AGTA Spectrum Awards 2010 - Bridal Wear

I am a big proponent of colored stones as Engagement Rings and Wedding Sets - so are these designers:

Entry 45 Russell Koppels D. Bierfeldt Master Jeweler Denver, CO 18K rose gold and palladium ring featuring a 1.51 ct. brownish-green Diamond accented with pink, peach and orange Sapphires (1.26 ctw.) and white and chocolate Diamonds (.20 ctw.).

Entry 233 Aaron Henry Furlong

Aaron Henry Designs

Los Angeles, CA

18K yellow gold engagement

ring featuring a 12.45 ct.

sugar loaf spessartite Garnet

and green tourmalines (10.0 ctw.).

...and the Bride will always need something blue...

Entry 244 Stacia L. Woods

Jewels From the Woods

Blanco, TX

Platinum pendant featuring

a 52.06 ct. Aquamarine carving,

a white cultured Pearl and

Diamonds (0.22 ctw.) on a

white cultured Pearl strand.

Entry 183 Yael Designs

Yael Designs

San Francisco, CA

18K white and yellow gold

"Trinity" necklace featuring

a 5.71 ct. Tanzanite

accented with white

Diamonds (1.73 ctw.).

You don't have an heirloom piece? Start a new tradition with these glorious Abalone Pearl Earrings...

Entry 96 Gene Berdnik

Andrew Sarosi

Los Angeles, CA

18K yellow gold drop

earrings featuring two

semi-oval abalone pearls

(8.25 ctw.) accented with

Diamonds (.30 ctw.).

...or compliment a satin gown with these frosted crystal quartz earrings.

Entry 225 Glen J. Engelbrecht

GJ Designs Sarasota, FL

18K white gold earrings featuring

frosted white carved Quartz.

It is interesting to note that as beautiful as these are...the winner is...gorgeous Pink Topaz Earrings!

Entry 530 Maria Canale

Suna Bros., Inc.

New York, NY

18K white gold earrings

featuring shield-cut pink

Topaz (12.82 ctw.), full-cut

Diamonds (1.56 ctw.) and

baguette Diamonds (0.15 ctw.).

AGTA Spectrum Awards 2010

The American Gem Trade Association (AGTA) was formed almost 26 years ago when a group of gem dealers got together in Tucson, AZ and has "blossomed into a leading industry force".

The AGTA has taken on the responsibility of educating and promoting the use of colored gemstones and cultured pearls. Whether that is through the education of their members and member businesses or educating the public through their user friendly "Add More Color To Your Life" website .

To further this quest and to show some really innovative use of colored gems and cultured pearls, in 1984 the AGTA launched their Spectrum Awards program. "Spectrum recognizes the innovative use of natural gemstones and cultured pearls in finished fine jewelry design."

The success of their Spectrum Awards inspired a new competition and in 1991 the Cutting Edge Awards were born. "Cutting Edge honors creativity in lapidary arts, including faceted gems and pearls, carvings, and objects of art."

Last week there was a Press showing of the entries for the 2010 AGTA Spectrum Awards consideration and photos were posted on the AGTA website.

For the next couple weeks we are going to look at a few of my favorites as we cover a category each day...for those of you who are purists the Cutting Edge Award entries will be posted on my Tucson Gem Show - Live! blog (http://tucsongemshow.blogspot.com ) ...so subscribe and don't miss a day!

While entries are closed for the 2010 Awards - start thinking about what you would submit in 2011! In the words of Adam Graham AGTA Spectrum Marketing Manager, "We encourage everyone to enter your pieces and take your shot!"

AGTA Spectrum Awards - It is not too late to enter...

Click Image for Larger View....

MJSA Expo West Returns to AGTA GemFair Tucson

MJSA and the American Gem Trade Association (AGTA) announced that MJSA's EXPO West will be returning to the AGTA GemFair Tucson, Feb. 2-7, 2010. The EXPO West Pavilion will be housed in the Ballroom on the Galleria level, along with the Spectrum of Design Pavilion. Exhibitors will feature manufacturing equipment, tools, supplies, contract services, and the latest in new technologies. The pavilion will also include MJSA's At the Bench Live, a series of bench demonstrations showing the latest techniques for bench jewelers. "Many of our GemFair attendees are manufacturing jewelers," said Douglas K. Hucker, CEO of AGTA. "So, it is important to ensure that they have products and services available at the show and live demonstrations to help them work more efficiently." "We are delighted to have EXPO West return to the AGTA GemFair Tucson," said David Cochran, President and CEO of MJSA. "It's an important venue for our members in that region, and we look forward to further developing it and expanding the rich blend of tools, technology and information available for manufacturing jewelers there."

Call For Entry: AGTA Cutting Edge Awards...

JUDGES SET FOR AGTA SPECTRUM AWARDS

July 8, 2009 – Dallas, TX: The American Gem Trade Association (AGTA) announced the judges for the 2010 AGTA Spectrum Awards™ competition. They are:

Design consultant/writer Marlene Richey

Gem artist John Hatleburg

Jewelry designer Mish Tworkowski of Mish New York

Jewelry editor Nicole Keating of Women’s Wear Daily and W magazine

Antique jewelry expert Ben Macklowe of The Macklowe Gallery

Jewelry designer Cecelia Bauer.

"We really wanted to bring a broad range of perspectives to the judging process," stated Douglas K. Hucker, AGTA CEO. "This panel of judges brings a wealth of knowledge and keen sense of jewelry design."

The AGTA Spectrum Awards™ is the premiere colored gemstone and pearl jewelry design competition in the world. The competition is in its 26th year of existence and sets the bar for jewelry designers and lapidaries. The winning designs are featured in consumer and trade press. Furthermore, all entries get tremendous exposure through the competition’s Editor’s Day in New York City, where many pieces are requested for subsequent photo shoots.

The competition judges jewelry designs in five categories: Evening, Business/Day Wear, Classical, Bridal and Men’s Wear. Once again this year, Platinum Guild International (PGI) will select a design from each category to receive Platinum Honors, with the winners receiving an incredible value-added promotional package. The Cutting Edge division judges excellence in gemstone faceting, carving and objects of art.

For more information and entry forms for the 2010 AGTA Spectrum Awards™, please visit www.agta.org/awards or call 1-800-972-1162. The deadline for entries is September 25, 2009.