South African platinum jewellery design and manufacturing competition PlatAfrica is celebrating a quarter-century.

This year’s theme, ‘Legacy and Beyond’, is aligned to PlatAfrica’s twenty-fifth year coinciding with the hundredth anniversary of the discovery of the Merensky Reef – the platinum group metals deposit in South Africa.

With two categories for professional jewellery designers and students or apprentices, PlatAfrica is hosted yearly by Anglo American Platinum in partnership with Platinum Guild International and Metal Concentrators.

The competition is adjudicated according to innovative design and demonstrated technical expertise in working with platinum.

Ahead of the event, the public has the opportunity to vote for their favourite piece in the People’s Choice award.

In addition to prize money, the top two finalists in each category also travel for a working trip to make professional connections and discover new trends.

In the runup to the finals, 79 jewellery pieces are being taken on a roadshow by the PlatAfrica team, including judges and previous winners, to the Hong Kong Jewellery and Gem World 2024.

“The winners will be exposed to a wide variety of industry trends and players during their time in the exhibition booth. Our Capsule Collections, which catalogue the evolution of design trends, will be on display,” Anglo American Platinum market development principal Fahmida Smith explains.

“This is an important annual event on our calendar because it showcases platinum’s history, as well as innovation in finding new ways to use it as a jewellery material. The last 25 years have consistently impressed the judges and the public, where we have collectively borne witness to the beginnings of exciting careers,” says Anglo American Platinum CEO Craig Miller.

“We have also seen many of the pieces entered into the competition eagerly snapped up by those who recognise the quality on display. We are eagerly anticipating this year's final event,” he adds.