Freedom takes flight for jewellery designer

Widely recognised as a global symbol of freedom and peace, doves have taken flight on to centre stage in the 21^st Hong Kong Jewellery Design Competition as a pair of earrings showing the birds escaping took top honours in the contest.

Another leading entry in the competition, themed “Relative‧Compatible”, took on a topic popular with many jewellery buyers – eternity – expressed through a series of connected gears representing time.  Another winning piece was designed to represent harmony between sea and land.

Results of the 21^st Hong Kong Jewellery Design Competition were announced earlier this week. Designer Lee Wing-yan, sponsored by Luk Fook Holdings (International) Limited, took the top prize for the “Freedom and Bondage” earrings. The main design element in the piece is a group of flying doves breaking free from their tethers to reclaim the skies. Ms Lee took the Best of Show Award & Craftsmanship and Technology Award in the Open Group in recognition of her excellence in jewellery design and craftsmanship.

Another Best of Show Award winner in the Open Group was designer Tang Yuk-ying, sponsored by C.S.S. Jewellery Co. Limited, who created “The Harmony of Sea and Land” using blue and yellow ribbons to represent the symbiosis between ocean and land. Her creative and delicate bracelet expresses how having an open mind and loving heart allow people to live in harmony. Designer Chareine Lee, sponsored by Charente Fine Jewelry, also won a Best of Show Award in the Open Group with her entry “Eternity”. Her meticulous pendant shaped as a set of unique gears represents the “eternity of time”.

In the Student Group, Chung King-wai from the Hong Kong Design Institute created an exceptional pendant to take the top place. His entry “Metal and Wood” is a simple yet striking design combining two contrasting materials that reflects the competition’s theme. Hattie Chan from the Technological and Higher Education Institute of Hong Kong with her entry “Coral” and Law Yuen-kwan from the Hong Kong Design Institute with her entry “Victoria” were joint first runners-up in the Student Group.

The Hong Kong Jewellery Design Competition is jointly organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), Hong Kong Jewellers’ & Goldsmiths’ Association, Hong Kong Jewellery & Jade Manufacturers Association, Hong Kong Jewelry Manufacturers' Association and the Diamond Federation of Hong Kong, China. This year marked the 21st edition of the competition which, over the past two decades, has served to identify many budding talents and promote Hong Kong jewellery products to an international audience.

The latest edition of the competition received about 160 entries, screened by a panel of seven judges.

Organised by the HKTDC, the HKTDC Hong Kong International Diamond, Gem & Pearl Show will take place from 1 to 5 March 2021 at AsiaWorld-Expo while the HKTDC Hong Kong International Jewellery Show will be held from 3 to 7 March 2021 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. The 22nd Hong Kong Jewellery Design Competition, with the theme “Light．Shadow”, is now open for application.

A panel of seven professional judges selected the best entries in the Hong Kong Jewellery Design Competition (main picture). The judging panel comprised (from left to right): Kwong's Art Jewellery Trading Company and My Jewelry Founder Mark Ho; Co-Wear Int'l Ltd Design Director Hidy Ng; Anne Heung, Vice Chairman, Board of Trustees, Wai Yin Association; Headragon Ltd Director Pinky Seung, katetsui.com Founder Kate Tsui; DORIS KATH Creative Director Doris Kath Chan; and Ka Shing Jewellery Designer Robin Lai.

Related link
HKTDC Hong Kong International Jewellery Show