The results are in for the 2018 American Gem Trade Association (AGTA) Spectrum Awards, and new voices and new materials are at the fore.
“We had a wave of new designers and first-time entrants this year—young people with fresh perspectives who were willing to embrace creative risk in their work,” said Douglas Hucker, CEO of AGTA. “Over a dozen of our awards will be presented to first-time winners!”
Hucker also added there was a noticeable uptick in the variety of materials used in this year’s entries and winning pieces.
“We saw an increase in loose gemstones in all of the categories in the Cutting Edge division, and that diversity was evidenced in the absolute cornucopia of colour and variety in the jewellery divisions,” he said.
This year’s judges were Darryl Alexander (Alexander’s Jewelers), Randy Coffin (Coffin & Trout Jewellers), Andre Hahn (Vielle Jewelers), Pieter Hye (Pieter Andries Jewelers), and Dallas Prince (Dallas Prince & Company). The panel evaluated each of the more than 400 submissions based on beauty and wearability, innovation, material use, consumer appeal, and quality of gemstones and workmanship. The pieces’ ability to positively represent natural coloured gemstones was also considered.
Winners will be celebrated at an awards gala at Arizona’s Tucson Convention Center on February 9. This ceremony is an annual part of AGTA GemFair Tucson, which runs from February 5 to 10.
Read on for a complete list of this year’s winners.
Best of Show
Joseph Ambalu, Amba Gem – Platinum and 18-karat yellow gold ring featuring a 7.16-carat untreated Russian emerald accented with diamonds
Best Use of Colour
Ricardo Basta, E. Eichberg – 18-karat yellow gold ‘Phoenix Rising’ necklace featuring Mandarin garnets (28.04 ctw) accented with Paraiba tourmalines (1.55 ctw), sapphires (4.68 ctw), rubies (3.17 ctw), fire opals (1.35 ctw), tsavorite garnets (0.02 ctw), and a 0.77-carat turquoise
Best Use of Pearls
Avi Raz, A & Z Pearls – Necklace featuring 15- to 18-mm (0.6- to 0.7-in.) multicoloured natural baroque freshwater pearls accented with 14-karat rose, yellow, and rhodium-plated gold beads
Best Use of Platinum and Colour
Deirdre Featherstone, Featherstone Design – Platinum ‘Wonder Woman’ cuff featuring aquamarines (4.54 ctw), tanzanites (2.44 ctw), blue zircons (1.60 ctw), lavender spinels (0.46 ctw), tourmalines (0.68 ctw), and star-set diamonds (2.64 ctw)
Best Use of Platinum Crown
John Haynes, Schmitt Jewelers – Platinum ‘Solar Blossom’ ring featuring a 14.73-carat orange zircon accented with tsavorite garnets (0.67 ctw) and diamonds (0.65 ctw)
Fashion Forward
Patrick King, Jewelsmith – 14-karat white and rose gold pendant featuring a 13.31-carat sapphire accented with more sapphires (0.98 ctw) and diamonds (2.91 ctw)
Bridal Wear
First Place
Zoltan David – 18- and 22-karat rose gold necklace featuring a 46.12-carat opal accented with a 3.60-carat round opal and blue sapphires (2.40 ctw)
Second Place
Ricardo Basta, E. Eichberg – Platinum ‘Take the Plunge’ ring featuring a 21.86-carat oval tanzanite cabochon accented with diamonds (2.13 ctw)
Third Place
Niveet Nagpal, Somewhere in the Rainbow – Platinum and black rhodium ‘Hi, I’m Alex—And You Are?’ ring featuring a 6.12-carat alexandrite cabochon accented with alexandrite and diamond melee
Honourable Mention
Heath London, Heath London Jewelry – 18-karat gold and aluminum earrings featuring Tahitian, freshwater, and akoya cultured pearls accented with a 0.40-carat aquamarine, 0.40-carat pink sapphire, and diamonds (0.60 ctw)
Manufacturing Honours
Niveet Nagpal, Omi Privé – 18-karat rose gold ring featuring three Padparadscha sapphires (7.17 ctw) accented with diamonds (0.88 ctw)
Platinum Honours
Michael Endlich, Pavé Fine Jewelry – Platinum ‘Green Valley’ ring featuring a 1.22-carat tsavorite garnet accented with diamonds (0.13 ctw)
Entry Platinum Innovation
Michael Jakubowski, Gem Fanatic – Platinum ring featuring a 3.88-carat grey cushion-cut spinel accented with diamonds (1.03 ctw)
WJA Gem Diva Award
Beatrix Laura Jewels, B & W Jewels – Platinum earrings featuring triangular aquamarines (7.37 ctw) accented with trapezoid- and shield-cut diamonds (3.47 ctw)
Business/Day Wear
First Place
Erica Courtney – 18-karat yellow gold ‘Emerald City’ necklace featuring a 105.99-carat, pear-shaped emerald accented with diamonds (4.42 ctw)
Second Place
Niveet Nagpal, Omi Privé – Platinum and 18-karat rose gold pendant featuring a 9.39-carat pear-shaped black opal accented with Paraiba tourmalines (0.90 ctw) and a 0.25-carat pear-shaped diamond
Third Place
Beatrix Laura Jewels, B & W Jewels – 18-karat white gold reversible earrings featuring pink sapphires (2.71 ctw) and diamonds (3.84 ctw)
Honourable Mention
Bella Campbell, Campbellian Collection/BHI – 18-karat white gold ‘Phoenix Feathers’ earrings featuring Mexican fire opals (2.19 ctw) accented with rubies (4.93 ctw) and diamonds (0.56 ctw)
Manufacturing Honours
Michael Tope, Raintree – Platinum and 18-karat rose gold ring featuring a 3.74-carat aquamarine accented with a 0.241-carat ruby
Platinum Honours
John Ford, Lightning Ridge Collection by John Ford – Platinum necklace featuring a 10.67-carat black opal accented with diamonds (1.07 ctw)
Entry Platinum Innovation
Joseph A. Murawski, Joden World Resources – Platinum earrings featuring round brilliant-cut diamonds (1.44 ctw) surrounded by 10-mm round black onyx
WJA Gem Diva Award
Belle Brooke Barer, Belle Brooke – 18-karat royal yellow gold pendant featuring a 3.74-carat, pear-shaped indicolite tourmaline accented with diamonds (0.18 ctw)
Classical
First Place
Niveet Nagpal, Omi Privé – Platinum ring featuring a 10.23-carat cuprian tourmaline accented with diamonds (2.57 ctw), Paraiba tourmalines (1.54 ctw), and a 0.01-carat alexandrite
Second Place and Best of Show
Joseph Ambalu, Amba Gem – Platinum and 18-karat yellow gold ring featuring a 7.16-carat untreated Russian emerald accented with diamonds
Third Place
Swapna Pinnamaneni, Dream Choice Jewelry – 18-karat yellow gold ‘The Dancer’ brooch featuring a 2.75-carat tanzanite accented with yellow diamonds (2.75 ctw), rubies (14.36 ctw), and white diamonds (1.41 ctw)
Honourable Mention
John Ford, Lightning Ridge Collection by John Ford – Platinum necklace featuring black opal cabochons (38.43 ctw) accented with sapphires (0.95 ctw), tsavorite garnets (0.95 ctw), and diamonds (6.76 ctw)
Manufacturing Honours and WJA Gem Diva Award
Lindsay Jane, Lindsay Jane Designs – Platinum ring featuring a 6.78-carat bicoloured sapphire accented with French-cut diamonds (1.84 ctw), brilliant-cut diamonds (0.44 ctw), and more sapphires (0.06 ctw)
Platinum Honours
Benjamin Javaheri, Uneek Jewelry – Platinum ring featuring a 6.53-carat oval blue sapphire accented with diamonds (1.39 ctw)
Evening Wear
First Place
Gross & Currens, David Gross Group – Platinum ring featuring a 20.26-carat cushion-cut unheated yellow sapphire accented with diamonds (3.60 ctw)
Second Place
Susan Helmich, Somewhere in the Rainbow – 18-karat white and yellow gold ‘Le Dauphin’ necklace featuring a 101.85-carat aquamarine accented with diamonds (1.34 ctw)
Third Place
Zoltan David, Somewhere in the Rainbow – Platinum and palladium ‘Candy on Ice’ necklace featuring rubellite tourmalines (83 ctw) accented with diamonds (5.97 ctw)
Honourable Mention
Erica Courtney – 18-karat yellow gold ‘Shakti’ pendant featuring a 28.6-carat chrysoberyl accented with Paraiba tourmalines (1.96 ctw), tsavorite garnets (2.43 ctw), and canary tourmalines (1.75 ctw)
Honourable Mention
Helen Kim Currens, J.W. Currens – Platinum ‘Remember’ ring featuring a 9.25-carat square moonstone cabochon accented with moonstones (2.85 ctw), multi-cut diamonds (7.20 ctw), opals (0.47 ctw), and tanzanites (0.51 ctw)
Manufacturing Honours
Erica Courtney – 18-karat yellow gold ‘Hera’ earrings featuring tanzanites (5.01 ctw) accented with chrome tourmalines (7.97 ctw), Paraiba tourmalines (0.63 ctw), and diamonds (2.10 ctw)
Platinum Honours
Paul Klecka, Somewhere in the Rainbow – Platinum ‘Coco Verde’ two-finger ring featuring a 66.03-carat specialty-cut lemon citrine accented with diamonds (6.30 ctw)
Entry Platinum Innovation
Jacob Wosinski, Jacob Raymond Custom Jewelry – Platinum ring featuring a 2.11-carat blue sapphire accented with more blue sapphires (0.03 ctw)
WJA Gem Diva Award
Gina Ferranti, GiGi Ferranti – 18-karat rose and white gold ‘Cleopatra-Geometric’ ring featuring a 1.55-carat emerald accented with emeralds (0.53 ctw), purple sapphires (3.03 ctw), and diamonds (0.72 ctw)
Men’s Wear
First Place
Zoltan David – Steel and 24-karat gold ring featuring a 25.53-carat blue zircon
Second Place
Mark Schneider, Mark Schneider Design – Platinum and 18-karat yellow gold cufflinks featuring hand-carved rock crystal quartz and mother-of-pearl moons (53.06 ctw) accented with blue sapphire cabochons (1.76 ctw) and yellow and white diamond melee (0.66 ctw)
Third Place
Pheap Lorn-Canossi, Phenomenon Jewels – 14-karat white gold and 18-karat yellow gold ‘Take Me Away to Paradise’ ring featuring a 15-carat green tourmaline accented with diamonds (0.87 ctw), alexandrites, and sapphires (3.22 ctw)
Honourable Mention
Klaus Kutter, A Jour Jewelry – 18-karat rose and white gold cufflinks featuring moonstones (13.08 ctw) accented with sapphires (2.50 ctw), tsavorite garnets (1.80 ctw), and onyx
Manufacturing Honours
Adam Neeley, Adam Neeley Fine Art Jewelry – Platinum and 18-karat yellow gold ‘Halryon’ ring featuring a 19.14-carat zircon accented with diamonds (1.23 ctw)
Platinum Honours
Niveet Nagpal, Omi Privé – Platinum cufflinks featuring blue sapphires (2.15 ctw) and diamonds (1.02 ctw)
Cutting Edge
All Other Faceted
First Place
Mikola Kukharuk, Nomad’s – 80.25-carat oval tsavorite garnet
Second Place
Joseph Ambalu, Amba Gem – 6.58-carat untreated Brazilian Paraiba tourmaline
Third Place
Christopher Wolfsberg, Foxtail Gallery – 44.19-carat octagonal modified brilliant-cut tanzanite
Honourable Mention
Jose Rocha, Jewelry Television – 46.75-carat round, Portuguese-cut Spanish sphalerite
Carving
First Place
Dalan Hargrave, GemStarz Jewelry – ‘Frog Prince,’ featuring sunstone (160 ctw) accented with sapphires, diamonds, opals, black jade, green jade, chalcedony, calcite, and 14-karat yellow gold
Second Place
Swapna Pinnamaneni, Dream Choice Jewelry – 1080.5-carat citrine carving titled ‘Ganesha’
Third Place
Dalan Hargrave, GemStarz Jewelry – 110-carat amethyst carving titled ‘Amethstine Chapel’
Classic Gemstone
First Place
Kenneth Blount, 100% Natural – 91.36-carat unheated yellow Ceylon sapphire
Second Place
Joseph Ambalu, Amba Gem – 5.24-carat untreated Colombian emerald
Third Place
Allen Kleiman, A. Kleiman & Co. – 21.04-carat oval unheated Sri Lankan blue sapphire
Innovative Faceting
First Place
Mark Gronlund – 96.3-carat round spiral brilliant-cut blue topaz
Second Place
Dalan Hargrave, GemStarz Jewelry – 21.27-carat specialty-cut tourmaline
Third Place
John Dyer, Somewhere in the Rainbow – 37.30-carat sunstone titled ‘Colourful Cascade’
Honourable Mention
Christopher Wolfsberg, Nirinjan – 25.45-carat octagonal concave-cut sunstone labradorite
Objects of Art
First Place
Nicolai Medvedev, Impressions in Stone – Intarsia box with vaulted lid, made with malachite, turquoise, malachite/azurite, sugelite, lapis lazuli, opal, cultured pearl, emeralds, and diamonds
Second Place
Somewhere in the Rainbow – ‘Go Fly a Kite,’ featuring a 175.01-carat green-yellow beryl in 18-karat yellow gold accented with a 0.26-carat diamond
Third Place
Somewhere in the Rainbow – Agate wild boar with black onyx eye and white chalcedony tusks, titled ‘Grey Matter’
Pairs and Suites
First Place
Stephen M. Avery – Pair of indicolite tourmalines (41.45 ctw)
Second Place
Sean P. Sweeney, Razzcal Enterprises – Suite of 30 green tourmalines (116.57 ctw) titled ‘Boxing Day Pocket’
Third Place
Mikola Kukharuk, Nomad’s – Matched pair of round bicoloured tourmalines (19.74 ctw)
Honourable Mention
Alexander Arnoldi, Arnoldi International – Suite of three bicoloured emerald-cut green tourmalines (148.46 ctw)
Phenomenal
First Place
Joel Price – 34.63-carat oval harlequin opal
Second Place
Robyn Dufty, DuftyWeis Opals – 60.20-carat boulder opal cabochon
Third Place
Robert Shapiro – 7.30-carat boulder opal
