DIAMONDS-INTERNATIONAL ENTRIES DUE NEXT MONTH

Entries are now being accepted for the Diamonds-International Awards for the year 2000. The competition is open to all jewelry designers and jewelers at the retail, wholesale, and manufacturing levels, as well as others involved in the design and manufacturing of precious jewelry.

The biannual, worldwide competition has been sponsored by De Beers since 1953. The goal of the awards is to encourage development of gifted diamond jewelry designers. Winning pieces over the years have set the tone for international diamond jewelry design trends, according to the Diamond Information Center.

For the 2000 competition, there will be preliminary judging sessions in each of three regions: the Americas, Asia/Pacific, and Europe/Africa/Middle East/Indian subcontinent. Entries are due Jan. 29, 1999. Up to 100 designs will be selected per region and submitted for the final judging in London in late February 1999. The final board of judges will select up to 30 pieces as winners. Winning designers will be invited to the gala Diamonds-International Awards ceremony in Paris as guests of De Beers.

For the preliminary judging, entrants should send original design sketches or color photographs of design models or of finished pieces. Entries must be jewelry or accessories for men or women. Each piece must contain a minimum total weight of 3 cts. of diamonds; in addition, at least 60% of the value of materials in each piece must be in diamonds. The following materials may not be incorporated into any piece: rough, uncut, or synthetic diamonds or diamond simulants; any gemstone other than diamonds; pearls; and ivory, tortoiseshell, or any other material from an endangered species.

Winners will be notified in March 1999. Each winner will be required to produce his or her winning piece, if it has not already been produced, so that it may be presented at the awards ceremony and photographed for publicity purposes.

Photos of the winning pieces and news stories will be released to the consumer and trade press internationally as well as to the media in each winner’s country and city.

Only one design may be submitted per entrant. For more informaiton, contact the Diamond Information Center, J. Walter Thompson, 466 Lexington Ave., New York, NY 10017; (212) 210-7920.

CUFF LINK SOCIETY SPONSORS CONTEST

The National Cuff Link Society is sponsoring a contest to promote the wearing and collecting of cuff links. Entrants should describe in 250 words or fewer why they enjoy cuff links.

First prize is a pair of solid gold Power Cuff Links by the contest’s cosponsor, Leoncini Power Cuff Links. Twenty-five runners-up will receive one-year memberships in the National Cuff Link Society.

Entries are due before midnight on Jan. 31 and should be sent to the society’s offices at P.O. Box 5700, Vernon Hills, IL 60061. Winners will be announced Feb. 15.