core sector communique

Rio Tinto Diamonds Announces Judges for Global Design Competition
Entries close on October 28, 2011

New York October 18, 2011, Rio Tinto Diamonds has announced an elite panel of eight judges from the jewelry and fashion industries, to decide the winners of the Rio Tinto Diamonds Global Design Competition.

The prestigious design competition was launched in August to inspire creativity and innovation across four categories of jewelry design, which reflect the diverse nature of Rio Tinto’s diamonds and its strong commitment to sustainable jewelry practices. These categories include Champagne Diamonds, Silvermist Diamonds, Canadian Diamonds and Sustainable Jewelry.

The panel of eight judges will announce the winners at the awards event to be held at the Kristin Hanson Gallery, featuring a private diamond atelier, in New York City on November 1st. According to jewelry designer Kristin Hanson, "I am honored to be on the judging panel and hosting the 2011 Rio Tinto Diamonds
Global Design Competition. As an educator and an artist it will be great to see the work of talented jewelry designers from around the globe."

Entries for the design competition close on October 28th, 2011. Eight winning designers will be selected, and their designs will be showcased at a suite at the 2012 Academy Awards.Details of the panel of eight judges are as follows:

Fern Mallis – Fern Mallis is widely credited as the creator of New York Fashion Week while Executive Director of the Council of Fashion Designers of America and later as Senior Vice President at leading events management company IMG, as their Fashion Week global ambassador. Fern is also President of her own international fashion and design consultancy firm.

Phillip Bloch - One of Hollywood’s premiere fashion stylists and commentators, Philip Bloch has styled many notable celebrities such as Halle Berry, Sandra Bulloch, Mariah Carey and Nicole Kidman. As an author, television personality, and fashion designer, Philip is in much demand for his insights into the world of fashion and style.

Ramona Singer - Ramona Singer is a New York businesswoman who has developed several innovative fashion jewelry collections that have earned the acclaim of design critics. Ramona is currently a cast member of the US television program, “The Real Housewives of New York City.”

Kristin Hanson - Kristin Hanson is a jewelry designer whose creative philosophy embodies contemporary designs to accentuate the innate beauty of rare diamonds and exotic gems. In 2006, Kristin Hanson established the Fine Jewelry School in New York.

Melissa Lum - Melissa Lum is the Senior Accessories Editor of the shopping and style publication, Lucky Magazine.

Jennifer Heebner - As Senior Editor of the Jewelers Circular Keystone (JCK) Magazine, Jennifer Heebner has covered jewelry and business trends for JCK for over 13 years. 

Michael O’Connor - Jewelry and red carpet style expert with more than 25 years experience, Michael O’Connor is a coveted style correspondent and Style Editor for the television shopping channel QVC.

Glenn Curtis - Glenn Curtis is the Director and Founder of Curtis Australia, who specializes in fine, traditional handcrafted jewelry and object d’art.

About Rio Tinto Diamonds Rio Tin

Rio Tinto is one of the world’s major diamond producers through its 100 per cent control of the Argyle mine in Australia, 60 per cent of the Diavik mine in Canada, a 78 per cent interest in the Murowa mine in Zimbabwe. These three mines allow Rio Tinto to produce diamonds for all market segments. Rio Tinto also has an advanced diamond project in India.

Rio Tinto’s share of the production from its three operating mines is sold through its Diamonds Sales and Marketing headquarters office in Antwerp, Belgium with representative offices in Mumbai, Hong Kong and New York. Rio Tinto Diamonds is a leading supporter of the Kimberley Process as well as a founding member of Responsible Jewellery Council.

About Rio Tinto

Rio Tinto is a leading international mining group headquartered in the UK, combining Rio Tinto plc, a London and NYSE listed company, and Rio Tinto Limited, which is listed on the Australian Securities Exchange.
Rio Tinto's business is finding, mining, and processing mineral resources. Major products are aluminium, copper, diamonds, energy (coal and uranium), gold, industrial minerals (borax, titanium dioxide, salt, talc) and iron ore. Activities span the world but are strongly represented in Australia and North America with significant businesses in South America, Asia, Europe and southern Africa.