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By Kushani Ratnayake

Sri Lankan jewellery designer Mueen Saheed won overall recognition and was awarded the most prestigious Golden Apple Award 2002 for his innovative designs and creating marketing efforts at the JA jewellery show in New York.

This was one of the most prestigious jewellery shows in the world conducted by the jewellers of America and Saheed had the privilege to exhibit his innovative designs at the Designer Gallery in the Summer 2002 jewellery show in New York.

Saheed was selected out of 300 representatives from all over the world especially designers from France, Germany, Switzerland, Turkey, Belgium, United Kingdom, Thailand and America. He won the award for his basket weave, an innovative creation intricately woven by hand in 18 carat gold and studded with precious stones.

The jewellery collection also included "Turn "n" Colour, a collection of rings to rotate and pendants to turn and twist thus changing the colour of the precious stones to suit one's desire in 18 carat yellow and white gold with sapphires and diamonds, the idea is to provide the customer to mix and match different colours on the same piece of jewellery.

"Tropical Tryst" is another series of rings and pendants inspired by the sway of the coconut leaf.

"Puzzle" is fascinating collection with unique puzzle like formations studded with shades of sapphires. This collection was inspired by the shapes of a zig zag puzzle. Most of the shapes are created by free hand sketching.

"My designs are inspirations are drawn from nature, geographic patterns and art, I use fine Ceylon Stones and 18 carat yellow and white gold in my creations, I also create unique pieces for special customers" he said. Saheed has been designing jewellery for the past twenty years and today "Regent Fine Jewels" enjoys a reputation for quality and innovative designs.

The company founded in 1946 has been making handcrafted jewellery for three generations and has five retail outlets in Galle Lighthouse Hotel, Royal Palms Hotel, Kalutara, Blue Oceanic Negombo and Sea Shells Hotel.

The company also exports the jewellery to many jewellers dealing in fine hand crafted jewellery in Europe, UK, USA and Japan.

All the jewellery is designed by Saheed and are hand crafted in his own workshop.

He was awarded the JA Jewel Award at the JA New York summer show in 1996. He has participated in trade fairs in Japan, Hong Kong, Bahrain, Germany, London and the United States of America. He also had the opportunity of running an exclusive jewellery saloon at the Sheraton Sky Line Hotel in London.

Saheed has spent several years in learning the art of creating fine jewellery with themes and his designs are unique and brings out the best of his effort in giving everlasting happiness to the wearer.

The company Reagent Fine Jewels has worked closely with the Export Development Board (EDB)which has helped him to participate in the JA Jewellery show since 1995. Saheed is a role model for young jewellery designers as he creates his own designs" said the Chairman of the EDB Ratna Sivaratnam.

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Copyright 2001 The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd.
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