Eight Platinum Greats

For the 12th year, Platinum Guild International honored a selection of entrants in the American Gem Trade Association’s 2011 Spectrum Awards (the 27th year of the awards). Of 74 entries in the platinum categories, eight designs earned recognition; there were two winners in the Platinum Innovation category, which highlighted price-point-sensitive styles (under $5,000 retail). “For a competition that usually only attracts big, over-the-top pieces, we were thrilled to see people innovating entry platinum designs,” Huw ­Daniel, PGI-USA president, said. All eight winners received a prize package—including professional photography of winning pieces and placement on PGI’s consumer website, PreciousPlatinum.com—valued at more than $15,000.

Aquamarine and diamond ring; Ron Lodholz for Stonehaven Jewelry Gallery

Best Use of Platinum and Color: Sapphire and diamond Princess of Ratnapura bracelet; $110,000; Judy Evans for Omi Gems Inc., Los Angeles

Platinum Bridal Wear: Triad sapphire and diamond ring; $49,500; Yehouda Saketkhou for Yael Designs, San Francisco

Platinum Innovation Bridal Wear: Sapphire and diamond ring; $2,350; ­Robert ­Pelliccia for J.R. Dunn Jewelers, ­Lighthouse Point, Fla.

Day Wear: Wave pendant with Paraiba tourmaline and diamonds; $29,500; Maria Canale for Richard Krementz Gemstones, Newark, N.J.

Zultanite diamond earrings; Ralph Wobito for Zultanite Gems

Platinum Innovation Day Wear: Aquamarine and diamond ring; $2,000; Ron Lodholz for Stonehaven Jewelry Gallery, Cary, N.C.

Evening Wear: Zultanite (diaspore) and diamond earrings; $19,850; Ralph Wobito for Zultanite Gems LLC, Milas, Turkey

Classical: Temple of the Sacred Heart ruby and diamond ring; $500,000; Christopher Olson for Molina Fine ­Jewelers, Phoenix

Men’s Wear: Purple spinel ring; $15,000; Alan Friedman for Alan Friedman, Beverly Hills, Calif.

For photos and details on all eight platinum winners

 

Out of This Whirl

Soft-serve ice cream, antique
marble…so many delightful objects exist in beautifully swirled forms.
Now platinum-jewelry makers are doing the twist with new diamond
mountings. Simple and sweet—with just a touch of embellishment—the
curlicue details add a distinct flourish to understated looks.

Paramour platinum mounting with 0.38 ct. t.w. diamonds; $8,200; Mark Schneider, Long Beach, Calif.; 800-452-5804; markschneiderdesign.com
Metropolitan style platinum Heritage collection mounting with 0.26 ct. t.w. diamonds; $1,990; A. Jaffe, New York City; 212-843-7464; ajaffe.com
Contemporary platinum mounting with 0.35 ct. t.w. diamonds; $2,860; Simon G., Glendale, Calif.; 818-500-8595; simongjewelry.com