jewellery design students finalists in Plat Africa competition

Simphiwe Sithole and Anke van de Linden.


Two Durban University of Technology (DUT) third year jewellery design students made it to the finals of the 18th annual Plat Africa jewellery design and manufacture competition.

The competition is presented by the world’s leading producer of the precious metal, Anglo American Platinum, in association with PGI India and Metal Concentrators.

It was open to student, apprentice and professional jewellers in South Africa. They had to manufacture jewellery pieces based on the theme, Bold Minimalism. The theme aimed to achieve the perfect pairing of timeless platinum with an on-trend design.

Bold Minimalism in its simplest form is seen as an expression of the pure, rare and eternal properties of platinum. It is to be used to create elegant designs, where less is more; a persuasive expression of contemporary love.

DUT Students, Simphiwe Sithole and Anke van de Linden made it to the top 10, captivating the judges with their interpretation of the theme. 

“It feels great to be in the finalist, I wasn't expecting it simply because I never thought I would be in the top ten, out of all the students in South Africa who entered the competition,” said Sithole.
The students hope that this competition provides a platform in which their work could be recognised.
“I want to see myself grow as a jeweller and for people to recognize me as good jeweller. I have big plans for the future,” said Sithole.


The students will be jetting off to Johannesburg and the winners will be announced at a gala event on 2 November 2017.

-CARLY VAN DER WESTHUIZEN

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