In mid 2008, the two-year first edition of Pearl Essence was launched, and saw an overwhelming response with 644 entries received in total from jewellery design students in 46 institutes across Australia, China, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Lebanon, South Africa, Singapore, Sri Lanka and Turkey.
Participants were required to create contemporary and innovative pieces using a variety of pearls with a focus on the revival of UAE’s pearling heritage.
Entries were judged by an international jury, chaired by Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Executive Chairman, DMCC and comprising of trade experts, industry journalists and professional jewellery designers including: Paul Boots, Associate Director, Precious Gems, DMCC; Tawfique Abdullah, Chairman, Dubai Gold and Jewellery Group; Stephen Webster, Designer and Director, Stephen Webster Ltd; Jorg Gellner, Managing Director, Gellner GmbH & Co; Julia Goh, Managing Editor, Solitaire Magazine; and Melissa Wong, Editor, Jewellery News Asia. Pieces were evaluated for commercial design, wearability, usage of unconventional designs with non-traditional material usage and theme-based creativity with pearls as the main design feature.
A shortlist of 11 student finalists used pearls provided by exclusive pearl sponsors Paspaley Pearling Co., Robert Wan Tahiti and Euro Pearls, to fabricate their designs into finished jewellery by leading international manufacturers including ARY Jewelers, Damas, Dhamani, Gellner, Hof & Co, Liali Jewellery, Mahallati Jewellery, Mikura Pearls, Pinctada, Taiba and Universal Pearls.
Pearl Essence is also supported by the Bonnington Hotel and International Diamond Laboratories (IDL).
The finalist designs and pieces for the first Pearl Essence were showcased for the first time at Awards Gala in 2010 and are now on display at Level 2 of the Almas Tower , home of the Dubai Pearl Exchange.
A group photo of the finalist student designers with Mr. Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Executive Chairman of DMCC at the Pearl Essence Gala and Awards Ceremony held on May 2nd 2010.
Pearl Essence 2010 Winners
DPE honoured the eleven student finalists of Pearl Essence in a special Gala and Awards Ceremony held in May 2nd 2010, before awarding the top three talented winners.
| 1st place – Reinhardt Van Zyl |  |
| From Tshwane University of Technology in South Africa, Reinhardt Van Zyl created ‘Curvature,’ a unique, edgy piece designed using Fresh Water pearls.Award: A month-long internship with Stephen Webster in London. |
| 2nd place – Catherine Buman |  |
| From Enmore Design Centre Tafe NSW, Australia, Catherine Buman crafted “The Life Line”, a refreshingly zen piece inspired by Dubai’s dhows and pearl divers, created from Mahogany wood, white gold, and Akoya pearls.Award: A week-long trip to the pearling operations and pearl farms of Paspaley Pearling Co. in Western Australia. |
| 3rd place – Belinda Koopman |  |
| From Enmore Design Centre Tafe NSW, Australia, Belinda Koopman designed “Dubai Night Sky,” an avant-garde piece with a beguiling story created in the Combination category from South Sea and Fresh Water pearls.Award: A pearl course at the Gemmological Institute of America’s (GIA’s) New York campus, followed by exclusive meetings with GIA’s experts and trade visits for a total of five days. |
All finalists received access to an online pearl course sponsored by GIA.
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