Anglo American Platinum in partnership with Metal Concentrators last night hosted the PlatAfrica 2015 Jewellery Design Awards at a glittering ceremony held under the Sandton summer night sky.  

The annual PlatAfrica competition which has been running for 16 years, has become synonymous with excellence in platinum jewellery design and is an important aspect of Anglo American Platinum’s beneficiation activities. The competition is designed to give South African students and professionals the opportunity to work with the platinum metal. Students benefit from personally handling platinum and learning about its strengths and capabilities, and develop the skills required when designing and manufacturing platinum jewellery.  

This year, Anglo American Platinum looked beyond South Africa’s borders to India, the worlds’ second-largest platinum jewellery market, for inspiration. The theme for PlatAfrica 2015 challenged both professional and student designers to create platinum jewellery for ‘The Bridal Couple’.  

Chris Griffith, Anglo American Platinum Chief Executive Officer said “We chose the Indian bridal jewellery theme to open up new market segments which we believe have the growth potential to stimulate further demand for platinum, thereby helping to sustain the platinum mining sector, and offering an opportunity for South African jewellers to design and manufacture elegant platinum jewellery for the Indian market.”

The Indian tradition of ornate bridal jewellery dates back thousands of years and remains an integral part of that county’s lifestyle and culture. It is renowned for its visual appeal. Whilst gold jewellery dominated designs in the past, modern Indian brides are moving towards innovative designs made from platinum, true to tradition, yet include a contemporary in aesthetic.  

The brief to the design students was to create jewellery for the bridal couple that would be ‘simple, yet meaningful and modern, yet respectful of tradition; be elegant, while making a distinctive statement.’  

The quality and creativity of this year’s pieces truly reflect South Africa’s talent and passion for platinum design, as qualified by the judges who worked tirelessly to select the following winners:

In the professional category:

First place - Bhekithemba Ngema - Ben & Co Designs

Second place - Johan Bothma - Altin Jewellers

Third place - Anne Manaczynski - Anaczynski Jewellery  

In the student category for individual and collections:

First place - Karin Niehaus - Jack Friedman Jewellers

Second place - Jefta Mtole - Altin Jewellers

Third place - Karolien Pretorius - Stellenbosch University

Fourth place - Brendan Cloete & Angelique Anderson - Tshwane University of Technology

Winning collection - Brendan Cloete & Angelique Anderson - Tshwane University of Technology  

The hosts and organisers of PlatAfrica 2015 congratulates the honourable mentions among the professional designers: Nikiwe Matebula – Keith White Design and Siyabonga Cele of Mizane Jewellers, as well as among the student designers: Vuyiseka Luke – Caoe Peninsula University of Technology, Sakhile Ndawo - College of Cape Town, Jennifer Pienaar - Jack Friedman Jewellers & Madeli Viljoen - Tshwane University of Technology.  

Also deserving of a special mention are Jongane Mzukwa - Keith White Design – Black & White Training Programme, Khanya Mthethwa - Mizane Manufacturing Jewellers, Senza Khoza - SEDA Platinum Incubator and Andile Mbeje - Tshwane University of Technology  

This year the awards also acknowledges the Magnificent Seven, a futuristic professional showcase of leading South African  platinum designers, some of whom  have taken part in and have won previous years’ PlatAfrica Awards. These designers have been invited to create collections using up to 300grams of platinum for the Indian bride of the future.    

This collection was judged last night during the award ceremony. The designers are:

Andreas Salver - Andreas Salver

Cari Mari - Cari Mari Wilsenach

Jack Friedman Jewellers - Oliver Green

Kirti Jewellers - Kirtikumar Devjee Nieman Jewellers - Magda Nieman with Abram Mathabatha, Sanet de Lange, Dorathea Annandale and Joy Massyn

Studio C - Chris van Rensburg

Vijah Shah Jewellers - Vijay Shah  

The overall winner of the Magnificent Seven was Chris van Rensburg from Studio C.  

Anglo American Platinum extends its appreciation to the judges Veronica Anderson from Anderson Jewellers, Kirtikumar Devjee from Kirti Jewellers, Johan Louw from Uwe Koetter Jewellers and Avashnee Vandiar for their time and dedication to the awards.  

In addition, the organisers of PlatAfrica pay special tribute to jewellery designer Absalom Khumalo (11 November 1981 – 08 June 2015) who during his lifetime travelled a wonderful journey with the PlatAfrica competition.  

Absalom Khumalo was born and raised on Witpoort Farm, Near Greylingstad. His childhood dream was to become an electrician. He moved to Pretoria to live with his sister who works for the Nieman household and was employed part-time at Hannes Nieman’s studio to assist in making handmade knives.  After a month later, having finished his assignment early, he began manufacturing a ring from a brass nut. His talent was immediately recognised and he was given an opportunity to work in the jewellery workshop. Absalom first entered PlatAfrica as an apprentice in 2006 and received his first merit in 2008 for designing a beautiful pair of earrings. In 2009 he won the student category for the design of another pair of earrings he made from platinum and buffalo horn. In 2010 he won with a platinum and titanium ring. The prize included a trip to Japan, which was a highlight in his career. Absalom was part of the Nieman Jewellers team until his untimely death. He was loved by his family, friends, peers and clients. The Nieman Jewellers team dedicated their design to his memory.