Canadian manufacturer CrownRing took home top honours at Platinum Guild International’s (PGI’s) 2011 JCK Platinum Innovation Awards.
The Montreal-based company won in the platinum wedding band category with a men’s 11-mm ring from its ‘Carlex’ collection featuring 100 diamonds.
“We are extremely proud to be the first Canadian company to win this award,” said CrownRing co-owner, Haimy Mann. “The jewellery industry is very competitive”¦ To win such an award is a wonderful achievement for CrownRing and every Canadian business.”
A panel of judges from leading bridal and fashion magazines pored over 180 entries, choosing winners in six categories. Winners were also announced in two overall categories of ‘Best in Show’ and ‘Editor’s Choice.’
So what does it take to create an award-winning men’s wedding band?
“When designing a new piece of jewellery, we consider many different elements,” Mann said. “Most men wear their wedding band every day, so both the visual appeal and the quality of the band are extremely important. When creating Carlex, we wanted a unique, yet classic look. I feel we achieved this look by focusing on a classic wedding band feel with a modern, fashionable touch.”
The other winners were:
• Uneek Fine Jewelry Collections in the entry platinum engagement ring category;
• Stuller, Inc., in the modern platinum engagement ring category and ‘Best in Show’;
• Lieberfarb in the vintage-inspired platinum engagement ring category;
• John Apel in the platinum fashion ring category; and
• A. Jaffe in the platinum fashion earrings category.
Parade Designs picked up the ‘Editor’s Choice’ award.
Each winner received a prize package worth about $50,000.
