Ten jewellery design students from the Durban University of Technology will get a rare opportunity to display their talent to a world audience.

Ten jewellery design students from the Durban University of Technology will get a rare opportunity to display their talent to a world audience.

Their jewellery will be worn by Miss World contestants at the beauty pageant next month.

Tony Starkey, the university's head of fine art and jewellery design department, said his students have been designing jewellery that addresses the demands of a "broadly defined industry and community".

Starkey said: "This is an extraordinary opportunity for the students, and indeed the South African contemporary jewellery sector, to gain national and international exposure. This is an exciting and unique chance of exposure for the students."

Among the students whose work will be showcased are Taryn Coleman, Tessa Hume, Siphelele Manqele and Michelle Stewart.

Final-year student Manqele said he hoped that his jewellery will generate a lot of feedback from the industry.

Coleman, also a final year student, said: "It makes me feel really good that my work will be worn by top models at the pageant.

"My work will get some serious exposure and I hope to get a lot of business from it."

Chris de Beer, of Jewellery Design Programme, said: "I think it is wonderful that the students are able to utilise the skills they have acquired in the department to meet the needs of the world out there."