THERE WAS A strong sense of Asian culture in the designs submitted at this year's Hong Kong Jewellery Design Competition.
The contest, now in its sixth year, is held in conjunction with the Hong Kong International Jewellery Show to enhance the creativity and quality of the industry and to promote local products overseas. The winning designs will be on display throughout the show.
The two themes chosen this year - 'a convergence of the classics and the modern' and 'colour of cultures' - gave local jewellery designers room to shine.
A total of 176 entries were received this year and judges selected the winners out of 31 finalists, based on each design's creativity and innovation, marketability and wearability.
The Hong Kong Japan Business Co-operation Committee will send the winners to Japan for a five-day jewellery design course at the Hiko Mizuno College of Jewellery at the end of March.
Best of Show award winner Kwan Chok-kai's entry 'Blink, Blink and Beyond', is a ring featuring a series of 4.01-carat red rubies on one side and 3.09-carat diamonds on the other. It can be flipped over and worn with either the diamonds or rubies facing.