At a gala prize distribution ceremony held in Antwerp on October 29, the winners of the 17th edition of the HRD Awards were felicitated by Peter Macken, CEO of HRD Antwerp,  Ludo Van Campenhout, Vice Mayor of Antwerp, Governor Cathy Berx and Richard Shen, CEO of Tesiro.

HRD Awards is a biennial diamond jewellery contest organized by HRD Antwerp to foster creative talent while extending the limits of contemporary diamond jewellery design. This year designers were asked to find inspiration with their own culinary heritage in order to produce brilliant diamond jewels.

Tomoko Kodera from Japan was awarded the first prize and $ 10.000 for “Rice Husks” a brooch containing 400 handmade rice husks. The other finalists are Shu Liang, from China, Evi Bakker from the Netherlands, Freeman Johnson from China. Sancha Livia Resende from Brazil was the winner of the public voting award. All four finalists received a prize of $ 2500.

This year, out of a record number of 1,531 entries, a jury of industry experts selected 29 designers who had the opportunity to put their design into production. These winning designs have also been on display in the Belgian Pavilion at the World Expo in Milan.

TESIRO, an international Chinese jewellery company was the main sponsor. Recently Mr Shen, CEO of TESIRO, was also howanoured with the "Officer in the Order of Leopold” decoration in merit of his significant personal contribution in regards promoting the Belgian diamond heritage in China.

“TESIRO is dedicated to the promotion of Belgian Cut diamonds. The sales of our exclusive Blue Flame diamond which have been developed in Antwerp is breaking all sales records within the Chinese jewellery industry. The HRD Awards certainly contributes to bringing more brilliant ideas to the Chinese and the world jewellery industry”, said Shen.

“Consumers worldwide are increasingly becoming aware of the importance of quality and authenticity, especially when it concerns buying diamond jewellery. Quality and authenticity is exactly what HRD Antwerp is promoting through its diamond certificates and jewellery reports,” says Macken.

Pic Caption: "Rice Huskibtuions" by Tomoko Kodera. Winner of the HRD Awards 2015