CHELSEA ROCKS launches #ROCKTHEPIN student jewellery design competiton

CHELSEA ROCKS – Laboratory Grown Diamonds (www.chelsea-rocks.com) invites all students across the globe of jewellery design, fashion and design – to enter a diamond pin design competition. Entry is free of charge:

www.chelsearocks.com/pages/design-competition

DESIGN BRIEF:

To reimagine a lapel pin rendered in laboratory grown diamond as a symbol of the zeitgeist / contemporary culture & ‘social tribe’
 

HOW TO ENTER:

(1) DESIGN a pin incorporating laboratory grown diamonds inspired by the theme ‘#ROCKTHEPIN’. Scaled drawing or computer render / video to be submitted, (no finished pieces of jewellery or jewellery prototypes to be sent, photographed or rendered. The pins must NOT display or allude to ANY political symbolism!)

(2) STYLING & CREATIVE DEVELOPMENT – create a 60 second TikTok video detailing your creative process, inspiration and iterations, including the #rockthepin hashtag and also tagging @chelsea_rocksdiamonds on TikTok

(3) CREATIVE STATEMENT– Write a short 100-word statement with a social context and commentary contextualising your creation

WINNER’S PRIZE*:

  •  Winning diamond design manufactured and gifted to the winner at a dedicated event in May 2023, (also one pin will be auctioned for charity)
  •  2-month design secondment with CHELSEA ROCKS, developing winning pin collection, (unpaid placement)
  • Training session with an award-winning gemmologist (online) • Private tour of renowned jewellery collection (London)
  • Print / social media exposure (national & international)

*Please see Terms and Conditions below. There is no cash alternative to the prizes as described above.

JUDGES

The competition will be judged by a high-profile interdisciplinary panel of judges comprising:

Laura Astrologo Porché - Jewellery Watches Journalist and Influencer
John Benjamin - Jewellery Historian 
Avi Levy - President, International Gemological Institute North America
Mary Sanderson - Freelance Jewellery, Watches & Style Writer
Virginia Hui WANG - HCStudio Technology CEO, Xheia founder (sustainable jewelry)
Rickard Villard - Creative Direction Concept, Strategy Storytelling & Design
Olena Mynenko - Artist, Illustrator, Fashion Designer 
Thomas Köckeritz - Creative Retail Strategist
Sam Okerstrom - Lang - Media Artist and Designer

More information about the individual judges can be found here:  

https://www.chelsea-rocks.com/pages/judges

DEADLINE & KEY DATES:

  •   1st April 2023          (Midnight) Deadline for competition entries

COMPETITION WEB PAGE & SUBMISSION FORM: 

www.chelsea-rocks.com/pages/design-competition

Context & comment

  • Throughout history and most notably in the 1980s, badges and pins were instrumental to youth protest, the punk movement and social rebellion. CHELSEA ROCKS invites students from the aforementioned disciplines to reimagine the lapel pin as a symbol of their generational esprit, be it social activism or a call for beauty in an increasingly turbulent world

  •  The pin should celebrate the zeitgeist which focuses on sustainability, affordability, new materials, styles and creative expression. This will be promoted and presented by participants and entries will be evaluated on design, creativity and styling

  •  Joanna Park-Tonks, founder of CHELSEA ROCKS explains;
    •  “Much has been made of laboratory grown diamonds both in the media and research being a “Gen Z” and “millennial” topic. My vision is to engage directly with this demographic by providing a direct design platform for student expression, creativity and for our part, deep listening to the voice of a generation. Laboratory grown diamonds (LGDs) have come of an age when sustainability and climate change are at the top of everyone’s mind and every company has an imperative to respond to these issues. While LGDs carry a number of so-called “eco positives”, it will be interesting to see how this demographic responds to the ascendancy of this segment and whether these sentiments will be reflected in their designs
    •  “The sky is the limit as regards to the design – as long as the badges, “diamond pins”, do not refer to any political symbol and contain at least 60% diamond content. The inclusion of other materials, e.g., hard enamel is encouraged, though no imitation gemstones are permitted. We recognise that younger generations delight in mixing traditionally “high” and “low” materials and encourage maximum artistic freedom. Moreover, we wanted to make this competition open to jewellery, fashion and design students, irrespective of geographic location, as we also foresee that there will be interestingcultural interpretations of this design brief from different parts of the world. This cross-pollination of ideas will only enrich a fertile design output.”

 

  • Hannah Buisman, Head of Special Projects comments,
    •  “Diamonds have been symbolic of love and unity for centuries, and this competition aspires to unite mediums, ideas and inspirations from across the world. #ROCKTHEPIN is set to be a fascinating nod to the universal talent of young people, as well as a unique insight into what is important to the next generation of leaders and global citizens”

 

  • The competition has already received entries from some the UK’s leading arts universities for the creative industries including Central Saint Martins, University of Arts London (UAL) and the University of Durham.
  • The #ROCKTHEPIN competition is a proud association with the LAB GROWN COLLECTIVE - a community for the professional advancement of young professionals in the lab grown diamond industry. Follow us on LinkedIn here for information, resources and member services on careers in this new and exciting segment in the jewellery industry. 

CALLING ALL STUDENT AMBASSADORS:

We are looking to appoint students to promote and become CHELSEA ROCKS ambassadors for this competition- to promote at your college / university. Please contact us on social media or info@chelsea-rocks.com for further detail

JOANNA PARK-TONKS, FOUNDER, BIOGRAPHY

Joanna first began her diamond journey in 1998 at De Beers – Central Selling Organisation in London and the Diamond Information Center in Milan. Following this, she gained experience of the antique jewellery world at Christies and then went on to gain management experience at the global consultancy, Accenture, advising on a number of retail projects

Since the advent of gem-quality laboratory grown diamonds, Joanna has embraced this innovation with the creation of CHELSEA ROCKS – Laboratory Grown Diamonds. Her aspiration for the #RockThePin competition is to provide a platform for new generation designers using lab growns and to “grow” the next crop of young diamond stars…

HANNAH BUISMAN, HEAD OF SPECIAL PROJECTS, BIOGRAPHY

As a linguist and lover of jewellery, Hannah joined CHELSEA ROCKS in 2021 as Head of Special Projects. Having worked for brands such as Taittinger Champagne and Wimbledon, Hannah has gained a great understanding of international luxury and the high expectations of our clients. This, together with her passion for jewellery, brought her to CHELSEA ROCKS. Hannah believes the stories that jewellery gift us are innumerable, so to be able to be part of this journey with CHELSEA ROCKS is very special to her

As someone who studies jewellery history, working with the next generation of jewellery evolution, Created Diamonds, is truly fascinating for Hannah. As Head of Special Projects, Hannah brings the magic of these bejeweled stories to new collaborators, brands and businesses across the globe  

WEBINAR

Design students are invited to join Joanna and Hannah on a webinar on Thursday, 3rd November 2022 at 7pm GMT. Link to join: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85201715867

MARKETING BOILER PLATE – CHELSEA ROCKS – LABORATORY GROWN DIAMONDS

CHELSEA ROCKS – Laboratory Grown Diamonds (www.chelsea-rocks.com) is an omni channel retailer which specialises in fine jewellery made from created diamonds. CHELSEA ROCKS was inspired by the fashionable street style of London’s Chelsea and celebrates the daily need for everyday luxury adornment. It is based on a sustainable vision that true beauty is both gentle on the earth and mankind

CHELSEA ROCKS is committed to the promotion of laboratory grown diamond industry and is a board member of the International Grown Diamond Organisation, (www.theigda.org) and founder of the LAB GROWN COLLECTIVE – at the helm of promoting artistry with diamonds and the professional progression for Gen Z and Millennials within the industry

 SOCIAL MEDIA CHANNELS AND HASHTAGS

 Hashtags:

  • #chelsearocks
  • #rockthepin
  • #chelsealondon
  • #labgrowndiamonds
  • #diamondpin
  • #diamondjewellery

MEDIA ENQUIRIES #ROCKTHEPIN

JOANNA PARK-TONKS
CHELSEA ROCKS – LABORATORY GROWN DIAMONDS
TEL. 00 44 207 199 89 41 (UK)
COMPETITION@CHELSEA-ROCKS.COM
WWW.CHELSEA-ROCKS.COM
UK: SUITE LP55375/ 20-22 WENLOCK ROAD, LONDON, N1 7GU, GB 

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