63 - Solitaire International · offering intensive jewellery designing courses. Banerjee’s work...

INTERNATIONAL sEpTEmbER 201162

he theme of RBS Solitaire Design Awards 2011 titled ‘Flower Power’ aimed to showcase how a simple and recurrent motif can be

reinterpreted as a modern design for the modern Indian woman as well as entice the global audience.

Organised by the India International Jewellery Show (IIJS), the RBS Solitaire Design Awards function on August 6 was a glittering event as the award-winning jewels with the floral theme were showcased by top models. The audience was also regaled by a superlative performance by the famed percussionist and composer Taufiq Qureshi, son of Ustad Alla Rakha.

Flowers are nature’s way of offering peace and happiness to our souls, and floral motifs have been appearing in different forms of jewellery for centuries.

INTERNATIONAL sEpTEmbER 2011 63

Gautam BanerjeeGautam Banerjee, who has been acclaimed nationally and internationally, runs the eponymous institute in Mumbai offering intensive jewellery designing courses. Banerjee’s work is synonymous with innovative and unconventional creations that have won him laurels.

Pallavi DuDeja FoleyPallavi Dudeja Foley runs a jewellery boutique at The Leela Hotel in Bangalore. The award-winning couture designer headed the Tanishq international division for nearly a decade.

ruPali GuPtaMumbai-based Rupali Gupta is a design and accessory consultant, and was the head of design at Sama Jewellery, Mumbai. Gupta is a NIFT graduate from New Delhi.

In his welcome speech, GJEPC chairman Rajiv Jain said that the Council supports the initiative to encourage the industry to thrive, to move beyond the usual, and strive for the best. The awards were given away by Rajiv Jain, RBS regional manager for Asia Biju Patnaik, GJEPC vice chairman Sanjay Kothari, and IIJS convener Haresh Zaveri.

Jain elucidated the unique process that was followed to pick out the winners this year.

The Solitaire Design Awards started with inviting sketches/designs for Round 1 that was open for IIJS exhibitors only. “We received 85 sketches from 44 companies, which were further short-listed to 30 sketches for Round 2 of which 16 entries made it to the final. The winners were

chosen by three industry experts – Gautam Banerjee, Rupali Gupta and Pallavi Dudeja Foley. I thank them for having given us their time and sharing their expertise,” he said, adding, “such initiatives will take Indian designers and retailers to the next level and raise the bar.

The first prize in the Daily Wear category was won by Sama Jewellery; second prize was picked up by Shakti Jewellers and the third prize went to Savio Jewellery; Critics Award was claimed by Kundan Jewellers.

In the Formal Wear category, A’Star Jewellery took the top slot; second prize went to KP Sanghvi International; third prize was won by Jewels Emporium; while Critics Award was shared by Ansaa (two entries) and Shankesh Jewellers.

In all 115 entries were received for Competition B, which was the Sketches Only contest. Of these 7 entries were chosen in the final round. Bimal Koley won Competition B, the sketch-only round. The second prize was given away to Suryadeb Ghosh, and the third prize was won by Priyaankaa Shahnand. Critics Award went to Abhishek Verma.

A lone international entry from Aspire Designs (Hong Kong) won the award for Daily Wear in the International Category.

RBS sOLITAIRE DEsIgN AwARDs 2011


First

A’Star Jewellery (Hair ornament – Flowers of Paradise)

The floral hair ornament in silver depicts the beauty of nature, which is on the verge of extinction due to the ruthless acts of mankind. We need to preserve and conserve the perishing flowers or they may be lost forever. Depicted in the piece are tears (rose cuts on silver chains) of the chamomiles (in rubies); exotic orchids, bolwarras, siroi lilies and silver-leaf butterfly (in blue enamel) portraying their perishing lives being destroyed by mankind. Dying branches are recreated in diamonds, withering buds in pearls and white sapphires and leaves in green tourmalines. Calling out for sympathy and peace are the white feathers featured in the ornament.

third

Jewels Emporium

(Pendant – The Flower Blaze) This wild flower with bewitching hues is crafted in 18 karat gold. The central motif is fashioned out of Mexican Fire Opal and decorated with diamonds, brown and black diamonds. The delicate double hooped chain is finished with Champleve enamelling.

second K. P. Sanghvi International (Cuff – The Creator of Sweetness) The gold and diamond bracelet details the way honey is made by the bees using nectar from flowers. The bracelet exemplifies the connection between the bees and the flowers on the one hand and the hard work put in by the amazing insects and nature to create food for mankind.



Shankesh Jewellers (Neckpiece – Vasundhara)

The eye-catching necklace captures intricate details of the cockscomb flower actualised with the help of rubies mounted in electroplated gold. The flowers sit well on the textured gold leaves that are ornamented with diamonds; the other half of the gold neckpiece has handcrafted leafy stems.

Ansaa (Bangle – The Celestial Flora)

The oil-painted rotating gold bangle is actually not a single bangle but six bangles hinged together in a way that each one spins individually with a slight movement of the wrist. Each of the six bangles is beautified with oil-painted flowers, vines and leaves. When viewed from the side, the bangles align to form a colourful meadow.

Ansaa(Necklace – The Floral Flamboyance)

The flowing and flamboyant gold neckpiece goes across the neck and over only one ear to terminate as an earring! The beauteous, thick leafy open necklace resembles a garland of tiny textured leaves with pink enamelling and accented with an emerald bud at the base of the earring.


BR Designs (Necklace – Green Valley)

The power of green is visible in this gold necklace with tiny florets adorning the piece. Studded with diamonds and emeralds, and fringed with Tahitian pearls, the herbaceous necklace, which is totally hinged and rests as a choker on the neck, pays homage to Mother Nature.

Sama Jewellery (Earrings – Floral Charisma)

Inspired by tulips, the 18 karat gold wire-work earrings are graced with flat uncut diamonds and round brilliant-cut diamonds. The danglers are spruced up with tiny dangling ruby-studded tulips with diamonds briolettes.

Keshavlal Dalpatbhai Zaveri & Co (Anklet – Pushkarni) The humble water hyacinth is eulogised in this enamelled gold anklet to showcase its beauty and sturdiness against all odds. The middle layer is filled with diamond flowers that are accented with sapphires. The top and the bottom layers are gold pipes ornamented with Bikaneri green, blue and white enamelling.



CritiCs AwArdKundan Jewellers (BAngle - FlAming Blue FAntAsy) Blue invokes romance, passion and denotes eternity. The bangle, which draws inspiration from the Blue Cornflower, an endangered species, is crafted in yellow gold and studded with diamonds and dressed up with blue enamelling. The flowers are brought to life by golden-filigreed hollow balls that can hold scented cotton buds and the flexible band features criss-cross lines studded with diamonds.

FirstSama Jewellery (BrACelet – Blooms oF liFe)

The dahlia-inspired unique finial bracelet is created in gold and harmoniously set with florets of mother-of-pearl in different layers and spruced up with bezel-set diamonds; the flowerheads are bedecked with small blossoms of carved rubies, mandarin and citrine.

seCond Shakti Jewellers (BrooCh – insepArABle Bond oF nAture) The stylish and lively brooch has a contemporary feel to it and features different shades of gold roses studded with cubic zirconia. A blue-bodied butterfly with gold spanned and enamelled wings sips the sweet nectar of life.

third Savio Jewellery (eArrings – the Floret eArrings)

The 14 karat gold basket earrings are carpeted with rubies and diamonds on one side and have cutwork pattern of gold leaves with bezel-set diamonds on the other. The modular earrings can be worn in five different ways as they have tiny balis (earrings) on the top which, too, are decorated with diamonds on one side, and cutwork gold leaves on the other.



Kalash Jewels(Spiral of Trinity)

The white gold trinity ring is a happy grouping of three pieces: two painted trilliums and the flexible triquetra band denoting unity in trinity. The ring is studded with diamonds and the three petals of trillium symbolising purity, innocence and fertility, are painted. The spiral filigreed motifs represent the many flowers that form the bed in the shape of intertwined flexible triquetra band, which denotes the three worlds: heaven, earth and the nether-world.

Aura Jewels(Brooch – A Midsummer Night)

A silver and yellow gold brooch is dressed in flowers made of South Sea pearls and blue sapphires. The brooch is a celebration of magic and fertility. The design depicts a tale in which a young girl must collect seven flowers and keep them under her pillow (the brooch comes with different coloured leather cushions). This helps her to dream about her future husband!

Sangam Diamond(necklace -- Autumn Blossom) The neckwear with a hint of earth tones highlights a large textured brown leaf held by dry twigs and spangled with blooming tiny flowers made out of baroque pearls dotted with coloured gemstones.

Aspire Designs (Earrings – Hanging Flowers)

Blowing in the wind is the inspiration for these earrings, which feature Angel’s trumpets. The flow of the flower petals and the pistils gives it a wind-blown effect. The petals are carpeted with ruby sapphires, and rubelite teardrops form the centre and the pistils are set with diamonds.


SecondSuryadeb Ghosh

(Necklace – Autumn Delight)

Inspired by the autumn season, the swank necklace, made up of a mesh gold chain, depicts entrancing lilies studded with

uncut diamonds. The back clasp too is studded with diamond buds

and leaves.

criticS AwArdAbhishek Verma(Ring -- Eye of the Beholder)

The ring is inspired by the folds of a cactus flower. The thorns represent the hardships of life and the flower reflects the happy moments that keep you going. The flower is depicted with rubies, diamonds and enamel on white gold.

thirdPriyaankaa Shahnand

(Shoe -- Purple Bloom)

The high-heeled stiletto shoe is gussied up with delightful floral patterns ornamented with diamonds, amethysts,

and garnets.

FirSt Bimal Koley (Hair Ornament -- The Temptress)

The floral hair ornament is characterized by flow, fall and flexibility. The flowers using different colours of gold, are decorated with diamonds in micro pave settings and linked with Italian hollow chains that are flexible. The piece complements the feelings and emotions of a bride-to-be – the passion to possess the love of her life, the wish to look beautiful and the happiness of starting a new life.



Khushbu Selarka (Earrings – The Hidden Beauty)This pair of earrings sends out a strong message about the deteriorating environment. The detailed, but small lotus field in the background depicts the number of lotuses in a pond when there was no threat of global warming. The foreground showcases the deterioration today with a limited number of lotuses in a pond.

Anshu Gandhi (Waist belt – Flower Belly) The power of flowers is expressed in the gold waist belt that has an array of colourful blossoms studded with various gemstones. The assorted bunch of flowers is meant to spread happiness and brighten our lives.

Arunava Sen(Hairband – Memorable Moments)

Memorable moments are created when the blue and white orchids come together on a single white gold band. The blue orchid is dotted with blue topaz, while the white

orchids are ornamented with white diamonds.


Some of the best stall designs were on display at the IIJS this year. Three judges – Neil Foley, a Bangalore-based product designer (industrial, jewellery, watches, retail, visual merchandising, and lifestyle and business design), his wife Pallavi Foley, a haute couture jewellery designer and Maya Vaidya, a Mumbai architect, took four hours to decide on the award-winning stall designs at the IIJS. And the awards went to:

First prize The World Gold Council Judges’ comments: Trendy, modern, feminine, well showcased, well integrated, clean lines, great finish, good visual merchandising.



CritiCs AwArd

Crafts For DesignJudges’ comments: Self explanatory and good connect between craft and design, well displayed and stands out strikingly.

seCond prize

ZoccaiJudges’ comments: Small stall, but very well laid out, effective space management, good finish and detail.

third prize

Sama Judges’ comments: Entire concept – from interiors to exteriors -- is well connected. Good colour synchronisation.

third prize

SwarovskiJudges’ comments: Good display and finish, visually pleasing, trendy, neat and inviting.

63 - Solitaire International · offering intensive jewellery designing courses. Banerjee’s work...

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