The Hong Kong International Jewellery Show has expanded its exhibition space this year to make room for 27 per cent more exhibitors. A new hall will be opened, bringing the total number of exhibitors to 1,960. ?In past years, our fair would clash with another fair being held at the same time, but this year that won?t happen,? said Anne Chick, senior exhibitions manager of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, the fair?s organiser. New this year is the Treasures of Nature section, with about 30 companies displaying rare loose diamonds, gems and pearls. The number of companies represented at Le Salon Extraordinaire, featuring premium jewellery, is nearly 40, double last year?s number. Winning designs of the 7th Hong Kong Jewellery Design Competition will be showcasing Hong Kong?s best design capabilities. About 300 entries were received for the open and student groups, under the themes Dazzling Hong Kong and Capriccioso. Lawrence Ma, chairman of the show?s organising committee, said the winning designs showed the vitality and colours of Hong Kong. He said the designers had struck a balance between creativity, marketability and wearability. The three Best of Show award winners, Kwan Chok-kai, Au Kwok-man and Chu Shuk-mei, all chose Dazzling Hong Kong as the theme for their designs. Mr Kwan won a Best of Show award last year too. ?I live near Mongkok, and I am surrounded by neon signs,? he said. ?The signs best represent the dazzle of Hong Kong and the unlimited business opportunities available here.? This is also the second time Ms Chu has won a Best of Show award. Her design of a hair band with diamonds represents stars shining in the sky. ?Hong Kong is a jolly city,? she said. ?I designed this piece to bring out a carnival atmosphere.? Mr Au?s entry, 18-carat white gold earrings adorned with rubies, pink sapphires, yellow sapphires and diamonds, was designed to capture the magic and brilliance of a fireworks display. The Craftsmanship and Technology Award went to Luk Fook Jewellery & Goldsmith (Hong Kong), designed by Au Yee-wa. In the student group, the champion was Lee Lai-yi, with Wong Yukying as first runner-up and Chan Tat-fai as second runner-up. All three are students of the Hong Kong Institute of Vocational Education (Sha Tin).