Young jewellery designers showcased their ability to blend Hong Kong’s heritage with a contemporary touch at the 25th Hong Kong Jewellery Design Competition. The seven winning designs were on display at the HKTDC Hong Kong International Jewellery Show, organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC).
The competition aims to discover new talents, elevate Hong Kong’s design excellence and promote exquisite jewellery collections designed and manufactured in Hong Kong to international buyers.
In line with the Contemporary Heritage theme, competition participants combined traditional craftsmanship with modern designs to create fashionable jewellery, which echoed the twin jewellery shows’ theme this year, Be Part of the Splendid Legacy.
A distinguished panel of six jewellery and design sector professionals evaluated both Open Group and Student Group entries based on creativity and innovation, aesthetics, craftsmanship, wearability and topic relevance. Marketability was a sixth criterion for the Open Group.
One of the three Open Group Best of Show Awards went to Swan Chung for her necklace Kid IT Bag. Ms Chung received a coin purse from her grandfather when she was a child, inspiring her to incorporate the double-clasp concept into her design.
Another Best of Show Award winner was Joanna Shum who used gold, gemstones, diamonds and enamel to recreate Hong Kong’s vibrant neon-lit street views with the Colour of the Neon Sign brooch, in the hope to preserve this unique visual art.
Chan Hoi-yi won Best of Show with her pendant Born of Blue, which weaves the symmetrical Chinese knot feature and tassels into a blue, wavy design, perfectly embodying traditional art that exemplifies the design excellence of the modern generation.
Open to students of institutions registered in Hong Kong, the Student Group category aims to inspire young design talents to join the jewellery design profession. The top three awards went to Hong Kong Design Institute students this year.
Student Group winners Flame Dance Blessing (left), Lion’s Rhythm with Bamboo (centre) and Lion’s Echo of Tradition
Siu Wing-ki was Student Group Champion with the Flame Dance Blessing necklace. She used a pearl to emulate the dragon ball guiding fire-dragon dancers and 18 karat gold threads to intricately recreate burning incense sticks, symbolising luck and blessing, on the fire dragon’s body.
Cheung Hoi-lam won the Student Group First Runner-up and Second Runner-Up with two entries – Lion’s Rhythm with Bamboo necklace and Lion’s Echo of Tradition earrings, both with a lion dance concept. Guangdong Lion Dance is listed as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage, and Mr Cheung used green gems to bring eyes of the lion to life for the Cai Qing ritual, bringing prosperity. Lion’s Rhythm with Bamboo added the bamboo, traditionally symbolising the virtues of a nobleman.
The Craftsmanship and Technology Award, selected from Open Group and Student Group entries, went to Tse Ka-wing for his Dance With the Fire Dragon ring, which presents the delicate features of a fire dragon using 18k gold, diamonds and semi-precious stones. The item turns Hong Kong’s Tai Hang Fire Dragon Dance intangible cultural heritage into a fabulous ring.
The jewellery competition is jointly organised by the 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.
