Since 1984, the American Gem Trade Association (AGTA) has been honoring the creative use of colored gemstones in jewelry design with its annual Spectrum Awards. This year, the competition saw a few changes. Instead of entering pieces in price point categories, entries were judged in five fashion categories: Evening, Business/Day, Casual, Bridal and Men’s. Manufacturing Honors and Platinum Honors were also part of the competition. Jewelry was judged on effective use of materials, overall beauty and wearability, innovative design, quality of gems and workmanship. The pieces were also rated according to their potential to generate positive publicity for gemstones of natural origin and broad-based consumer appeal. Here’s a look at the winning entries.
Best of Show: Brooch is platinum, 18-karat red and white gold with Akoya pearls, opal, black chalcedony, sapphires and diamonds by Gregory Morin, Silverhorn.
Best Use of Color: Floral brooch/pendant in platinum and 18-karat rose and yellow gold with garnets, fancy color and white diamonds by Alan Friedman, Alan Friedman Co.
EVENING
First Place: Necklace in 18-karat yellow and white gold with = natural freshwater pearls and diamonds by Saho Kinoshita.
Second Place: Ring in 18-karat green gold with tanzanite and garnets by Larry Sieger, LS Hancock Design Studio.
Third Place: Ring in 18-karat yellow gold and platinum with carved conch shell, pink diamonds and Akoya pearls by Bradley D. Weber, Weber Goldsmith Gallery.
Honorable Mention: Snail ring in platinum, 18-karat yellow and white gold with diamonds, yellow sapphire, Madeira citrine and garnet by Alex Soldier, Alex Soldier Designs.
Manufacturing Honors: Earrings in 18-karat white and yellow gold with rubellite tourmaline and diamonds by Scott Hodson, Hodson Jewelry Galleries.
CASUAL
First Place: Pendant in 18-karat yellow gold and platinum with citrine and diamonds by Darius M. Brasky, Paul C. Lirot Jewelers.
Second Place: Ring in Platinum and 18-karat gold with tanzanite, rubellite tourmaline and yellow sapphires by Brenda J. Warburton, Austin Warburton.
Third Place: Ring in platinum with sapphire and diamonds by Philip B. Dismuke, Jewelsmith.
Honorable Mention: Pendant in 18-karat yellow gold with spessartite garnet and tsavorites by Linda Potichke, Linda Potichke Jewelry Design.
Manufacturing Honors: Pendant/slider in 18-karat yellow gold with peridot and diamonds by Stephan Garfolo, Stephan Hill Jewelry Designers.
BUSINESS / DAY
First Place: Earrings in 18-karat white and yellow gold with spessartite garnet and diamonds by Paul Derrickson, The Jewelers Touch.
Second Place: Ring in platinum with pink and blue sapphires by John Rippe, Opalesce.
Third Place: Ring in 18-karat white and yellow gold with spessartite garnet and diamonds by Cornelis Hollander, Cornelis Hollander Designs Inc.
Honorable Mention: Brooch in oxidized silver and 22-karat gold with meteorite cabochon and diamonds by Yaroslav Shukel, Aurora Studio.
Manufacturing Honors: Bracelet in 18-karat yellow gold with garnets by Kim Koch, Kim Koch Designs, LLC.
BRIDAL
First Place: Ring in 18-karat pink gold with tsavorite garnet and diamonds by Robert Ackermann, Robert Ackermann Inc.
Second Place: Ring in platinum with tanzanite, tsavorite garnets and diamonds by Mark Schneider, Mark Schneider.
Third Place: Eternity ring in 18-karat white gold with multicolor sapphires by Burdett A. Milkins, Bam Designs.
Manufacturing Honors: Ring in platinum and 18-karat gold with pink and blue sapphires and diamonds by Ronald Davidson, Davidson Designs.
MEN'S
First Place: Ring in 14-karat white gold with andradite garnet by Phil Delano, Delano Designs.
Second Place: Ring in white gold with tanzanite, yellow diamonds, white diamonds and demantoid garnets by Mark Schneider, Mark Schneider.
Third Place: Ring in platinum, 18-karat yellow and white gold with meteorite by David Trout, Coffin &Trout.
Manufacturing Honors: Cufflinks in 18-karat yellow and white gold with tourmaline and diamonds by Jane Wullbrandt, Joesph Menzie Inc./Miranda George Inc.
Cut to the Color
The American Gem Trade Association honors lapidary artists with its Cutting Edge Awards in six categories: Classic, Faceting, Carving, Combination, Pairs & Suites and Objects of Art.
CLASSIC
First Place: Unheated Madagascar blue sapphire, 12.93 carats, emerald cut by Jeffrey Bilgore, Oscar Heyman & Brothers.
Second Place: Emerald, Raydiantz cut, 1.41 carats, by Ray Zajicek, Equatorian Imports.
Third Place: Burma ruby, oval cut, 3.18 carats, by Allen Kleiman, A. Kleiman & Co.
FACETING
First Place: Mozambique pink tourmaline, brilliant round flower cut, 15.89 carats by John A. Rhoads, D & J Rare Gems Ltd.
Second Place:Pakistani peridot, split-facet super trillion, 37.16 carats, by John A. Dyer, Precious Gemstones Co.
Third Place: Brazilian pink morganite, brilliant cushion cut, 58.33 carats, by John A. Rhoads, D & J Rare Gems Ltd.
Honorable Mention: Untreated Tajikistani heliodor, skewed lozenge cut, 56.62 carats by David A. Brackna, David A. Brackna Gemcutter.
CARVING
First Place: Oregon sunstone, 47.40 carats, freeform carving by William Cox for Dust Devil Mining Co.
Honorable Mention: Carved reverse intaglio green phantom quartz, by Krista McMillan, Krista L. McMillan Gemstone Carvings.
COMBINATION
First Place: Citrine, 65-facet concave cut 20.16 carats by Soosai Prosper, Byrex Gems Inc.
Second Place:Citrine, Snowphia cut, 32.46 carats by Thomas A. Trozzo, Trozzo.
PAIRS & SUITES
First Place: Blue and orange zircon suite, rose brilliant cut, 170.09 total carat weight, by Philip Youngman.
Second Place: Tourmalines, trillion windmill cut, 2 carats each, spessartine garnet trillion double windmill cut, 4.60 carats by Meg Berry, Pala International.
Honorable Mention: Sapphires in pastel rainbow colors, Ballerina Gem Co.
OBJECTS OF ART
First Place: Essence Bottle and stopper, carved from chalcedony. Stopper is 18-karat white and yellow gold with 40-carat carved lighting Ridge opal, pink diamond and cultured South Sea pearl, by Dalan J. Hargrave, Hargrave Manufacturing.
Second Place:Pen in 18-karat yellow gold, with black jade, sapphire, Tahitian keshi by Angela Conty, Angela Conty Designs.
Third Place: Obsidian carving representing the North Wind with a diamond by Robert Chaplin, Robert Chaplin.
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