The Lonmin Design Innovation Award was set up nine years ago to recognise and reward outstanding design in platinum and to push the design standards of jewellery to greater heights.

The competition is divided into two categories. “Emerging Designers” recognises designers with less than five years’ commercial experience, and “Established Designers” gives its attention to those who have been in the business for more than five years. There are eight winners across the two categories. Click on 2011 winners’ gallery for further information.

The winners are selected from drawings of their design by a top panel of judges in April, and the pieces are subsequently made up as finished pieces of jewellery.

The 2011 judges:

• Ruth Donaldson, Platinum Guild International
• Nick Fitch, Nicholas James
• Willie Hamilton, Company of Master Jewellers
• Laura McCreddie, Editor, Retail Jeweller
• Jayant Raniga, PureJewels
• Anne-Marie Reeves, Marketing Consultant
• Lindsey Straughton, British Jewellers Association
• Wilma Swarts, Lonmin
• Jo Trivedi, Johnson Matthey
• Stephen Webster, Stephen Webster Ltd
• Sam Willoughby, International Jewellery London

Chair: Nicole Cooper, Blue Inc Events Ltd

For information on how to take part in the 2012 competition click here