PlatAfrica 2023 winners announced –
The winners of the 24th annual prestigious PlatAfrica jewellery design and manufacturing competition were announced during a gala awards ceremony held in Melrose, Johannesburg on Friday evening. Hosted annually by Anglo American Platinum, Metal Concentrators and Platinum Guild International (PGI) India, the awards contribute to showcasing local jewellery manufacturing and design flair, and to building a pipeline of talent in the South African platinum jewellery design and manufacturing industry by providing skills development among local jewellers, artisans and students. The competition supports the local beneficiation of platinum.
Using the 2023 competition theme #Emergence, contestants created innovative designs drawing from uncharted territories to create pieces that inspire and resonate with potential customers, while also pointing to the promise of better things to come. This year’s competition also saw the introduction of capsule collections – a condensed version of the designer’s vision that can transcend trends and seasons by functional and commercial, as well as a collaboration with De Beers, which loaned selected diamonds to our winners for showcasing their platinum designs.
PlatAfrica winners receive a cash prize, media exposure and the opportunity to participate in an all-expenses paid design workshop at PGI India to learn more about the design and manufacturing of platinum jewellery in the world’s fastest growing market for this product. This international exposure for their innovation and technical expertise is a key attraction for those entering the PlatAfrica competition.
Speaking at the awards ceremony, Craig Miller, CEO of Anglo American Platinum, said: “PlatAfrica is a demonstration of our commitment to bringing our Purpose to life, exposing the talented and dynamic finalists to access and use platinum metal to expand their creativity and talents to greater design possibilities. I am proud and impressed by how each of the finalists have amazingly translated the concepts, designs and creativity to this year’s theme of #Emergence. Platinum is such a versatile metal, from being used in the manufacture of the most beautiful and intricate jewellery to its application in the emissions free hydrogen fuel cell within the magnificent BMW ix5 that is on display here this evening as a result to the collaboration between Anglo American Platinum, Sasol Limited and BMW Group South Africa.”
Managing director at De Beers Managed Operations, Moses Madondo said, “De Beers is proud to be part of this year’s PlatAfrica. We are passionate about supporting local talent in the countries where we recover diamonds, and this year’s entries give me hope in the imaginative and technical capabilities that exist in on the African continent and makes me excited about the transformative potential of this collaboration.”
The competition is one of the market development initiatives through which Anglo American Platinum contributes to the local platinum jewellery manufacturing industry. This year, PlatAfrica featured a total of 192 (65 professional and 127 student/apprentice) entries across South Africa for the student/apprentice and professional categories. Judges assessed the entries for creativity, originality, the interpretation of the #Emergence theme, as well as technical excellence.
This year’s winners in the Professional category are:
- Lungile Xhwantini from The Platinum Incubator is the overall winner in this category for his “Khalifah” neckpiece.
- Esther Boshoff and team from Beaudell Designs are the first runners-up for their “Nature’s awakening” ring.
- Mandelenkosi None and Nnete Mokgothu from The Platinum Incubator are the second runners-up for their magnificent “Armoured one” neckpiece/ring design.
- The fourth-place position is being shared by two entries, Kim Nel from Van Deijl Jewellers for her “Querencia” wrist cuff; and to Nihal Shah and Vijay Shah from Vijay Shah Concepts for their exquisite neckpiece titled “Kairos – an opportune moment”.
The winners in the Student/Apprentice category are:
- Jana Basson from the Cape Peninsula University of Technology for her multipurpose “Unity” neckpiece/bracelet is the overall winner in this category.
- Thapelo Masingi, also from the Cape Peninsula University of Technology, is the first runner-up for his distinctive “Mushia Poppy” ring design.
- Thembani Gobingca from the Cape Peninsula University of Technology placed third for his “Arise” ring.
- In fourth place is Mamosa Lesenyeho from Preuma Academy of Excellence for her “Tisetsang” angel thorns neckpiece.
Lungile Xhwantini is this year’s People’s Choice award winner for his “Khalifah” neckpiece. The award and cash prize, which is sponsored by Metal Concentrators, goes to the finalist with the highest number of votes from the public on Anglo American’s social media pages. The judges also awarded special mentions of outstanding submissions from Phillipus Wilhelmus Vorster (Rare Earth Creations), Tanya Gamble (Stellenbosch University), Tor Kaplan (City Goldsmiths/Uwe Koetter) and Mongameli Thafeni (Cape Peninsula University of Technology)
For images of the finalists’ entries, please click here.
Competition pieces were sold through an online auction on the night of the event. To buy any of the remaining pieces, visit the PlatAfrica online store here. The store opened on the afternoon of the 28th of October.
