Tahiti Pearl Market wanted to organise a design competition of Tahitian pearl jewellery that was open to all so as to stimulate the creativity of not the general public and jewellery professionals alike.

This competition was open to any person wishing to enter not just those who made a purchase. It opened the 21 November and ended 21 December 2005. To enter the only requirement was to drop off your entry in an A4 format in one of the urns located in one of our stores located in Papeete or Bora Bora.

This competition was a great success and drew a participation of over 300 entries. The jury was made up of 11 representatives from the pearl industry, jewellery trade, artisans, fashion, press, exportation, and arts. They had a difficult task at hand finding the 15 best designs and had to narrow this down to the three most outstanding designs from this final count.

Alexandra AMBAYRAC

Isabelle ATENI

The winner of the first prize was Alexandra Ambayrac who won a magnificent choker from the “Prestige” range valued at 747.000 CFP. The amateur winner created a design that attracted the jury by its sheer simplicity. At an interview she stated “I understood that it was an idea they were looking for more than an actual design. It took me a lot of time to find the idea but less than half an hour to actual draw my design.”

The second prize went to Isabelle Ateni a housewife who has designed several pieces of jewellery a few of which have already been produced by artisan jewellers. Her prize winning was a beautiful necklace from the “Elegance” range valued at 547.000 CFP.

Valerie DELILLE

The third prize was won by a computer graphics designer, Valerie Delille, she decided to apply these skills to jewellery design. Her prize was a matinee length necklace from the “Charm” range valued at 447.000 CFP.

The management of Tahiti Pearl Market also wanted to award three other entrants among the final 15 selected by the jury. This is why Alexandra Sireuil received a special prize “Prestige” range of a voucher valued at 200.000 CFP, Jean-Francois Nars received a price of a value of 150.000 CFP from the “Elegance” range and Nicolas Fourreau received a price of a value of 100.000 CFP from the “Charm” range.

By organising the Competition Tahiti Pearl Market wanted to put the accent on originality of the design and the use of the Tahitian pearl in all its shapes and qualities, but also that it contribute to the development of the pearl by promoting the qualities of our most important export product.

The constant search for new talent is one of the aims that Tahiti Pearl Market has set for itself since opening its doors and intends to continue to develop. This is why this competition will be an annual occurrence and we will participate in other initiatives that aim to increase the knowledge of the Tahitian pearl and our professional know-how and by promoting our culture.

In 2006 Tahiti Pearl Market will also organise the election of the “Ambasadress of the Tahtian Pearl”.