Tomoko Kodera from Japan wins HRD award

The main highlight of the evening was the announcement of the winner and the four finalists. Tomoko Kodera from Japan was awarded the first prize and 10.000$ for “Rice Husks” a brooch containing 400 handmade rice husks. The other finalists are Shu Liang, from China, Evi Bakker from the Netherlands, Freeman Johnson from China. Sancha Livia Resende from Brazil was the winner of the public voting award. All four finalists received a prize of 2500$. 

The prestigious design awards for the 2015 edition from HRD Antwerp had invited designers to find inspiration with their own culinary heritage in order to produce brilliant diamond jewels. Out of a record number of 1531 entries, a jury of industry experts selected 29 designers who had the opportunity to put their design into production.  These designs have also been on display in the Belgian Pavilion at the World Expo in Milan. 

Ludo Van Campenhout, Vice Mayor of Antwerp, Peter Macken, CEO of HRD Antwerp, Governor Cathy Berx en Richard Shen, CEO of Tesiro, presented the winner of the 17th edition of the HRD Awards. The gala event took place in The Shop in Antwerp and was hosted by Véronique De Kock. 

Peter Macken, CEO of HRD Antwerp, elaborated on the occasion, “Consumers worldwide are increasingly becoming aware of the importance of quality and authenticity, especially when it concerns buying diamond jewellery. Quality and authenticity is exactly what HRD Antwerp is promoting through its diamond certificates and jewellery reports.  The introduction of the HRD Awards will help us to further develop our business opportunities, by opening doors and connecting by means of the magic of diamond jewellery.”