Twelve young jewellery designers – three each from Botswana, Canada, Namibia and South Africa – won awards during this year's Shining Light Awards, which is hosted by diamond miner De Beers and honours the next generation of jewellery designers.

“Through the programme, we are able to help the winners polish their talent and gain world-class skills to get a foothold in the jewellery design industry,” says De Beers managed operations MD Mpumi Zikalala.

The 12 finalists were chosen from a record 123 entries. Each entrant had to design a full jewellery collection, including a ring, necklace, earrings, as well as bangles and bracelets.

“The competition's design theme 'The Evolution of Love and Life' was aimed to inspire young designers to create innovative and game-changing pieces showcasing their interpretation of the concept. The pieces were versatile and included a combination of commercial acumen with red carpet elegance, and celebrated fresh thinking and showcased the beauty, strength and sustainability of natural diamonds and appeal to a millennial consumer anywhere in the world,” De Beers says.

An international panel of judges representing the four countries was led by design school Poli.Design faculty head Professor Alba Cappillieri.

“The entries received this year demonstrated a solid understanding of jewellery design. What we are looking for is logic and the ability to solve a problem in a reasonable, innovative way, as well as commitment, which translates into a desire to do and learn. The technical tools can be learned over time, while the appropriate attitude is more difficult,” Cappillieri says.

Originally launched in 1995, the Shining Light Awards has grown to include submissions from new graduates of jewellery design programmes in Botswana, Canada, Namibia and South Africa.

The awards are a tangible representation of De Beers’ youth development strategy, designed to create an environment for growth, skills transfer, entrepreneurship, global experiences and mentorship in the jewellery design sector. To be eligible, applicants must be 18 to 25 years old.

The first place winners from each country receive a 12-month postgraduate scholarship at Poli.Design - Polytechnic di Milano, in Milan, Italy. The winners are Laone Kaelo Rahele, from Botswana; Valerie Lamiel, from Canada; Juliana Bonita Fredericks, from Namibia; and Tebogo Shaun Ledwaba, from South Africa.

The four second place winners each receive 12 months of artisan hands-on jewellery manufacturing training with Akapo Jewellers. The second-place winners are Yozikee Juliet Kariambahe, from Botswana; Virgina Muralt, from Canada; Gilliem Gurirab, from Namibia; and Kgaugelo Pinyana Mphela, from South Africa.

Lastly, the third place winners receive a three-month De Beers internship in their respective countries. The third place winners are Boitshoko Kebakile, from Botswana; Emily Vander Vlugt, from Canada; Delmeine Delicia Einbeck, from Namibia; and Roelien Geldenhuys, from South Africa.

“We are proud of the fact that some of our previous winners have gone to establish their own businesses, while others are working in jewellery design houses. Critical to the success of the awards has been the partnerships we have with institutions of higher learning, industry organisations and the Poli.Design and Polytecnic di Milano, in Italy,” says Zikalala.