Ryan Ringholz of New York City was the grand-prize winner of the first Saul Bell Design Award for jewelry featuring created moissanite. Ringholz’s design was among 150 submissions to the inaugural competition, sponsored by Rio Grande, Albuquerque, N.M., in honor of the company’s founder. The winner received a $10,000 Rio Grande gift certificate.

Entrants submitted renderings or photographs, and 20 finalists were asked to create their pieces using created moissanite supplied by Charles & Colvard, co-sponsors of the contest. The winners were chosen by a panel of jewelry and fashion industry experts.

Other winners were David Dahl and Idar Bergseth, Victoria, British Columbia; Hasun Park, Palisades Park, N.J.; Jonathan Quach, Philadelphia; Barbara Sherrick, Sioux City, Iowa; Barbara Berk, Foster City, Calif.; and Rudolf Bettenmann, Medford, Ore. All were honored and received Rio Grande gift certificates during The JCK Show in Las Vegas.