From left to right: Ann Arnold, WJA President and Vice President of Lieberfarb; Evelyn Huang of evelynH Jewelry Inc; 1st place winner- Mary Tanana of MJT Designs; 2nd place winner- YounHee Shin, director of product development for A. Jaffe; and James Courage, CEO of Platinum Guild International.

FIRST PLACE DESIGN DISPLAYED AT PGI BOOTH IN PLATINUM PAVILION IN VEGAS

WJA announced the top three winners of its 11th annual DIVA design competition, which this year was entitled the Platinum DIVA Awards.   Designers were asked to enter sketches for one engagement ring and two wedding bands in platinum, addressing the competition theme of "2 People, 3 Platinum Rings." 

The winners were acknowledged at the Platinum DIVA Awards cocktail reception, held at Tao restaurant in Las Vegas on Monday, June 4th.  The first place designs were manufactured courtesy of Lieberfarb, Inc., and were displayed at the Platinum Pavilion during the JCK Show in Vegas. 

First prize was awarded to Mary Tanana, of MJT Designs in St. Petersburg, FL, for her platinum vintage-style eternity wedding set with mill-grain details.  A Reggae music fan, she was inspired by a Jamaican word, "irie," that means to be in a state of peacefulness or harmony. "The word captures the feeling when a couple gets engaged," said Tanana, who received a cash prize of $2,000 from WJA and a package of platinum benefits, valued at $15,000, from Platinum Guild International (PGI), including a private consultation with PGI's Director of Technical Education, Jurgen Maerz.

Tanana, who majored in college in fashion illustration and textile design, says she is enamored by textures and contrasting patterns.  She was trained on the job in a variety of jewelry-making techniques. Her career was shaped observing the factory floor and studying with some accomplished model makers in the U.S. and internationally, said Tanana, whose work has involved platinum.  "I love the density and the feel of platinum.  Recently I have worked on many vintage-style designs, and I find this the metal of choice."

Second prize went to Youn Hee Shin, director of product development, at A. Jaffe, in New York City. Her boss, Sam Sandberg, a WJA member, encouraged her to enter the competition. 

Born in Korea, Shin received a degree in biology from the University of Kyung Pook.  She realized her passion for the design of structural elements and enrolled in the prestigious Academia di Moda Costume in Rome to study jewelry design.  After graduating, Shin moved to New York City in 1993, where she worked for several renowned jewelry companies before joining A. Jaffe as an exclusive designer for the A. Jaffe collection.  In 1997 De Beers selected her engagement ring design to be part of a three-year national advertising campaign.

Shin's winning three platinum ring designs were inspired by traditional Korean wedding ceremonies, in which the bride and groom bow down to each other as a promise to live with respect for each other.

Evelyn K. Huang, of evelynH Jewelry Inc., Temple City, CA, received the third Platinum DIVA Award.   A native of California, she was exposed to the world of gems and diamonds in her father's fine jewelry business in L.A.  After receiving a degree in economics from the University of California and working for a few years in Asia, she returned to her father's business.  She received her G.G. from GIA, and later worked for a high-profile jeweler on Rodeo Drive. 

In 2006 she opened her own firm. "The inspiration for my jewelry flows from the many facets and experiences of life, from the past towards the future, a place where the East meets the West," said Huang, who incorporated an infinity symbol at the base of her classic platinum designs, representing love without end, said Huang.  

The Platinum DIVA judges chose the winning designs based on their originality, creativity, wearability, and interpretation of the theme.  "Mary Tanana's had a traditional feel, but the pattern was more contemporary so the combination seemed 'fresh,'" said Michael O'Connor of PGI, a member of the judging panel along with Mark Schonwetter of Lieberfarb; Frank Stankus, Jeweler's Resource; designer Amy Levine; FIT  Jewelry Department Chair Michael Coan; and designer Jessica Cohen.

PGI, along with Gem Certification & Assurance Lab (GCAL) and American Gemological Laboratories (AGL), are top DIVA sponsors.  The DIVA competition is open to all women, regardless of experience, formal training or background in jewelry or jewelry design.  For information on the awards, visit www.womensjewelry.org.