SA student wins Go for Gold competition

Madelyn Botha, a third-year student of jewellery design at the Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) in South Africa has won 10,000 rand and the coveted overall winner title at this year's Jewellery Council Collection Awards.

The winning design featured wooden beads and yellow gold and was put together especially for the competition's theme, Go for Gold, which meant designs had to be based around pieces made from nine- or 18-carat gold.

TUT was the leading institution for finalists at the prestigious South African competition, contributing six of the final ten designers.

Other pieces that made the final list included gold bracelets, necklaces, and a set of gold earrings.

Ms Botha's design and the winning collection will be on display at Africa's premier jewellery and watch showcase, the 2006 Jewellex International design exhibition in Johannesburg.

The Jewellery Council Collection Awards have been held each year since 1994.