Canada's Excellence in Design 2006 competition awarded the top prize in the diamond category to designer Tracy Borlase for her Oprah Winfrey-inspired diamond necklace.

Borlase—originally from South Africa—said the piece was designed for one of her clients who was set to appear on the Oprah Winfrey Show. She created the necklace "O Afrique" as a tribute to her own heritage and Winfrey's African heritage. The small "O" shaped pendant represents the disc-shaped jewelry popular in Africa and also stands for "Oprah." It also features a zebra-striped pattern of 225 black and white diamonds, and hangs from a black, rhodium-plated, 14-karat white-gold chain.

The 35-year-old designer ran a successful business and studio in Johannesburg, South Africa, before deciding to move to Toronto eight years ago. She made the move to get away from a violent post-Apartheid climate where, as a young woman, she felt increasingly at risk.

Excellence in Design 2006 is the first competition Borlase has entered since arriving in Canada. The annual competition is sponsored by Canadian Jeweller and Jewellers Vigilance Canada.