Winners of the annual American Gem Trade Association Spectrum and Cutting Edge Awards were announced yesterday.
This marks the 31st year that the competition has taken place. Judging took place in Manhattan on Oct. 25–26, and included Jerrold Green of Reginald C. Miller; Myriam Gumuchian of Gumuchian; Joseph Mardkha of ColorMasters; Tim McClelland of McTeigue & McClelland; Larry Pelzel of Neiman Marcus; and Jeffrey Post of the Smithsonian Institution.
“I did not envy the decisions that our judges had to make, yet I was pleased to see how carefully they deliberated over each and every decision they made, resulting in this year’s amazing list of winners,” said Douglas K. Hucker, CEO of the AGTA, to the media this week.
The AGTA Dinner Dance and Awards Gala will take place on February 7, 2015, during the 2015 AGTA GemFair Tucson, Feb. 3–8 at the Tucson Convention Center in Tucson, Ariz., and winning entries will be on display. Tickets for the gala are $100 and cocktail attire is encouraged.
Winners are listed below.
All photos courtesy of SANDRO Art & Photography for AGTA.
Spectrum Awards
Best of Category Winners
Best of Show
Ring in platinum with a 4.71 ct. Paraiba tourmaline accented with 1.31 cts. t.w. French-cut diamonds by Leon Megé, Leon Megé Inc.
Best Use of Color
Venus bracelet in 18k yellow gold with freshwater baroque cultured pearls and 29.32 cts. t.w. pink and green tourmalines by Paula Crevoshay, Crevoshay
Best Use of Platinum and Color
Anemone earrings in platinum with 5.37 cts. t.w. tanzanites, 2.88 cts. t.w. blue zircons, 3.72 cts. t.w. purple sapphires, 1.67 cts. t.w. tsavorite garnets, 0.4 ct. t.w. indigo-color tourmalines, 0.36 ct. t.w. Paraiba tourmalines, and 0.16 ct. t.w. diamonds by Deirdre Featherstone, Featherstone Design
Best Use of Pearls
Necklace featuring in 18k rose gold with white cultured pearls and pink diamonds by Naomi Sarna, Naomi Sarna Designs
Fashion Forward
Ring in 18k gold with a 36 ct. turquoise, 9.2 mm Tahitian pearl, 0.32 ct. t.w. Paraiba tourmalines, and 0.43 ct. t.w. diamonds by Ion Ionescu, Ionescu Design
Category Winners
Bridal Wear Sponsored by The Knot
1st Place
Anemone earrings in platinum with 5.37 cts. t.w. tanzanites, 2.88 cts. t.w. blue zircons, 3.72 cts. t.w. purple sapphires, 1.67 cts. t.w. tsavorite garnets, 0.4 ct. t.w. indigo-color tourmalines, 0.36 ct. t.w. Paraiba tourmalines, and 0.16 ct. t.w. diamonds by Deirdre Featherstone, Featherstone Design
2nd Place and Manufacturing Honors
Ring in 18k rose and white gold with 0.8 ct. t.w. golden beryl, orange citrines, orange sapphires, and diamonds by Laurence Bruyninckx, Laurence Bruyninckx
3rd Place and Platinum Honors
Earrings in platinum with 7.07 cts. t.w. diamond slices and 0.67 ct. t.w. diamonds by Michael Endlich, Pave Fine Jewelry
Bridal Wear Entry Platinum Innovation
Tilt-a-Whirl ring with a 2.06 cts. t.w. tanzanite with 1.63 cts. t.w. diamonds by Susan Drake, Spectrum Art & Jewelry
Bridal Wear Gem Diva Award
Necklace in 18k white gold with 30 mm white topaz and 3.7 cts. t.w. diamonds by Suzanne Kalandjian, Suzanne Kalan
Bridal Wear Manufacturing Honors
Ring in 18k rose and white gold with 0.8 ct. t.w. golden beryl, orange citrines, orange sapphires, and diamonds by Laurence Bruyninckx, Laurence Bruyninckx
Bridal Wear—Honorable Mention
Earrings in platinum with 5.61 cts. t.w. aquamarines, 3.51 cts. t.w. grossular garnets, and 0.56 ct. t.w. diamonds, Bella Campbell, Campbellian
Business/Day Wear
1st Place
Ring in 18k rose gold with 29 ct. carved turquoise and 14 cts. t.w. amethysts by Jennifer Rabe Morin, Gregoré Joailliers
2nd Place
Jewel ring in 18k gold and sterling silver with a 24.6 ct. green quartz and 0.23 ct. t.w. diamonds by Elizabeth Garvin, Elizabeth Garvin Fine
3rd Place
In the Swim earrings in 18k yellow gold and copper featuring with 7.11 cts. t.w. Paraiba tourmalines, 2.23 cts. t.w. pink tourmalines, and 0.8 ct. t.w. diamonds by Heath London, Heath London Fine Jewelry
Platinum Honors
Blooming ring in platinum with a 21.4 ct. opal, 1.35 cts. t.w. spessartite garnets, and diamonds by Phillip Dismuke, Jewelsmith
Business/Day Wear Gem Diva Award
Jewel ring in 18k gold and sterling silver with a 24.6 ct. green quartz and 0.23 ct. t.w. diamonds by Elizabeth Garvin, Elizabeth Garvin Fine
Business/Day Wear Manufacturing Honors
Ring in 18k yellow gold with a 11.25 ct. chrysocolla, 0.62 ct. t.w. diamonds, and 0.56 ct. t.w. tsavorites by Ryan Roberts, Ryan Roberts Ltd.
Classical
1st Place
Ring in platinum with a 4.71 ct. Paraiba tourmaline accented with 1.31 cts. t.w. French-cut diamonds by Leon Megé, Leon Megé Inc.
2nd Place
Ophion’s Treasure ring in 18k white gold with 6.74 cts. t.w. emeralds and 2.19 cts. t.w. diamonds by Heena Chheda, Real Gems Inc.
3rd Place
Midnight Kiss ring in 18k yellow and white gold with a 5.76 ct. unheated blue sapphire, 1.18 cts. t.w. white and yellow diamonds, 0.91 ct. t.w. blue sapphires, and 0.79 ct. t.w. tsavorite garnets by Evelyn Huang, China Art & Fine Jewelry Inc.
Platinum Honors
Ring in platinum with a 4.16 ct. emerald, 1.2 cts. t.w. diamond baguettes, and 0.21 ct. t.w. yellow diamonds by Rex McClure, Sohn and McClure Jewelers
Platinum Innovation
Etude d’Vert earrings in platinum with tapered 15.5 cts. t.w. green tourmalines by Mimi Favre, Mimi Favre Studio
Gem Diva Award
Astra ring in 18k gold with a 24.16 ct. star sapphire and 8.08 cts. t.w. diamonds by Caroline Chartouni, Caroline C
Manufacturing Honors
Ring in platinum with a 5.81 ct. green sapphire and 3.87 cts. t.w. diamonds by Deirdre Featherstone, Featherstone Design
Evening Wear
1st Place and Gem Diva Award
Bracelet in platinum and 20k pink gold with 44.31 cts. t.w. multicolored spinels, 6.8 cts. t.w. diamonds, and 1 ct. t.w. pink diamonds by Maria Canale for Suna Bros. Inc.
2nd Place
Milky Way earrings in 18k yellow gold with 46.06 cts. t.w. opals, 2.03 cts. t.w. Paraiba tourmalines, and 1.98 cts. t.w. diamonds by Erica Courtney, Erica Courtney Inc.
3rd Place
Ring in platinum with a 6.5 ct. alexandrite and diamonds by Gil, Gil Int’l
Platinum Honors
Bracelet in platinum with 7.26 cts. t.w. multicolored tourmalines and 1.29 cts. t.w. diamonds by Cara Becker Lichtenstein, My Blue Heaven
Manufacturing Honors
Ring in 14k white gold with a 6.11 ct. pink tourmaline and 1.24 cts. t.w. diamonds by Linda Quinn, Linda Quinn Designs
Honorable Mention
Pink Elephant & Tipsy Writer Maneater ring in 18k pink gold with 2 cts. t.w. pink sapphires and 2.23 cts. t.w. rubies and brown and colorless diamonds by Wendy Brandes, Wendy Brandes Jewelry
Men’s Wear
1st Place
Pink2 cufflinks in 18k red gold and stainless steel with 8.74 cts. t.w. pillow-cut morganites, 0.87 ct. t.w. rubies, and 0.6 ct. t.w. diamonds by Dawn Muscio, D. Muscio Fine Jewelry Studio
2nd Place
Ring in platinum with a 16.73 ct. tourmaline with 0.67 ct. t.w. yellow diamonds and 1.02 cts. t.w. tsavorite garnets by Mark Schneider, Mark Schneider Design
3rd Place
Cufflinks in 18k blackened gold with 20.06 cts. t.w. tanzanites and 6.5 cts. t.w. tsavorite garnets by Michael Kanners, Michael Kanners
Men’s Wear Platinum Honors?
His and His rings in platinum with 5.68 cts. t.w. brown diamonds by Naomi Sarna, Naomi Sarna Designs
Men’s Wear Honorable Mention
Ring in 18k yellow gold and sterling silver wth a 13.17 ct. citrine by William Travis, William Travis Jewelry
Cutting Edge Awards
Classic Cut Gemstones
1st Place
20.24 ct. emerald-cut unheated yellow sapphire by Allen Kleiman, A. Kleiman & Co.
2nd Place
19.06 ct. brilliant step-cut unheated blue sapphire by Joseph Ambalu, Amba Gem Corp.
3rd Place
5 ct. oval-shape pink sapphire by Joseph Ambalu, Amba Gem Corp.
Honorable Mention
38.06 ct. blue sapphire by Alan Hackman, Intercolor
All Other Faceted
1st Place
43.96 ct. oval-shape cabochon-cut tanzanite by Hemant Phophaliya, AG Color Inc.
2nd Place
12.99 ct. oval-shape mint grossular garnet by Mikola Kukharuk, Nomad’s
3rd Place
28.21 ct. imperial topaz by Mikola Kukharuk, Nomad’s
Honorable Mention
115.48 ct. emerald-cut heliodor by Mikola Kukharuk, Nomad’s
Phenomenal Gemstones
1st Place
60.5 cts. t.w. natural split pair of boulder opals by Robert Shapiro, Robert Shapiro
Pairs and Suites
1st Place
Suite of 138.49 cts. t.w. rhodolite garnets by Dalan Hargrave for Geogem-USA
2nd Place
Pair of 70.14 cts. t.w. imperial topaz by Mikola Kukharuk, Nomad’s
3rd Place
Several 15.68 cts. t.w. fancy pear-shaped tanzanites by Hemant Phophaliya, AG Color Inc.
Honorable Mention
Suite of 57.73 cts. t.w. pear-shaped unheated yellow sapphires by Allen Kleiman, A. Kleiman & Co.
Innovative Faceting
1st Place
63.19 ct. fancy round-shaped Cuprian tourmaline by John Dyer, John Dyer & Co.
2nd Place
67.92 ct. swirling nebula ametrine by John Dyer, John Dyer & Co.
3rd Place
19.43 ct. royal velvet tanzanite by John Dyer, John Dyer & Co.
Carving
1st Place
1,015 ct. Rose de France amethyst carving by Naomi Sarna, Naomi Sarna Designs
2nd Place
Eye of Genesis carving with 260 cts. t.w. opals by Bernie Benavidez, Master Jewelers
3rd Place
102 ct. specialty-cut sunstone by Darryl Alexander, Nirinjan
Objects of Art
1st Place
A black chalcedony perfume bottle with 18k yellow gold and a 42.3 ct. carved Mexican fire opal flower stopper by Robyn Dufty, DuftyWeis Opals Inc.
2nd Place
Doctor’s Orders in 18k yellow gold and sterling silver with black jade, opal, and mammoth ivory by Darryl Alexander, Somewhere in the Rainbow
3rd Place
Letter opener/dagger in 18k yellow gold and oxidized sterling silver with fossilized walrus ivory, 6.09 cts. t.w. rubies, 3.98 cts. t.w. sapphires, 0.75 ct. t.w. black and 0.15 ct. t.w. colorless diamonds by Alishan Halebian, Alishan
Honorable Mention
Spacecraft pendant with docking station in sterling silver and 14k gold with a 30 ct. fantasy-cut ametrine, tourmalines, emeralds, alexandrites, lapis lazulite, tsavorite garnets, amethysts, diamonds, and sapphires by Adam Ramseyer, Ramstar Designs
- Subscribe to the JCK News Daily
- Subscribe to the JCK Special Report
- Follow JCK on Instagram: @jckmagazine
- Follow JCK on X: @jckmagazine
- Follow JCK on Facebook: @jckmagazine
