PROFESSIONAL CATEGORY To push the boundaries of design excellence and create a unique challenge in the professional category only 11 selected designers from recent years were invited to participate in the Best of the Best Design-Off. Kirtikumar Devjee Aninka Harms Daniel Jacobs Eska Jansen van Vuuren Johan Louw Ida-Elsje Olivier Andreas Salver Vijay Shah Johan Strydom Chris van Rensburg Cari-Mari Wilsenach. One of the key requirements was to make platinum the hero. The brief required that 80% of the metal used be platinum in order to showcase this precious metal. Each designer was allowed a maximum platinum weight of five ounces (155 g) to create bold designs for the catwalk. PlatAfrica 2008 takes pleasure in presenting, the best of the best 10
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1 s t P L A C E Chris van Rensburg Studio C My first priority is always understanding the brief. Secondly, I take into account the technical aspects of creating the piece. By keeping to the rules of good design, I believe the aesthetics flow automatically. The word ardour set my design in motion. The arum lily s significance is ardour, which for me represents passion, commitment, devotion and love. My design immortalises the anniversary and celebrates true love. 12
Dedicated to my beloved brother Nick, 16 May 1977 23 May 2007 Eska Jansen van Vuuren Eska Claire Designer Jewellery I find working with platinum challenging and at the same time very rewarding. Mastering the skill to create jewellery from this pure and brilliant white metal has been a personal accomplishment. The intricate wire work is a reflection of each day of the week. Each of them has a sparkling moment so celebrate each and every day. Vijay Shah Vijay Shah Jewellers I m constantly striving to create unique works of art in the form of jewellery. My design was inspired by the delicious feeling one gets as one opens a gorgeously wrapped gift. The pearls represent celebratory balloons wrapped in wire mesh, symbolising ribbons and wrappings The diamond X celebrates the 10th anniversary of the competition. 13
2 n d P L A C E Johan Strydom Juweel Kuns My inspiration comes from my clients I build a picture of their likes and dislikes before I begin with a quick sketch to sort out any technical difficulties. I really love challenges and enjoy working with different metals. The fine workability of platinum is just fantastic! The start of life is birth the stairs of life are the anniversaries, leading up to the peak of one s life and down to the twilight years. 14
Kirtikumar Devjee Kirti Jewellers At first I was nervous about working with platinum. However, as I began shaping my first platinum piece, I just seemed to get into the groove of working with this amazing metal and enjoyed every second shaping it. I looked back at my designs created for PlatAfrica 10 years of design. This piece is inspired by all that went before Daniel Jacobs Daniel Jacobs Jewellery Design I love working in platinum, as there s no oxidation or repolishing it s an incredibly efficient material: you finish as you work. In Greek mythology, Aphrodite s wreaths, given to brides on their wedding day, carried three magical gifts: affection, desirability and whispered endearments. Pandora s kestos himas will again bestow its enchantments of passion and power on lovers and once again merge them on this anniversary. 15
3 r d P L A C E Cari-Mari Wilsenach Cari-Mari Platinum s physical properties lend itself to excellence. After all these years, I still get butterflies in my stomach when I work with this metal! This unique bangle celebrates the anniversary of marriage, everchanging, but always keeping the same values. 16
Johan Louw Uwe Koetter Jewellers Working with platinum is like a successful marriage. You fall in love and along the way, you learn to appreciate that wonderful metal more and more. The platinum wire symbolises the continuity of life and the gems represent the times we stop, reflect and celebrate. The different gems have been arranged to celebrate the milestone wedding anniversaries. Andreas Salver Andreas Salver Manufacturing Jewellers I ve always said: Anyone can make jewellery, but not many people can make it well. Designing jewellery is about creating a piece with feeling. This design represents my journey through life with two very good friends We get together once a year. Rubies represent love and the diamond purity that s always constant in our friendship. 17
Ida-Elsje Olivier Ida-Elsje Designer Jeweller I feel passionate about the individuality of the customer. My designs combine the contemporary and the traditional. I love mixing vintage with modern. The 10 faceted stones made from platinum are set in a heart-shaped eternity ring to celebrate the love that grows with each anniversary. Aninka Harms Ornament Artifacts There are a few exquisite material properties and qualities which make working with platinum pure pleasure. I ve enjoy its incredible malleability. You can work it thinner and thinner and it hardens immediately, making very fine work possible. My inspiration came from my life Each charm is symbolic of an event or anniversary. 18
JEWELLERY COUNCIL OF SOUTH AFRICA Without competition, there is no excellence PlatAfrica has been an inspiration to the jewellery industry to strive for design excellence. Over the past 10 years, the quality and calibre of the entries have grown immeasurably. A decade ago, very few jewellers were equipped to meet the growing needs of consumer interest in platinum jewellery. Only a small number had ever worked with this precious metal. The inspiration for PlatAfrica came from Metal Concentrators who, together with Anglo Platinum, created a forum for workshops and this dynamic competition. From a business point of view, besides the aesthetic niceties of platinum, it is still the metal with the most scope for added value for manufacturers. Platinum jewellery competes in a league all of its own. It is the only market where the micro, small and medium manufacturer can compete. Platinum also represents a large portion of the niche bridal market that continues to grow year on year. Working with platinum requires consummate skills and as our universities grapple with the challenges of skills delivery, I strongly believe that apprentice skills make an important contribution to the jewellery industries productivity and the economy. As we face the challenges of the future, broad-based, high-level trade skills will be essential to the growth of our industry. South African jewellery designers will need to become increasingly innovative in their designs to create niche markets. PlatAfrica provides an ideal opportunity for designers and students to push the boundaries, putting South African design in the spotlight. I d like to thank Anglo Platinum and Metal Concentrators for their continued support of this vital event in the jewellery calendar. Chris van Rensburg Chairman: Jewellery Council of South Africa 19
STUDENT CATEGORY PlatAfrica provides an opportunity for aspirant jewellery designers to work with platinum and develop the necessary skills and techniques to produce world-class jewellery designs from this amazing metal. This year, the design brief challenged student entries to design and manufacture wearable pieces of platinum anniversary jewellery. Students were tasked to do their own research and explore the concept of anniversary gift-giving ideas suitable for a modern society that celebrates all manner of milestones not only those associated with marriage. The student contestants were given just one troy ounce (or 31.10 g) of platinum to work. Their challenge was to create innovative, practical and functional retail pieces. This year, 93 entries battled it out for a place in the top 40. 20
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1 s t P L A C E Anneke Pienaar Tshwane University of Technology Wood and platinum celebrates the fifth anniversary... leaves blowing on the wind, carrying the relationship forward to the next adventure. 22
TSHWANE UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY The Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) is a proud product of South Africa's first decade of democracy. TUT was established in 2004, with the merging of the former Technikon Northern Gauteng, Technikon North-West and Technikon Pretoria. While the size and scope of this dynamic institution are impressive, the quality of its teaching, research and community engagement is what makes the university really stand out. The Jewellery Design and Manufacture Programme is based within the Department of Fine and Applied Arts. Its goal is to teach students to develop striking concepts and to craft them carefully until they exactly represent the artist s vision. The Programme strives to keep up with the latest technology and continuously changes the teaching content. Anglo Platinum initiated the first of its platinum studios at TUT in September 2000. Since then, training in platinum manufacturing skills has developed into a large part of the third-year students practical component. The university s entrepreneurial ethos promotes knowledge and technology providing a professional, world-class education relevant to the needs and aspirations of southern Africa s people. Students are taught the practical housekeeping, design and manufacturing skills unique to platinum, and have consistently fared extremely well in the PlatAfrica Competition. The institution s holistic approach in the training of its students ensures a successful future in their post-diploma working environments. Students are given the opportunity to work with different metals as well as gems, and also learn how to run their own businesses. The focus of teaching is now also more directed to Computer Aided Design. Students from TUT are sought after in the industry due to the skills they acquire. TUT currently have a total of 92 students studying jewellery design: 1st year 24 students 2nd year 24 students 3rd year 28 students B Tech 16 students Website link: www.tut.ac.za 23
2 n d P L A C E Guinevere Stockwell Tshwane University of Technology The Poppy Day brooch was inspired by John Mc Crea s poem commemorating World War I. The stitching symbolises those injured or killed during the war. The copper symbolises the blood that was spilt and the platinum mirror offers a reflection lest we forget. 24 MOST UNIQUE PIECE
TOP 40 Tshwane University of Technology Marna Liebenberg Tshwane University of Technology Platinum and pearl the leaves envelop the pearl, just as a husband protects his wife Thuto Pule Tshwane University of Technology A symbol of love that still shines brightly Elmain Pienaar Tshwane University of Technology The rustle of black lace, the twists and turns in our life together 25
TOP 40 Tshwane University of Technology Denise Vermaak Tshwane University of Technology Celebrating the 29th Olympic Games and the Bird s Nest stadium in Beijing, China. Garth Silverthorne Tshwane University of Technology The simple daisy a token of affection. Modest, unassuming, ever-fresh, natural and full of joy and happiness! Carolyn Singer Tshwane University of Technology Each of us angels with only one wing. And we can only fly embracing each other. Comte de Bussy Rabutin 26
TOP 40 Tshwane University of Technology Mandy Adams Tshwane University of Technology A never-ending circle of love filled with red roses. Monique Olivier Tshwane University of Technology The abacus keeps track of the passing years. This is inspired by the 10th anniversary platinum and wood. Kevin Leece Tshwane University of Technology The ticking of time passing by each day adds up to a memorable moment at each new anniversary. Bhekithemba Ngema Tshwane University of Technology Six leaves of our lives. The figure six celebrates this sixth anniversary. 27
3 r d P L A C E Marthinus Naudé Andreas Salver Jewellery The kunzite and platinum lattice ring symbolises the intertwined lives of two people. The blocks represent a calendar with the stone marking the anniversary day. 28
TOP 40 Manic Monday Willemien Niemann Manic Monday For the star in my life our lives are inextricably entwined. Hannelie João Manic Monday The Casablanca Lily represents love at first sight! 29
TOP 40 Studio C Jessica Araujo Studio C Endless love... two individuals joined together creating a single unit. Jannie van Rensburg Studio C The eternity ring don t marry someone you can live with, marry the person you can t live without! 30