Miller Scoops 2018 PlatAfrica’s 1ST Prize




Callen Miller after being announced as the winner at the 19th annual PlatAfrica 2018


Jewellery Design Bachelor of Technology (Btech) student, Callen Miller scooped first prize of the 19th annual PlatAfrica 2018 jewellery design and manufacturing competition which recently hosted on Wednesday, 24 October at the Theatre on the Track in Kyalami.
Miller took first place in the student/apprentice category with her Neckpiece & ring titled, “Able to be”.

“I’m happy to say that I did win the completion and I am still reeling with excitement. I am extremely proud of myself and I am so grateful for the opportunity from DUT to enter such a wonderful competition; I’m also so grateful to my wonderful lecturers that helped and supported me through the process,” she ecstatically stated.

PlatAfrica has been hosting for the past two decades and has had a wide range of captivating themes with this year’s 19th event held under the theme “Blessings of Love”.
The theme celebrates the rise of female power while emphasising the rarity and strength of platinum and her wearer through modern but timeless design. This while showcasing no more than two or three simple elements of the highest quality production, through broad design categories namely; Nature’s Spirit, Modern Feminine and Cultural Influence.
This year, PlatAfrica celebrates the rise of female power while emphasising the rarity and strength of platinum.

“The piece I made is one that is intended to be given to a bride to wear on her wedding day; it is a statement pendant that aims to make the bride feel confident, proud and loved. And I wanted this feeling to continue on a day to day basis, thus the central piece of the pendant can be detached and worn as a ring,” she explained.
The competition presented in association with Platinum Guild International (PGI) India and Metal Concentrators was open to students, apprentices and professional jewellers in South Africa.
The winners of the competition will be traveling to India as part of Anglo American Platinum and PGI India’s collaboration to participate in PGI India’s design outsourcing process for the prestigious Evara Platinum brand.

Anglo American Platinum’s CEO, Chris Griffith said: “Platinum benefits from a diversity of demand with jewellery being one three major demand segments for the metal. In positioning ourselves for our next growth phase, we continue to focus on developing the market for our metals with a special emphasis on supporting the development of the platinum jewellery market. Platinum jewellery has become profoundly important to the wellbeing of the South African mining industry. As such, we welcome PGI’s narrative to promote platinum as a love metal with unique characteristics and remain inspired to continue to invest in improving the design and manufacturing skills of the country’s jewellers and students so they can compete effectively, both locally and internationally”.

-NASIPHI GIGABA 



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