Canadians earn top honours at Saul Bell Awards

by carly_midgley | May 23, 2018 8:39 am

Montréal designer Matthieu Cheminée took first place in the silver/Argentium category at this year’s Saul Bell Design Awards with his piece, ‘Itado.’ Photos courtesy Rio Grande[1]
Montréal designer Matthieu Cheminée took first place in the silver/Argentium category at this year’s Saul Bell Design Awards with his piece, ‘Itado.’
Photos courtesy Rio Grande

When it comes to jewellery design, Canada has no shortage of talent. This was especially apparent in the crop of Canadian entries[2] to this year’s Saul Bell Design Award[3] competition, where four Canuck designers took home prizes in three of the contest’s nine categories.

Silver/Argentium

‘Koral’ by Longueuil, Qué.’s Caroline Rivière landed second place in the silver/Argentium category.[4]
‘Koral’ by Longueuil, Qué.’s Caroline Rivière landed second place in the silver/Argentium category.

Canada went for gold in the silver/Argentium category, taking both first and second place.

Matthieu Cheminée[5] of Montréal came in first with his globally inspired piece ‘Itado[6].’ Featuring silver, 18-karat yellow gold, diamonds, and pietersite, the piece was named for a Bambara phrase meaning, ‘It is for you and you deserve it.’

“I have a passion for ethnic techniques from around the world,” said Cheminée. “I am fascinated with the know-how, the transmission of the craft, and the transformation of raw or recycled material into beautiful ornaments by the gold and silversmiths of those different countries.”

Placing second was another Québécois designer, Caroline Rivière[7], with a bracelet in oxidized sterling silver, 18-karat gold, amethyst goethite quartz, and diamonds. Made from a silver plate, this reef-inspired piece is named ‘Koral[8].’

Fashion/bridge jewellery collection

Kwabena Abeney of Burnaby, B.C., earned first in the fashion/bridge jewellery collection category with her ‘Wave’ collection.[9]
Kwabena Abeney of Burnaby, B.C., earned first in the fashion/bridge jewellery collection category with her ‘Wave’ collection.

The motion-focused ‘Wave[10]’ collection led Burnaby, B.C.-based designer Kwabena Abeney to success. Abeney earned first place for the collection, which she says “incorporates motion across its designs to symbolize continuous progress.”

The collection is crafted with a wide range of materials, from nylon and steel to precious metals, and is meant to not only reflect progress, but also inspire it.

“Each piece is meant to motivate progress in a different way,” said Abeney.

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Emerging jewellery artist 22 years of age and younger

Torontonian Hoi Yi Lai[11] took first place in this category for her piece, ‘Courage[12].’ The latest in a collection that transforms meaningful words into wearable art, her entry features sterling silver and a pair of tourmalines.

Titled ‘Courage,’ this piece earned Toronto-based Hoi Yi Lai first prize in the category for emerging jewellery artists aged 22 and younger.[13]
Titled ‘Courage,’ this piece earned Toronto-based Hoi Yi Lai first prize in the category for emerging jewellery artists aged 22 and younger.

“This piece is about the relationship between jewellery and the wearer and how jewellery can affect people,” said Yi Lai.

The contest results were announced by organizer Rio Grande[14] at a gala dinner on May 20, during the company’s Santa Fe Symposium[15] in Albuquerque, N.M. For the full list of winners, click here[16].

Endnotes:
  1. [Image]: https://www.jewellerybusiness.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/2018-First-Place-Silver-Argentium-Matthieu-Cheminee-3.jpg
  2. Canadian entries: https://www.jewellerybusiness.com/news/jb-writer-named-finalist-in-saul-bell-awards/
  3. Saul Bell Design Award: http://www.saulbellaward.com/
  4. [Image]: https://www.jewellerybusiness.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/2018-Second-Place-Silver-Argentium-Caroline-Riviere-2.jpg
  5. Matthieu Cheminée: http://www.matthieucheminee.com/
  6. Itado: http://www.saulbellaward.com/2018-matthieu-chemine
  7. Caroline Rivière: https://www.carolinerivierejoaillerie.com/
  8. Koral: http://www.saulbellaward.com/2018-caroline-riviere
  9. [Image]: https://www.jewellerybusiness.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/2018-First-Place-Collection-Fashion-Kwabena-Abeney-1.jpg
  10. Wave: http://www.saulbellaward.com/2018-kwabena-abeney
  11. Hoi Yi Lai: https://hoiyilaijewellery.format.com/#1
  12. Courage: http://www.saulbellaward.com/2018-hoi-yi-lai
  13. [Image]: https://www.jewellerybusiness.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/2018-First-Place-Emerging-22-HoiYiLai-2.jpg
  14. Rio Grande: https://www.riogrande.com/
  15. Santa Fe Symposium: http://www.santafesymposium.org/
  16. here: http://www.saulbellaward.com/2018-winners

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