Goldie Jewelry Design Competition Winner is Jennifer Lam

From GIA, Carlsbad, Calif. – GIA London recently named Jennifer Lam, a graduate of GIA London’s graduate gemologist program, as the winner of the inaugural H. Goldie Jewelry Design Competition. Lam was presented with a £1,000 award and £500 trip to BaselWorld 2007, Europe’s premier jewelry fair, as a result of her winning entry.

Open to all students enrolled in GIA London’s Jewelry Design classes, the competition is made possible by an ongoing donation from London-based diamond brokers H. Goldie & Co. Ltd., and Goldie International Ltd. Design contestants are required to draft a design for a set of diamond jewelry in yellow and/or white gold; the set can consist of either a pendant and earrings for women or cuff links and a tie bar or tie tack for men. Three judges evaluate the drawings for quality of painting, technique, design idea, and overall presentation. Entrants must also include a mission statement on how they plan to use their jewelry design skills in the future.

Lam used the sea as the motif for her winning “Oceanic” design – a pendant and earring set. The waves are made of 18K yellow gold, surrounded by hollow circular frames of 18K white gold, and accented with a spread of melee diamonds ranging from 0.01 to 0.15 carats to create a “splash effect.”

Mark Boston, H. Goldie’s chairman, and Mark Walker, creative director, were not only instrumental in establishing the award, but also dedicated time to Lam at BaselWorld 2007 where she was given the opportunity to tour the show with Walker.

“I came away with a very good impression of Jennifer and I am confident she is the right person to earn the first H. Goldie Jewelry Design Award,” said Walker. “She is inquisitive, creative, inspired, and most importantly, loves jewelry. She will use this experience as an important stepping stone toward what we all expect will be a highly successful jewelry career.”

According to Edward Johnson, director of GIA London, the H. Goldie competition will take place two to three times a year, depending on the number of Jewelry Design courses offered. “Through H. Goldie’s generosity, this ongoing competition offers a valuable introduction to the gem and jewelry industry, with both a financial prize as well as a guided tour of BaselWorld,” said Johnson. “This competition is a wonderful opportunity for our Jewelry Design students.”

Lam said, “The jewelry design course at GIA helped me find a way to convey my ideas and use my illustration skills through beautiful jewelry drawings. After learning all the fundamental technical skills and doing challenging projects, I was confident I could create attractive jewelry pieces that are comfortable and durable.”

GIA London’s next Jewelry Design class runs from Sept. 24 through Nov. 23, 2007. Registration is available on the GIA London website (http://www.gialondon.co.uk/) or by calling +44 20 7813 4321.

About GIA:

An independent nonprofit organization, the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) is recognized as the world's foremost authority in gemology. Established in 1931, GIA has translated its expert knowledge into the most respected gemological education available. In 1953, the Institute created the International Diamond Grading System™ which, today, is recognized by virtually every professional jeweler in the world. Through research, education, gemological laboratory services, and instrument development, the Institute is dedicated to ensuring the public trust in gems and jewelry by upholding the highest standards of integrity, academics, science, and professionalism. GIA can be found on the web at http://www.gia.edu/. Media queries contact: Laura Simanton 760-603-4112.