Japanese jeweller Ayano Nakajima has won the major prize at the Queen of Gems Boulder Opal Jewellery Design Awards for the third time.
Nakajima’s ‘Two Ring Two Link’ ring/objet won the $2000 cash prize in the ‘Professional Jeweller’ category in the 2014 Awards. Last year she won the major prize at the Awards with her ‘Age of Dinosaurs’ necklace, and in 2011 with her ‘Monument Valley’ pendant.
Nakajima said this year’s winning ring, which features a 12 carat boulder opal and 0.19 carats of diamonds, “represents the night sky rising from two fingers”.
“The front view shows a coyote on the ground looking at the crescent moon and barking at the universe; whilst the reverse view shows the glittering constellation of the Big Dipper in the Northern Hemisphere.”
She said the ring can also be used as a decorative object.
“When placed on a rough opal specimen, supported on a mat of traditional Japanese braided silk rope, it is a symbol of the wish to link the new Japan to a new Universe,” she said.
The other winners at this year’s Awards were:
Student/Novice Jewellery Drawing
Winner: ‘Ocean Opal Fusion’ by Margot Miller (NSW)
Novice/Non-Professional Jeweller
Winner: ‘Heart of Australia’ by Mandy Marginson (Qld)
Highly Commended: ‘Channel Country’ by Raymond Nelson (ACT)
Professional Jeweller
Winner: ‘Two Ring Two Link’ by Ayano Nakajima (Japan)
Highly Commended: ‘River of Dreams’ by Peter Jackson (NSW)
Commended: ‘Earth’ by Akie Asai (Japan)
Organised by the Queensland Boulder Opal Association, the Awards were held in conjunction with the annual Winton Opal Tradeshow on July 11-12.