Canucks win big at MJSA awards
by jacquie_dealmeida | April 11, 2012 9:00 am
Two Canadians topped the list of winners at the 2012 MJSA Vision Awards. Julie Buckareff of JJ Buckar in Toronto swept the ‘Laser Distinction’ category, capturing first place for a rock crystal quartz flower brooch and second for a 7.05-carat blue zircon diamond ‘rope’ ring in platinum featuring 1006 diamonds (3.04 ctw).
Assembled completely with a laser welder, the brooch was welded from the top-side throughout to provide a seamless finish where the palladium meets the gold.
Use of the laser welder was also required as the rock crystal could not be subjected to any heat. The piece also features white diamonds, natural pink diamonds, Peruvian opal, and 18-karat rose gold.
Buckareff also walked away with second place in the same category for the blue zircon diamond ring. As its design required keeping the rope effect throughout, the stone could not be bezel-set without disturbing the round contour. Up to five rows of diamonds are set in the ‘rope,’ a thin round wire. A laser welder was required to allow for a seamless connection of all its six separately cast platinum pieces. No metal is visible when the ring is worn.
The ring also garnered Buckareff a second-place finish in the ‘Visionary Technical Solution’ category. Bucker says the piece presented certain obstacles that required a creative solution.
“We enjoy the challenge of making something look natural with rigid precious metals and gemstones,” she explains. “Naturally, flowers are light and we didn’t want the metals to weigh the piece down. When making the brooch, our objective was to create a wearable piece of art. We kept the metal to a minimum without compromising quality, and created the diamond wrap in palladium. Last but not least, the back looks just as beautiful as the front, which is our signature style.”
Canadian Gregoré Morin of Gregoré Joailliers in Santa Barbara, Calif. won second place in the ‘Design Excellence’ category for bamboo-inspired earrings with chrysophrase, 950 platinum, Mexican fire opal, and white and black diamonds.
“The inspiration for the earrings came from wonderful childhood memories of adventures in the neighbour’s bamboo grove and, more recently, playing in my own garden,” Morin tells Jewellery Business.
The competition recognizes design prowess and technical skill in various categories, including ‘Gold,’ ‘Laser,’ ‘Palladium,’ ‘Platinum,’ and ‘Custom Design.’ The ‘Future of the Industry’ award recognizes students enrolled in jewellery-making and design programs. Winners of the annual contest were honoured last month at MJSA Expo New York. Â
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