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 PROFESSIONAL CATEGORY
Transcript
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
P R O F E S S I O N A L C A T E G O R Y
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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.”
1 s t P L A C E
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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 ofthem 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 inwire mesh, symbolising ribbons and wrappings… The diamond ‘X’ celebrates the 10th anniversary of the competition.”
Dedicated to my belovedbrother Nick, 16 May 1977 –23 May 2007
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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.”
2 n d P L A C E
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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 theirwedding day, carried three magical gifts: affection,desirability and whispered endearments. Pandora’s kestos himas will again bestow its enchantmentsof passion and power on lovers and once again mergethem on this anniversary.”
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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, ever-
changing, but always
keeping the same
values.”
3 r d P L A C E
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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 representthe times we stop, reflect and celebrate. The different gems have beenarranged 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 puritythat’s always constant in our friendship.”
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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 stonesmade 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 symbolicof an event or anniversary.”
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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
J E W E L L E R Y C O U N C I L O F S O U T H A F R I C A
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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
T S H WA N E U N I V E R S I T Y O FT E C H N O L O G Y
The Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) is a proud product ofSouth Africa's first decade of democracy. TUT was established in2004, with the merging of the former Technikon NorthernGauteng, Technikon North-West and Technikon Pretoria. Whilethe size and scope of this dynamic institution are impressive, thequality of its teaching, research and community engagement iswhat makes the university really stand out.
The Jewellery Design and Manufacture Programme is basedwithin the Department of Fine and Applied Arts. Its goal is toteach students to develop striking concepts and to craft themcarefully until they exactly represent the artist’s vision. TheProgramme strives to keep up with the latest technology andcontinuously changes the teaching content.
Anglo Platinum initiated the first of its platinum studios at TUT inSeptember 2000. Since then, training in platinum manufacturingskills has developed into a large part of the third-year students’practical component.
The university’s entrepreneurial ethos promotes knowledge andtechnology providing a professional, world-class educationrelevant to the needs and aspirations of southern Africa’s people.Students are taught the practical housekeeping, design andmanufacturing skills unique to platinum, and have consistentlyfared extremely well in the PlatAfrica Competition.
The institution’s holistic approach in the training of its studentsensures a successful future in their post-diploma workingenvironments. Students are given the opportunity to work withdifferent metals as well as gems, and also learn how to run theirown businesses. The focus of teaching is now also more directedto Computer Aided Design. Students from TUT are sought after inthe 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 students3rd year 28 students B Tech 16 students
