Behind the Scenes: Award Winning Jewels

In the next few days the elite of the Television Industry...and those who dress them, will be looking for that jaw dropper! The piece of jewelry that makes the news!

Well this year you can be part of the process.

Just check in daily at the Your Engagement 101 blog to read the great daily guest post by Michael O'Connor, jewelry & style expert!

About Michael from the blog:

Michael is one of the leading voices on style, jewelry and accessories, and he has become the “go-to” resource for editors and producers seeking information on current trends and celebrity style. As a style expert, Michael has appeared regularly on a variety of TV shows such as The Today Show, E! News and Access Hollywood (and check out the video below to see him in action on the red carpet).

This Sunday at the Emmys Michael will be doing what he does best, and he’ll be blogging about it every day until Monday .

Day One is up HERE!

Day Two is up HERE!

Day Three is HERE!

2010 AGTA Spectrum Awards™ Collection - Classical

2010 AGTA Spectrum Awards™ Collection - Classical

Entry 284 Carley Boehm

Carley Jewels

Solana Beach, CA

"Shanghai Noir" platinum ring featuring a 7.32 ct. emerald-cut yellow Sapphire accented by tsavorite Garnets (3.76 ctw.) and Diamonds (1.10 ctw.).

Entry 504 Ashleigh Branstetter

Ashleigh Branstetter, LLC

New Orleans, LA

18K yellow gold "ruffle wing" pendant featuring green Amber (21.35 ctw.) and pave Diamonds (.43 ctw.).

Entry 150 Victor Velyan

Victor Velyan

Los Angeles, CA

18K yellow gold "Dragonfly" pendant featuring andradite Garnets (7.45 ctw.) and multi-colored Diamonds (3.25 ctw.).

Entry 17 Loren O. Hovland

Loren O. Hovland, Goldsmith & Lapidary

Santa Rosa, CA

18K yellow gold and platinum necklace featuring an oval Brazilian Paraiba Tourmaline (1.08 cts.), abalone Pearls (17.20 ctw.) accented with Paraiba Tourmalines (4.98 ctw.) and Diamonds (.28 ctw.).

Entry 512 Alejandra Solomone

Alejandra Jewels

New York, NY

18K yellow, white, rose and green gold necklace featuring Prehnite (7.63 ctw.), blue Topaz (5.18 ctw.), Iolites (2.73 ctw.) and Diamonds (0.80 ctw).

Entry 526 Ashok Sancheti

Designs by Ashok Sancheti dba Pioneer Gems

New York, NY

Natural blue Agate bangle featuring platinum and white Diamonds (18.73 ctw.).

...this final group is from the category winner....

Entry 552 Lilly Fitzgerald

Lilly Fitzgerald / Goldsmith

Spencer, MA

22K yellow gold hand-carved pendant featuring a black Opal.

Entry 553 Lilly Fitzgerald

Lilly Fitzgerald / Goldsmith

Spencer, MA

22K yellow gold hand-carved necklace featuring a Tanzanite cabochon.

...and the winning piece!

Entry 554 Lilly Fitzgerald

Lilly Fitzgerald / Goldsmith

Spencer, MA

22K yellow gold necklace featuring multi-colored Sapphire cabochons.

Check out the rest of the category on the AGTA website.

Part 2: 2010 AGTA Spectrum Awards™ Collection - Business Day Wear

The Business Day Wear category continues with everything from brooches, pendants and rings to bracelets...however I did notice a trend to the Ocean Theme with lots of blues and some really incredible pearl pieces....

Entry 264 Mark Schneider

Mark Schneider Design

Long Beach, CA

18K green gold pendant featuring an 11.38 ct. Opal, 77 seed Pearls, Diamonds (0.36 ctw.), green Diamonds (0.11 ctw.) and yellow Diamonds (0.06 ctw.).

Entry 43 Graham Edney

Graham Edney

Santa Barbara, CA

18K yellow gold necklace featuring 98 freshwater Pearls with a platinum and Diamond (.35 ctw.) pendant.

Entry 86 Danielle Meshorer

Danielle Meshorer

San Francisco, CA

14K yellow gold kelp cuff set with round champagne Diamonds (.44 ctw.)

Entry 271 Susan Sadler

Susan Sadler, Fine Jewelry Design

Tulsa, OK

Vintage tortoise-color bakelite cuff featuring a 26x20 Chinese freshwater Pearl and pave Diamonds (0.84 ctw.) set in 18K and 18.5K yellow gold

Entry 582 James W. Currens

J.W. Currens, Inc.

New York, NY

"Bee Line" earrings featuring two 15.6mm golden Pearls and two 12.2mm white Pearls accented with yellow and white Diamonds (3.96 ctw.), Emerald (.06 ctw.), Ruby (.09 ctw.) and Sapphire (.03 ctw.).

Entry 81 Debbe Woodburg

Park City Jewelers

Park City, UT

14K rose and white gold "Flying Pig" pendant featuring a Baroque Pearl accented with Diamonds (.50 ctw.).

Entry 79 Debbe Woodburg

Park City Jewelers

Park City, UT

14K yellow gold "Angelfish" brooch featuring a Baroque Pearl accented with Diamonds (.45 ctw.)

Entry 49 Jorge Adeler

Adeler Jewelers

Great Falls, VA

14K yellow gold ring featuring a 30.5mm baroque freshwater Pearl accented with white Diamonds (.34 ctw.)

Can you believe that I didn't even show you everything in this category? Make sure to check the AGTA site.

I am going to leave you with the following wish of the season....

Entry 217 Gregore Morin

Gregore Joailliers

Santa Barbara, CA

18K white gold "Dressed to Chill" brooch featuring red Garnets (.97 ctw.), black and white Diamonds (.73 ctw.) and spessartite Garnets (.04 ctw.).

2010 AGTA Spectrum Awards™ Collection - Business Day Wear

Back to the AGTA Spectrum entries and winners...the "Business Day Wear" category is extensive and includes a little bit of everything...here are some of the pieces that I loved...

2010 AGTA Spectrum Awards™ Collection - Business Day Wear

There were pins, rings, pendants, neckpieces, brooches, earrings...and bracelets - this category covered it all...

big bold gems...from the rough, etched and hammered face of the Lemon Quartz in Jorge Adelers rings...

Entry 47 Jorge Adeler

Adeler Jewelers

Great Falls, VA

14K yellow gold ring featuring a 47.35 ct. lemon Quartz.

...to the traditional simplicity of...

Entry 159 Robert Pelliccia

J.R. Dunn Jewelers

Lighthouse Point, FL

Platinum ring featuring an 18.64 ct. Kunzite accented with Peridots (.45 ctw.) and Diamonds (.83 ctw.).

Carved Emeralds were the choice of...

Entry 3 Matthias Haag Lother Haag America, Inc. Los Angeles, CA White gold leaf pendant featuring a carved Emerald frog (3.0 ctw.).

Entry 4 Matthias Haag

Lother Haag America, Inc.

Los Angeles, CA

Yellow gold pin/brooch featuring a carved Emerald Nefertiti (20.60 ctw.) accented with square Emeralds (.60 ctw.).

Entry 90 Katy Briscoe

Katy Briscoe, Inc.

Houston, TX

18K yellow gold ring featuring a 20.18 ct. carved Emerald accented with Ebony and Diamonds (.18 ctw.).

Just a few of the amazing bracelets...we can start with the First Place winner in this category...

Entry 532 Ariane Zurcher

Ariane Zurcher Designs

Long Island City, NY

18K brushed yellow gold bracelet featuring cabochons of pink Topaz (25.08 ctw.), mandarin Garnets (17.21 ctw.), Paraiba Tourmalines (4.03 ctw.), Tourmalines (12.0 ctw.), Aquamarines (2.96 ctw.) and pink Sapphires (2.69 ctw.).

Entry 286 Belle Brooke Barer

Belle Brooke Designs

Los Angeles, CA

18K yellow gold bracelet featuring blue Tourmalines

(6.16 ctw.), blue Zircons (1.98 ctw.) and Aquamarines (1.98 ctw.).

...and I really love the brown patina on these two bracelets (does anyone know this secret?)...

Entry 230 Armenta

Armenta

Houston, TX

18K yellow gold and oxidized sterling silver cuff featuring a 4.75 ct. green Quartz accented with white and black Diamonds (.50 ctw.).

Entry 148 Victor Velyan

Victor Velyan

Los Angeles, CA

24K yellow gold and silver with brown patina bangle featuring a 20.54 ct. oval star Ruby cabochon and natural colored Diamonds (3.15 ctw.).

Pendants in all sizes and colors - the use of less expensive stones is balanced by the carving, cuts and rarity of some of the Gems chosen...

Entry 285 Alishan Halebian

Alishan

Irvine, CA

18K yellow gold pendant featuring a 40x36x30mm dendritic Quartz, a 2.33 ct. pear-shaped spessartite Garnet and Diamonds (0.06 ctw.).

Entry 191 Mark Winters

Mark Winters

Klamath Falls, OR

18K white and rose gold "As the World Turns" reversible pendant featuring a 15.0 ct. carved Sunstone and a 12.0 ct. Moonstone accented with Lapis Lazuli (2.0 ctw.).

I am going to end Part 1 of Business Day Wear with my favorite ring...this is something I would wear...

Entry 206 Gabriel Ofiesh

Gabriel Ofiesh

Charlottesvile, VA

18K yellow and 14K white gold "Cognac Garland Orbit" ring featuring brown and white Diamonds (1.25 ctw.)