diamonds, and Sustainable Jewelry. These categories reflect the diverse nature of Rio Tinto’s diamonds and its commitment to sustainable jewelry practices.

The competition was open to entries from the United States, Canada, Hong Kong, China, India, and Australia, giving each designer the opportunity to express the unique story of inspiration for their design. With a record number of entries in both the “Rising Star” and “Master Craftsman” levels, the competition saw outstanding levels of innovation and creativity in designs from around the globe.

On November 1st, Rio Tinto Diamonds held a judging event at the exclusive Kristin Hanson Gallery in New York City to decide the winners. As a result of their efforts, the nine winning designers will have opportunities for significant exposure to the US jewelry industry, including their designs being showcased at a suite at the 2012 Academy Awards.