Winners Announced for AGTA's 2013 Spectrum Awards™ Competition
Dallas, TX - October 22, 2012: Winners have been named in the 2013 AGTA Spectrum Awards™ competition hosted by the American Gem Trade Association. This year marks the 29th anniversary of the competition.
The competition was judged October 20-21 in New York, NY. Judges for the 2013 competition were Candace Edelman of Alex Sepkus, Jennifer Heebner of JCK Magazine, fine jewelry buyer Abby Huhtanen of Bergdorf Goodman, lapidarist Kiwon Jang, and designer Kimberly McDonald.
The annual AGTA Spectrum Awards™ Media Day was held October 22 and featured all of the jewelry and gemstone submissions. Attendees included top fashion/accessory editors from the trade and consumer press, stylists, and bloggers. Publications represented included Vogue, W, Elle, Harper’s Bazaar, InStyle, Women’s Wear Daily, Marie Claire, Essence, NY Times Magazine, and many more.
SPECTRUM AWARDS
Best of Category Winners:
Best of Show:
James Currens, J.W. Currens, Inc.
Platinum "Lava" ring featuring a 12.99 ct. Ruby cabochon accented with marquis-cut Diamonds (1.47 ctw.) and Diamond melee (7.40 ctw.).
Best Use of Color:
Erica Courtney, Erica Courtney
18K yellow gold earrings featuring Opals (36.70 ctw.), Apatite (5.92 ctw.) and tsavorite Garnets (1.76 ctw.).
Best Use of Platinum and Color:
Deirdre Featherstone, Featherstone Design
Platinum "Shangri-La" earrings featuring Opals (15.86 ctw.) and Tanzanite cabochon drops (48.54 ctw.) accented with purple and blue Sapphires (2.16 ctw.), Tourmalines (4.53 ctw.), tsavorite Garnets (.29 ctw.), Diamonds (.86ctw.) and Turquoise briolettes.
Best Use of Palladium & Color:
Cynthia Renee, Cynthia Renee, Inc.
Palladium and stainless steel "Owl Queen" brooch featuring a carved petrified palm owl, accented with Mother of Pearl on a 42.57 ct. green Tourmaline crystal and Diamonds (.16 ctw.).
Best Use of Pearls:
Anil Maloo, Baggins, Inc.
14K white gold earrings featuring 8.5mm Akoya Pearls, 9mm white South Sea Pearls, 10-11mm Tahitian Pearls and accented with Diamonds (2.42 ctw.).
Fashion Forward:
Jennifer Dawes, Dawes Design
18K yellow gold necklace featuring Aquamarines (14.45 ctw.), Emeralds (7.45 ctw.) and Diamonds (1.00 ctw.).
Editor’s Choice:
Parul Kuki Seth, Parulina (Zaq, Inc.) - 18K yellow gold "Two Finger Glam" ring featuring three Emerald cabochons (19.62 ctw.) accented with round Emeralds (9.54 ctw.).
Category Winners:
Bridal Wear:
Bridal Wear - 1st Place
Robert Pelliccia, J.R. Dunn Jewelers - Platinum ring featuring a 4.08 ct. pink Sapphire with half-moon Diamonds (.34 ctw.) and round Diamonds (.56ctw.).
Bridal Wear - 2nd Place
Bella Campbell, Campbellian - 18K white gold earrings featuring royal blue Moonstones (13.00 ctw.) accented with Diamonds (2.00 ctw.).
Bridal Wear - 3rd Place
Giraux Fine Jewelry, Giraux Fine Jewelry - 18K white gold "Rain Drop" earrings featuring pink Spinels (4.29 ctw.) and accented with heart, marquise and cushion shaped Diamonds (1.55 ctw.).
Bridal Wear - Platinum Honors
Deirdre Featherstone, Featherstone Design - Platinum "Scheherazade" earrings featuring silver and white Tahitian baroque Pearls accented with Diamonds (2.21 ctw.).
Bridal Wear - Entry Platinum Innovation
Jake Wosinski, William Travis Jewelry - Platinum hand-engraved ring featuring a 1.25 ct. round blue Sapphire accented with Diamonds (.04 ctw.).
Bridal Wear - Palladium Prestige Award
Darryl Alexander, Alexander's Jewelers - Palladium "Purple Passion" ring featuring a 14mm pink freshwater Pearl accented with purple Sapphires and Diamonds.
Bridal Wear – Gem Diva
Pamela Froman, Pamela Froman Fine Jewelry - Palladium "Ice Princess" cuff featuring rainbow Moonstones (15.0 ctw.) accented with Diamonds (3.01 ctw.).
Bridal Wear - Manufacturing Honors
Giraux Fine Jewelry, Giraux Fine Jewelry - 18K white gold "Rain Drop" earrings featuring pink Spinels (4.29 ctw.) and accented with heart, marquise and cushion shaped Diamonds (1.55 ctw.).
Bridal Wear - Honorable Mention
Darryl Alexander, Alexander's Jewelers - Palladium "Purple Passion" ring featuring a 14mm pink freshwater Pearl accented with purple Sapphires and Diamonds.
Business/Day Wear:
Business/Day Wear - 1st Place
Gregore Morin, Gregore Joailliers - 18K white gold earrings featuring pink Opal (8.6 ctw.) Japanese plum blossoms accented with black and white Diamonds (.87 ctw.).
Business/Day Wear - 2nd Place
Gregore Morin, Gregore Joailliers - 18K white gold and black ruthenium ring featuring an Opal accented with Diamonds (.09 ctw.) and spessartite Garnets (1.01 ctw.).
Business/Day Wear - 3rd Place
Gregore Morin, Gregore Joailliers - 18K white gold "Lady leaf" earrings featuring Jade leaf drops (53 ctw.) accented with Opal (5.5 ctw.), white Diamonds (.36 ctw.) and black Diamond ladybugs (.45 ctw.) .
Business/Day Wear - Platinum Honors
Alishan Halebian, Alishan - Platinum pin/pendant featuring a 12.5mm Tahitian Pearl accented with Chrome Diopside cabochons (2.40 ctw.) and Diamonds (.60 ctw.).
Business/Day Wear - Entry Platinum Innovation
Mark Schneider, Mark Schneider Design - Platinum earrings featuring 8 freshwater Pearls accented with Diamonds (.30 ctw.).
Business/Day Wear - Palladium Prestige Award
Steph Farber, LeRoy Jewelers - Palladium pendant featuring blue Chalcedony and a Quartz carving accented with 16 1.2mm Sapphires and 60 1.0-1.3mm Diamonds.
Business/Day Wear – Gem Diva
Caroline Chartouni, Caroline C - 18K pink gold earrings featuring rose Quartz drops (56.37 ctw.) accented with Diamonds (1.99 ctw.).
Business/Day Wear - Manufacturing Honors
Adeleh Petochi, Eclat Jewels, Inc. - 18K rose gold cuff featuring two Amethyst cabochons (118.13 ctw.) accented with Diamonds (5.39 ctw.).
Business/Day Wear - Honorable Mention
Devta Doolan, Devta Doolan Jewelry - 22K yellow gold pendant featuring a 36.0 ct. marquise-cut Jade cabochon accented with rose-cut black Diamonds (8.50 ctw.).
Classical:
Classical - 1st Place
James Currens, J.W. Currens, Inc. - Platinum "Lava" ring featuring a 12.99 ct. Ruby cabochon accented with marquis-cut Diamonds (1.47 ctw.) and Diamond melee (7.40 ctw.).
Classical - 2nd Place
Gigi Vivian Fitzmorris, The Gigi Collection - 18K yellow gold and black rhodium bug pin featuring black Tahitian cultured Pearl accented with paraiba Tourmalines (6.00 ctw.), Diamonds (6.00 ctw.), blue Sapphires (3.51 ctw.) and tsavorite Garnets (.95 ctw.).
Classical - 3rd Place
Lilly Fitzgerald, Lilly Fitzgerald - Goldsmith - 22K yellow gold chain link necklace featuring suspended Labradorite cylinders.
Classical - Platinum Honors
Maria Canale, Richard Krementz Gemstones - Platinum ring featuring a 3.22 ct. antique-cut Alexandrite accented with Diamonds (2.91 ctw.).
Classical - Entry Platinum Innovation
Joe Worley, Joe Worley Designs - Platinum art nouveau pendant featuring a .97 ct. pear-shaped spessartite Garnet accented with a .20 ct Sunstone, Garnets (.11 ctw.) and Diamonds (.11 ctw.).
Classical - Palladium Prestige Award
Cynthia Renee, Cynthia Renee, Inc. - Palladium ring featuring oval tsavorite Garnet trio (9.63 ctw.).
Classical – Gem Diva
Dallas Prince, Dallas Prince Designs - 14K rose gold "Twilight Blush" earrings featuring 2 cushion-cut Morganites (30.18 ctw.) accented with white Diamonds (.72 ctw.) and black Diamonds (1.6 ctw.).
Classical - Manufacturing Honors
Monica Rich Kosann, Monica Rich Kosann - 18K yellow gold "Secret" ring featuring a 3.19 ct. cushion-cut color-change Alexandrite accented with Diamonds.
Classical - Honorable Mention
Cynthia Bach, Cynthia Bach, Inc. - 18K gold and platinum peacock brooch featuring a 73.50 ct. carved Labradorite, Coral, Tanzanites, paraiba Tourmalines and multi-colored Diamonds.
Classical - Honorable Mention
Monica Rich Kosann, Monica Rich Kosann - 18K yellow gold "Secret" ring featuring a 3.19 ct. cushion-cut color-change Alexandrite accented with Diamonds.
Evening Wear:
Evening Wear - 1st Place
Anil Maloo, Baggins, Inc. - 14K white gold earrings featuring 8.5mm Akoya Pearls, 9mm white South Sea Pearls, 10-11mm Tahitian Pearls and accented with Diamonds (2.42 ctw.).
Evening Wear - 2nd Place
Parul Kuki Seth, Parulina (Zaq, Inc.) - 18K yellow gold "Two Finger Glam" ring featuring three Emerald cabochons (19.62 ctw.) accented with round Emeralds (9.54 ctw.).
Evening Wear - 3rd Place
Frank Caballero, Frank Caballero - 18K white gold with black rhodium cocktail ring featuring a 47.28 ct. oval Peridot cabochon accented with Diamonds (3.26 ctw.).
Evening Wear - Platinum Honors
Cara Becker Lichtenstein, My Blue Heaven - Platinum and black enamel pendant/brooch featuring a 41.90 ct. black Opal accented with round brilliant white Diamonds (4.55 ctw.).
Evening Wear - Palladium Prestige Award
Elizabeth Garvin, Elizabeth Garvin Fine - Palladium spiral cocktail ring featuring a 35.50 ct. rose Quartz cabochon accented with white Diamond melee (.25 ctw.).
Evening Wear – Gem Diva
Annie Fensterstock, Annie Fensterstock - Blackened sterling silver and 22K yellow gold cuff featuring white and fancy-colored Diamonds (11.91 ctw.) and Sapphires (7.30 ctw.).
Evening Wear - Manufacturing Honors
Brent Malgarin, Elegant Gems, Ltd. - 18K yellow gold earrings featuring multi-colored Sphalerite (14.87 ctw.) accented with Diamonds (.42 ctw.).
Evening Wear - Honorable Mention
Leon Mege, Leon Mege, Inc. - Platinum ring featuring a 13.67 ct. purple Sapphire accented with Diamonds (3.35 ctw.) and a .10 ct. Ruby cabochon.
Evening Wear - Honorable Mention
Caesar Azzam, Caesar's Designs - 18K rose gold "Printemps" ring featuring a 2.05 ct. pink Tourmaline, tsavorite Garnets (1.63 ctw.) and 2.5mm white cultured Pearls.
Men's Wear:
Men's Wear - 1st Place
Naomi Sarna, Naomi Sarna Designs - Platinum cufflinks featuring baroque Pearls (21.06 ctw.) accented with multi-colored Sapphires.
Men's Wear - 2nd Place
Daniel Allen, C. Kirk Root Designs - 18K white gold ring featuring Alexandrites (1.45 ctw.).
Men's Wear - 3rd Place
Mark Schneider, Somewhere In The Rainbow - Palladium cufflinks featuring pink rough-cut Diamonds accented with a 1.94 ct. and a 2.13 ct. flower-cut color-change Garnet and white Diamonds (3.13 ctw.).
Men's Wear - Platinum Honors
Andrew Costen, Costen Catbalue - Platinum "Meteoric Sapphire" men's ring featuring a 34.50 ct. Gibeon Meteorite and 4.03 ct. trillion blue Sapphire.
Men's Wear - Palladium Prestige Award
Mark Schneider, Somewhere In The Rainbow - Palladium cufflinks featuring pink rough-cut Diamonds accented with a 1.94 ct. and a 2.13 ct. flower-cut color-change Garnet and white Diamonds (3.13 ctw.).
Men's Wear - Manufacturing Honors
Jack Bigio, Basser & Bigio, LLC - 22K yellow gold cufflinks featuring paraiba Tourmaline cabochons (20.00 ctw.).
CUTTING EDGE AWARDS
Classic Cut Gemstones:
Classic Gemstones- 1st Place
Stephen Kotlowski, Uniquely K Custom Gem's - 3.46 ct. magenta custom-mixed oval/marquee Sapphire.
Classic Gemstones - 2nd Place
Ray Zajicek, Equatorian Imports - 3.08 ct. round natural Colombian Emerald.
Classic Gemstones - 3rd Place
Sailesh Lakhi, Sparkles and Colors USA, Inc. - 21.91 ct. oval blue Sapphire from Sri Lanka.
Classic Gemstone - Honorable Mention
Sailesh Lakhi, Sparkles and Colors USA, Inc. - 70.08 ct. unheated oval yellow Sapphire.
All Other Faceted:
All Other Faceted Gemstones - 1st Place
Ben Kho, Kho International, Inc. - 16.02 ct. "Galaxy" cushion-cut Rhodochrosite.
All Other Faceted Gemstones - 2nd Place
John Dyer, John Dyer & Co. - 7.89 ct. radiant-cut, marquise-shaped Imperial Topaz.
All Other Faceted Gemstones - 3rd Place
Lisa Elser, Custom Cut Gems Co. - 14.24 ct. oval red Tourmaline.
Phenomenal Gemstones:
Phenomenal - 1st Place
Naomi Sarna, Naomi Sarna Designs - 8.80 ct. fossil clam Opal.
Phenomenal - 2nd Place
Barbara Lawrence, Barbara Lawrence, Fine Gemstones - 9.84 ct. oval rainbow "Moonstone" Labradorite.
Phenomenal - 3rd Place
Robyn Dufty, DuftyWeis Opals, Inc. - 41.20 ct. Mexican fire Opal titled "The Rose."
Phenomenal – Honorable Mention
Stephen Kotlowski, Uniquely K Custom Gem's - 5.94 ct. oval color-change natural Sapphire.
Pairs & Suites:
Pairs & Suites - 1st Place
Nandu Nichani, Temple Trading Co. - Graduated necklace, earring and ring suite of blue Moonstones in pear and heart-shaped cabochons (137.50 ctw.).
Pairs & Suites - 2nd Place
Allen Kleiman, A. Kleiman & Co. - Suite of 16 unheated pear-shaped and oval yellow Sapphires (91.58 ctw.).
Pairs & Suites - 3rd Place
Aivan Pham, Somewhere in the Rainbow - "Dionysus Tears" 24 piece African Amethyst (236.33 ctw.) suite and pairs.
Innovative Faceting:
Innovative Faceting - 1st Place
Jean-Noel Soni, Top Notch Faceting - 7.7 ct. pink and gold bi-colored West African Tourmaline.
Innovative Faceting - 2nd Place
Richard Homer, Gems by Design, Inc. - 36.74 ct. antique, cushion-cut Topaz.
Innovative Faceting - 3rd Place
Darryl Alexander, Nirinjan - 94.5 ct. "Outa This World" diamond-shaped negative and bubble-faceted multi-colored Sunstone.
Innovative Faceting - Honorable Mention
Larry Woods, Jewels from the Woods - 74.59 ct. specialty-cut golden Beryl.
Carving:
Carving - 1st Place
Naomi Sarna, Naomi Sarna Designs - "L'Heure Bleu" Tanzanite (725 ctw.) carving on a sterling silver base.
Carving - 2nd Place
Naomi Sarna, Naomi Sarna Designs - Carved blue Topaz (147 grams) on a sterling silver base.
Carving – 3rd Place
Darryl Alexander, Doug Malby - 43.81 ct. "Under the Sea" carved and faceted multi-colored Sunstone.
Objects of Art:
Objects of Art - 1st Place
Gregore Morin, Gregore Joailliers - "Aiko" - a Japanese "Kokeshi" sculpture featuring a 256 ct. green Opal accented with Coral, Ferro-Horn blende and Diamonds set in platinum atop a silver base.
Objects of Art – 2nd Place
Mark Schneider, Mark Schneider Design - "Haagen-Dazs Ice Cream Bar" featuring a 340 ct. natural Quartz covered with sterling silver with a brown patina, accented with a brushed and engraved 18K yellow gold "stick".
This year's AGTA Spectrum Awards™ will be presented during the 2013 AGTA GemFair™ Tucson to be held February 5 - 10 at the Tucson Convention Center in Tucson, Arizona. Winning entries will be displayed during the show and AGTA Spectrum Awards™ recipients will be recognized during the AGTA Dinner Dance and Awards Gala. The event starts at 7:00 pm Saturday, February 9. Tickets for the gala are $100 and cocktail attire is encouraged.
AGTA Spectrum Awards™ entries were judged on the basis of overall beauty and wearability, innovative design, effective use of materials, quality of gemstones, quality of workmanship, broad-base consumer appeal and potential to generate positive publicity for natural colored gemstones.
AGTA Cutting Edge Awards honor excellence and creativity in lapidary arts, including natural colored gemstones and cultured pearls, carvings, and other gem materials.
Platinum Honors were once again awarded with the support of Platinum Guild International. All entries whose primary metal was platinum were eligible in this category.
Palladium Prestige Awards were once again awarded with the support of Palladium Alliance International. All entries whose primary metal was palladium were eligible for these awards.
WJA Gem Diva Awards debuted at this year’s Spectrum Awards with the support of WJA, and were presented in the Bridal Wear, Evening Wear, Classical and Business/Day Wear categories. All women who entered the Spectrum Awards competition were eligible for this category simply by marking the check-box for Gem Diva on their entry form.
All designs that qualified for the Spectrum Awards competition were considered for Manufacturing Honors. This award celebrates outstanding use of colored gemstones and cultured pearls in jewelry appropriate to be manufactured in production quantities.
Fashion Forward Honors recognizes the outstanding use of colored gemstone and/or cultured pearl beads in artful, trend-setting jewelry. All necklaces, earrings, bracelets or other jewelry that qualified for judging in the AGTA Spectrum Awards™ competition automatically qualified for Fashion Forward Honors judging.
For further information on the 2013 AGTA GemFair™ Tucson or the AGTA Dinner Dance and Awards Gala, please call (800) 972-1162 or visit our website at www.agta.org. For inquiries regarding the AGTA Spectrum Awards™ competition, please contact Adam Graham at [email protected] or (800) 972-1162.
The American Gem Trade Association is a not-for-profit Association serving the natural colored gemstone and cultured pearl industry since 1981. The AGTA serves the industry as "The Authority In Color" and has its headquarter office in Dallas, Texas.
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