Lazare Diamonds Announces Texas' John Sarver as Grand Prize Winner

NEW YORK, Nov. 9, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Lazare Kaplan International Inc. (LKI) today announced that John Sarver from Dallas, Texas, has won the pre-holiday ring giveaway based on his heartfelt and unique submission, which details his ideal engagement proposal. Sarver took home an ideal cut, laser-inscribed Lazare Diamond Carlotta ring. The contest accumulated a total of more than 133,000 votes from the public, with Sarver receiving the majority. The ring was awarded to Sarver in-person by Marcee Feinberg, Vice President of LKI, at his local participating Lazare Diamond retailer, Bachendorf's, located at The Plaza at Preston Center in Dallas.

After a month of submissions from across the country, a panel of judges narrowed down the selection to three finalists based on their unique and heartfelt stories. From there, friends, family and the general public were invited to vote for the grand prize winner on contest.lazarediamonds.com or The Lazare Diamond Facebook page.

The other two finalists were Tiffany Dover from Arkansas, and Allison Maliniak from Virginia. They went to their participating retailers (Roberson's Fine Jewelry in Little Rock, Ark., and Long Jewelers in Virginia Beach, Va.), where Feinberg personally called to congratulate them on their submissions and awarded them second place prizes.

John Sarver's winning entry:

"It would be this November. Jessica and I regularly go on walks in the evenings in a neighborhood near campus and near our houses. We would walk as we normally did, until we came across a cute perfect first home. Unknown to her, I've bought it for her. We would walk inside the house, which would be lit by white Christmas lights and candles. Each room would be decorated to represent different stages and a timeline of our relationship, furnished with pictures and memorabilia I've saved (tickets, notes, etc.). In the last room of the house, I would explain the progression of our relationship and say that I'm ready to marry her and where I want to take us in life, and ask her to marry me. Lastly, we'd walk to the back yard where her family would be and our closest friends ready to celebrate the engagement. Winning the Lazare Diamond would free me up to buy the house for her."

"It was a very close race and we are excited to award Lazare Diamonds' popular Carlotta Ring to the winner the public has chosen," says Marcee Feinberg, Vice President of Lazare Kaplan International Inc.

"It was a great honor to be part of this experience, and I appreciate the public's votes and participation," said John Sarver. "I'm thrilled to be associated with a company as respected and generous as Lazare Diamonds."

For more information and the complete official rules and requirements, visit http://contest.lazarediamonds.com.

About Lazare Kaplan International Inc.

Lazare Kaplan International Inc. (LKI) has been an innovator in the diamond industry since its debut in 1903. The company was the first to cut diamonds to ideal proportions, the first to laser-inscribe, the first to brand a diamond, and the first diamond sightholder to create a 4C's app for the iOS and Android platforms. LKI sells its diamonds and jewelry products through a worldwide distribution network. The Company markets its ideal cut diamonds internationally under the brand name, The Lazare Diamond®.

Official Rules

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. OPEN TO LEGAL RESIDENTS OF THE 50 UNITED STATES (D.C.), EXCEPT RHODE ISLAND, 18 YEARS AND OLDER EXCEPT EMPLOYEES OF SPONSOR AND ADMINISTRATOR AND THEIR IMMEDIATE FAMILIES AND HOUSEHOLD MEMBERS. VOID IN RHODE ISLAND, OUTSIDE THE 50 UNITED STATES (D.C.) AND WHERE PROHIBITED. Contest begins 12:01 A.M. EDT on 8/30/11, and ends no later than 11:59 P.M. EDT on 10/14/11. Odds of winning depend on the number of eligible entries received and the quality of each eligible submission as set forth in the Official Rules.  ARV: 1 Grand Prize - Lazare Diamond Ring approximate retail value $4,999 USD. For Official Rules and prize descriptions, visit http://contest.lazarediamonds.com. Sponsor: Lazare Kaplan International Inc.  19 W. 44th Street, New York, NY 10036.  Apple and Facebook are not sponsors or affiliated with the promotion in any way.

SOURCE Lazare Kaplan International Inc.