Every year since 1997, the Presse Club Hannover has honored personalities who have drawn attention to themselves through outstanding achievements or who have made a special mark through their life's work. This year's LeibnizRingHannover will be awarded to journalist and reporting legend Rolf Zick.
As in the two previous years, Nico Starke and Alena Jakunina Uthe from J. Fischer & Sohn KG once again submitted a prize-winning ring. For the third time in a row, the two ring designers Starke and Uthe were able to unanimously prevail against many competitors in this competition.
The magnificent artistic interpretation of Rolf Zick's life story was also noted by the expert jury of the most prestigious competition for jewelry makers: "The design and workmanship of the ring convinced the jury. The present and history, Leibniz and Zick are elegantly combined between digitality and handcrafted elegance. It is simply forward-looking and courageous to combine modern technology with the traditional craftsmanship of the goldsmith. The ring is a perfect match for the prizewinner Rolf Zick."
The 18-carat gold signet ring is multi-faceted and was made in the German national colors of black, red and gold to emphasize Rolf Zick's work for his homeland. The black onyx with the Press Club logo stands for the dark chapter of the war and Zick's later imprisonment. The strong red gold around the stone and on the inside of the ring depicts the difficult period of reconstruction and new beginnings after the Second World War, which was characterized by Zick's personal resurgence after a long illness and the political reorganization in the republic. The shining yellow gold on the outside of the ring emphasizes his work as a reporter, his work in politics and voluntary work as well as his happy private life.
The result is a very special piece of jewelry: classic, discreet, timeless and yet full of character and expression. This is because the side surfaces are given their visual appeal by over 8,000 tiny letters in coherent texts that have been "burned in" indelibly with a laser. On display are original texts from books, private contemporary documents and press releases relating to the award winner Rolf Zick and Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz, the namesake of this award. The ring thus becomes a miniature edition of German press history. The technical possibilities of the present day are certainly also interesting for the viewer. Rolf Zick certainly remembers writing with the simplest of writing instruments. Later, typewriters, printing presses and computers largely replaced handwriting.
The concept of the two ring designers also included an individually created newspaper about Zick's life, with pictures and texts from handwritten postcards to his wife from his imprisonment. Very impressive and touching.
About the LeibnizRingHannover
The LeibnizRingHannover is awarded to individuals or institutions that have attracted attention through outstanding achievements or have made a special mark through their life's work. The award commemorates the universal scholar Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz (1646-1716), who came to Hanover in 1676 and worked here as a mathematician, politician and diplomat until his death. In 2019, the ring was awarded to the scientist Prof. Dr. Antje Boetius.
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