The Israel Diamond Institute Group of Companies (IDI) in conjunction with the Israel Ministry of Industry, Trade and Labor and the Israel Jewelry Manufacturers Association has conceived a diamond jewellery design competition, to give the Israeli jewellery manufacturers and designers an opportunity to converge and interact. Diamond jewelry designed in Israel is the focus of the competition. The event is being held in honor of Israel’s 60th anniversary, and is intended to encourage the use of Israeli diamonds by jewellery designers in the country, and to foster cooperation between Israeli jewellery designers and the diamond industry.

The competition invites only jewellery designers living in Israel. The participants are required to replicate Israel’s culture and environment in their deisgns. Each design must incorporate polished or rough diamonds of at least one carat.

Eli Avidar, IDI Managing Director, said that IDI is sponsoring this competition as part of its strategy of enhancing cooperation between the diamond and jewellery industries in Israel. “Israel has a longstanding tradition of jewelry design and many of its designers have achieved international recognition. Through this competition we are hoping to bring about cooperative efforts that will combine the strength of the Israeli Diamond Industry with the outstanding creative design capabilities we have here – to the benefit of all.”

Three slots have been reserved for the winning categories, and the winners will be honoured with cash prizes. Yehuda Kassif, IDI’s Jewelry Promotion Director and Art Director of the Harry Oppenheimer Diamond Museum, and who is coordinating the competition, said “There are many jewellery design competitions held around the world. This competition is unique in that it seeks to draw its inspiration from Israel’s multicultural society and contrasting landscapes”.

The last date of submitting deisgns is set as November 2, 2008 and those designs approved by the panel of judges are required to be submitted as final jewellery by December 31, 2008. The competition will be a window to Israel’s uniqueness in jewellery manufacturing.