The winners of the 19th annual PlatAfrica 2018 jewellery design and manufacturing competition were announced last night during a theatre production style award ceremony hosted by the company at the Theatre on the Track in Kyalami. The competition was presented in association with Platinum Guild International (PGI) India and Metal Concentrators.
The judging process was managed independently of the management of the awards to ensure a balanced, fair and objective judging assessment. Moreover, an Anglo American Business Assurance Services oversaw the adjudication process to ensure transparency.
The winners in both the professional and student & apprentice categories are:
Nicki Böttcher from Nicki B Jewellery Creations who won 1st place in the professional category with her neckpiece titled, “Universal love”. Jefta Mtole from Altin Jewellers with his armpiece titled, “From a larvae to a queen” took 2nd place. Mandlenkosi Moses None from The Platinum Incubator with his Neckpiece titled, “Mandlenkosi” took 3rd place. In joint 4th place, Liezl Botha from Altin Jewellers with her Neckpiece titled, “Eternal”, Julian Roux from Pneuma Jewellers with his Neckpiece titled, “Guardian angel” and Metaxia Segal from Uwe Koetter Jewellers with her Watch titled, “Treasured time”.
Callen Miller from Durban University of Technology who won 1st place in the student/apprentice category with her Neckpiece & ring titled, “Able to be”. Lonwabo Majola from Cape Peninsula University of Technology with her Neckpiece titled, “Bell of love took” took 2nd place. Zola Ntintili from Rare Earth Creations with his Earrings titled, “Bold & infinity” took 3rd place and Puleng Tsotetsi from Pneuma Jewellers with her Hairpiece titled, “Benison” took 4th place.
“Blessings of Love” was the theme of this year’s competition celebrating the rise of female power while emphasising the rarity and strength of platinum and her wearer through modern but timeless design. This while showcasing no more than two or three simple elements of the highest quality production, through broad design categories namely; Nature’s Spirit, Modern Feminine and Cultural Influence.
The winners of the competition will be traveling to India as part of Anglo American Platinum and PGI India’s collaboration to participate in PGI India’s design outsourcing process for the prestigious Evara Platinum brand.
Chris Griffith CEO of Anglo American Platinum said: “Platinum benefits from a diversity of demand with jewellery being one three major demand segments for the metal. In positioning ourselves for our next growth phase, we continue to focus on developing the market for our metals with a special emphasis on supporting the development of the platinum jewellery market. Platinum jewellery has become profoundly important to the wellbeing of the South African mining industry. As such, we welcome PGI’s narrative to promote platinum as a love metal with unique characteristics and remain inspired to continue to invest in improving the design and manufacturing skills of the country’s jewellers and students so they can compete effectively, both locally and internationally”.