New! Palladium Prestige Awards at 2012 AGTA Spectrum Awards™

New! Palladium Prestige Awards 
at the 2012 AGTA Spectrum Awards™ Collection

At the discretion of the judges, up to three winners in each category or division will be awarded trophies. Honorable Mentions may also be awarded a certificate. All entries will automatically be considered for Best of Show, Best Use of Color and Best Use of Pearls. Winners will be awarded a "Best of" trophy.

Best of Show:

Todd Reed, Todd Reed, Inc.
Palladium and 22K Yellow Gold Locket featuring Blue Moonstones, Grey Diamonds (24.51 ctw.), Blue Sapphires (17.34 ctw.) and White Diamonds (5.10 ctw.) opening to reveal a 76.03 ct. Moldavite Buddha.

Men's Wear: 


Evelyn Huang, evelynH. Jewelry, Inc. 
Palladium "Zultan" ring featuring a 12.54 ct. color-change diaspore accented with radiant-cut diamonds (.43 ctw.).

Business/Day Wear:

Dawn Muscio, D. Muscio Designs

Palladium and 14K rose gold "Isis" ring featuring a 19.98 ct. buff-top chrysocolla accented with Peridots (.36 ctw.) and Diamonds (.11 ctw.).

2nd Place Business/Day Wear:


Michelle Mercaldo, 
Michelle Mercaldo Contemporary Jewelry
Ring made in palladium featuring a 2.64 ct. pink sapphire accented with diamonds. (0.17 ct. t.w.).

Best Use Of Palladium & Color:

Dennis de Jonghe
Palladium pendant featuring a 16.39 ct. aquamarine accented with a 2.09 ct. moonstone, diamonds (0.26 ct. t.w.), and pearls.

Evening Wear: 

Naomi Sarna, Naomi Sarna Designs
Palladium ring featuring a 35.0 ct. carved Topaz accented with Diamonds (.63 ctw.).

1st Place - Evening Wear:

Ion Ionescu, 
Ionescu Design, Inc. 
Palladium and black rhodium "Pillow for Dreaming" ring featuring a 36 ct. carved Labradorite accented with paraiba tourmalines (1.50 ctw.).

Bridal Wear: 
Mirjam Butz-Brown, Adorn Gallery
Palladium and 14K yellow gold earrings featuring Quartz and Mother-of-Pearl accented with Diamonds (.16 ctw.) with detachable mirror-cut Amethyst drops (21.50 ctw.).

Classical: 

Dennis de Jonghe
Palladium ring featuring a 16.5mm white South Sea Pearl accented
with round Diamonds (.71 ctw.).

Editors' Choice Award Winners Announced for 2012 AGTA Spectrum Awards™

Editors' Choice Award Winners Announced 

for 2012 AGTA Spectrum Awards™

The winners in the Editors’ Choice category of the 2012 AGTA Spectrum Awards™ competition have been announced by the American Gem Trade Association.


It's A Tie!!!  Manya Tessler of Manya & Roumen and Todd Reed of Todd Reed, Inc. emerged with the same number of votes after the ballots had been cast by over 70 editors and stylists who attended the AGTA Spectrum Awards™ Media Day.  

Manya Tessler’s piece was an 18K yellow gold ring featuring a carved black Jade fish accented with fire Opals.  Todd Reed’s piece was a Palladium and 22K yellow gold locket featuring blue Moonstones, grey Diamonds, blue Sapphires and white Diamonds opening to reveal a 76.03 ct. Moldavite Buddha.  Todd Reed’s piece also won Best of Show and is shown below.



The annual AGTA Spectrum Awards™ Media Day was held October 24 and featured all of the jewelry and gemstone entries.   Attendees included top fashion/accessory editors from the trade and consumer press, stylists and bloggers.  Publications represented included Vogue, Elle, InStyle, Robb Report, Brides, Lookbook, Accessories,  and many more.

This year's AGTA Spectrum Awards™ will be presented during the 2012 AGTA GemFair™ Tucson to be held January 31 – February 5 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 4. Tickets for the gala are $100 and cocktail attire is encouraged.



For further information on the 2012 AGTA GemFair™ Tucson or the AGTA Dinner Dance and Awards Gala, please call (800) 972-1162 or visit our website at www.agta.org.

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.


AGTA - http:/www.agta.org/
AGTA GemFair - http://www.agta.org/tradeshows/gemfair-tucson.html

Platinum Honors at the 2012 AGTA Spectrum Awards™

PGI-USA Awards Eight Jewelry Designers with ‘Platinum Honors’ for Outstanding Work in Platinum at the 2012 AGTA Spectrum Awards™

Platinum once again took center stage at the 28^th annual AGTA Spectrum Awards, a competition hosted by the American Gem TradeAssociation that celebrates outstanding design using colored gemstones. An impressive array of platinum entries were submitted in this year’s competition, nine of which were recognized in the Platinum Honors™ category sponsored by Platinum Guild International USA (PGI-USA). The Platinum Honors™ winners were chosen from each of the five Spectrum Awards categories as well as Best Use of Color and Platinum, and new entry price-pointed categories Entry Platinum Honors in Bridal Wear and Platinum Innovation in Classical and Day Wear designs.

PGI-USA Senior Vice President, Jenny Luker notes, “We were thrilled to see so many stunning platinum submissions at this year’s awards, especially because platinum’s natural white color makes it an ideal setting for showcasing gemstones. Designers truly outdid themselves by creating breath-taking platinum designs that ranged from dainty and elegant to bold and innovative.”

PGI-USA’s participation in the AGTA Spectrum Awards™ is an integral part of their continued effort to support up and coming, as well as established designers and manufacturers and inspire them to work in platinum.

Winners of the Platinum Honors™ category are awarded with a generous prize package valued at more than $15,000 including several high profile publicity opportunities, professional photography of the winning piece featured on PGI-USA’s consumer website PreciousPlatinum.com and a customized poster of the winning piece featured in a trade advertisement – all of which aims to generate national brand awareness and desire for the winning designer.

The 2012 AGTA Spectrum Awards™ competition was held in New York City on October 22-23.  

Platinum Honors™ 2012 Winners:

Best Use of Platinum and Color

Michael Endlich, Pave Fine Jewelry: Platinum ring featuring a 19.05 ct. cushion-cut Aquamarine with pave-set Diamonds (.41 ctw.).

Bridal Wear

James W. Currens, J.W. Currens Inc.: Platinum ring featuring a 16.80 ct. sugarloaf Ruby accented with Diamaonds (4.54 ctw.).

Bridal Wear – Entry Platinum Innovation

Mark Schneider, Mark Schneider Design: Platinum ring featuring a 1.81 ct. round blue Sapphire accented with white Diamonds (.14 ctw.).

Day Wear

Leon Mege, Leon Mege, Inc.: Platinum Ring featuring a 16.76 ct. Paraiba Tourmaline cabachon accented with antique cushion-cut Diamonds and Diamond melee (3.10 ctw.). 

Day Wear – Entry Platinum Innovation

Susan Drake, Spectrum Art & Jewelry: Platinum and yellow gold ring featuring a 1.08 ct. emerald-cut red Spinel accented with Diamonds (.18 ctw.).

Evening Wear

Evelyn Clothier, Evelyn Clothier Jewelry: Platinum butterfly brooch featuring brown diamond slices (104.42 ctw.) accented with a 5.06 ct. brown Diamond and white Diamonds )3.04 ctw.).

Classical

Erica Courtney, Erica Courtney: Platinum ring featuring an 11.19 ct. Imperial pink Topaz accentedwith Diamonds. 

Men's Wear

Mark Schneider, Mark Schneider Deisgn: Platinum ring featuring a 15.0 ct. shield-cut rubellite Tourmaline accented with white Diamonds (.90 ctw.) and yellow Diamonds (.22ctw.).

In addition to the Platinum Honors™ winners, The American Gem Trade Association recognized the following platinum designs:

Best Use of Color

Deirdre Featherstone, Featherstone Design: Platinum earrings featuring removable Opal enhancers (15.64 ctw.) accented with blue Zircons (3.27 ctw.), Tanzanites (3.53 ctw.), Paraiba Tourmalines (.40 ctw.) and Diamonds (5.79 ctw.).

Bridal Wear - 1st Place

Maria Canale, Richard Krementz Gemstones - Platinum "Lace" ring featuring a 4.10 ct. blue Sapphire accented with Diamonds (.77 ctw.).

Bridal Wear - 3rd Place

Craig Slavens, AuRTWORK Jewelry - Platinum and 18K yellow gold pendant featuring a 3.92 ct. rose-cut black Diamond accented with black and white Diamond melee (.52 ctw.) on an 18K white gold chain set with black and white Diamonds (.71 ctw.).

Bridal Wear - Manufacturing Honors

Mark Schneider, Mark Schneider Design - Platinum earrings featuring 12mm black Tahitian Pearls and 8mm cultured freshwater Pearls accented with white Diamonds (.99 ctw.) and black Diamonds (.53 ctw.).

Bridal Wear - Honorable Mention

Leonard McCue, L.A.M. Goldsmiths - Platinum "Hearts and Arrows" ring featuring a 19.0 ct. pear-shaped Moonstone accented with Diamonds (2.37 ctw.).

Classical - 1st Place 

James Currens, J.W. Currens, Inc. - Platinum ring featuring a 14.25 ct. unheated Ruby cabochon accented with Diamonds (7.97 ctw.).

Classical - 2nd Place 

Ashok Sancheti, Pioneer Gems - Platinum earrings featuring Emerald cabochon drops (18.45 ctw.) accented with Emeralds (18.21 ctw.) and Diamonds (4.81 ctw.).

Classical - 3rd Place

Jeffrey Bilgore, Jeffrey Bilgore, LLC - Platinum pendant featuring an 11.80 ct. pear-shaped Morganite accented with fancy-colored and white Diamonds (7.09 ctw.).

Classical - Honorable Mention

Christo Kiffer, Sissy's Log Cabin - Platinum art-deco ring featuring a 4.84 ct. oval black Opal cabochon accented with Emeralds (1.0 ctw.), blue Sapphire melee (.88 ctw.) and Diamonds (.93 ctw.).

Men's Wear - 1st Place  

Mark Schneider, Mark Schneider Design - Platinum engraved ring featuring channel-set Ruby melee (.59 ctw.) and yellow Diamonds (.115 ctw.).

Celebrating the Cutting Edge...the Winning Gem Faceters!

As in previous years I would love to show the same credit to the Cutting Edge Awards that every Industry Magazine is showing to the Jewelry Awards - if you have a photo of your winning entry forward it to robynahawk at gmail and I would be happy to include you here and on my AFlyOnTheWall Posterous page...lets get the Rocks some press time  ;-p

This year's AGTA Spectrum Awards™ will be presented during the 2012 AGTA GemFair™ Tucson to be held January 31 – February 5 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 4. Tickets for the gala are $100 and cocktail attire is encouraged.


AGTA Cutting Edge Awards honor excellence and creativity in lapidary arts, including natural colored gemstones and cultured pearls, carvings, and other gem materials.

CUTTING EDGE AWARDS

Classic Cut Gemstones: 
Classic Gemstones- 1st Place
Allen Kleiman, A. Kleiman & Co. - 30.04 ct. unheated oval yellow Sapphire.

Classic Gemstones - 2nd Place
Phillip Youngman, Richard Krementz Gemstones - 7.66 ct. cushion-cut blue Sapphire.

Classic Gemstones - 3rd Place,
Joseph Ambalu - Amba Gem Corp. - 6.07 ct. unheated Ruby.

Classic Gemstone - Honorable Mention
Richard Krementz Gemstones, Richard Krementz Gemstones - 19.18 ct. antique-cut yellow Sapphire.

Classic Gemstone - Honorable Mention
Joseph Ambalu, Amba Gem Corp. - 8.06 ct. oval Padparadscha Sapphire.





All Other Faceted Gemstones - 1st Place
Allen Kleiman, A. Kleiman & Co. - 10.07 ct. oval purple Spinel.

Roger Dery 12.7 x 12.7 x 8.4mm  8.77ct  

Merelani Mint Garnet; untreated; purchased in Arusha January 2011

All Other Faceted Gemstones - 2nd Place
Roger L. Dery, Spectral Gems, Inc. - 8.77 ct. trillion, step-cut Merelani mint Garnet.

All Other Faceted Gemstones - 3rd Place
Phillip Youngman, Richard Krementz Gemstones - 15.20 ct. cushion-cut Sphene.

All Other Faceted Gemstones  - Honorable Mention
Ben Kho, Kho International, Inc. - 18.80 ct. round Portuguese-cut Rhodochrosite.


Phenomenal Gemstones:
Phenomenal - 1st Place
Robyn Dufty, DuftyWeis Opals, Inc. - 27.30 ct. black Opal cat's eye.

Phenomenal - 2nd Place
Sailesh Lakhi, Sparkles and Colors, Inc. - 17.0 ct. oval Moonstone cabochon.

Phenomenal - 3rd Place
Joseph Ambalu - Amba Gem Corp. - 8.51 ct. oval Alexandrite



Pairs & Suites: 
Pairs & Suites - 1st Place
Allen Kleiman, A. Kleiman & Co. - Pair of oval red Spinels (22.28 ctw.).

Pairs & Suites - 2nd Place
Allen Kleiman, A. Kleiman & Co. - Cushion-cut mint Tourmaline suite (158.74 ctw.).

Pairs & Suites - 3rd Place
Aivan Pham, Commercial Mineral - Somewhere in the Rainbow - "My Fair Lady" pair of fan-cut rubellite
Tourmalines (26.75 ctw.).

Pairs & Suites - Honorable Mention
Aivan Pham, Commercial Mineral - Somewhere in the Rainbow - "Razzle Dazzle" graduated suite of
Asscher-cut rubellite Tourmalines (26.74 ctw.).



Innovative Faceting: 

Innovative Faceting - 1st Place
Dalan Hargrave, Geogem-USA - 30.0 ct. "Hugs and Kisses" Morganite.

Innovative Faceting - 2nd Place
John Dyer, John Dyer & Co. - 63.57 ct. "Super Citrine" featuring flat facets and micro-grooving for brilliance.

Innovative Faceting - 3rd Place
Darrell Jang, Darrell Jang - 9-10 ct. elongated octagon and concave-cut Tourmaline.

Innovative Faceting - Honorable Mention
Richard P. Homer, Gems by Design, Inc. - 30.95 ct. rutilated Quartz with a single natural needle in the
center.

Part of a Collection called "Somewhere in the Rainbow"
Material from Tammy & Dave Wheatley's Sunstone Butte Mine

Innovative Faceting - Honorable Mention
Darryl Alexander, Sunstone Butte Mining Co. - "Sea Foam and Sunset" 70.0 ct. bubble-cut Sunstone.
Carving

Carving - 1st Place
Naomi Sarna, Naomi Sarna Designs - 368.50 ct. carved Amethyst.

Photo Credit:   AZAD Photography

Carving - 2nd Place
Darryl Alexander - Alexander's Jewelers - "Immortal Flight" carved Agate feather.

2012 AGTA Spectrum Awards - Best of Winners

Winners Announced for AGTA's 2012 Spectrum Awards™ Competition 

Winners have been named in the 2012 AGTA Spectrum Awards™ competition hosted by the American Gem Trade Association.  This year marks the 28th  anniversary of the competition.

The competition was judged October 22-23 in New York, NY. Judges for the 2011 competition were Master Goldsmith Klaus Burgel, Sylvain Chervin of Carvin French, Cindy Edelstein of the Jewelers Resource Bureau, Patricia Faber of Aaron Faber Gallery, and Clay Zava of Zava Master Cuts.

The annual AGTA Spectrum Awards™ Media Day was held October 24 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, Smart Money, and many more.

SPECTRUM AWARDS:  

BEST OF CATEGORY Winners: 
Best of Show:
Todd Reed, Todd Reed, Inc.
Palladium and 22K yellow gold locket featuring blue Moonstones, grey Diamonds (24.51 ctw.), blue
Sapphires (17.34 ctw.) and white Diamonds (5.10 ctw.) opening to reveal a 76.03 ct. Moldavite Buddha.

Fashion Forward:  
Belle Brooke Barer, Belle Brooke Designs, Inc.
Oxidized sterling necklace featuring an approximately 30 ct. blue Chalcedony cabochon accented with
Diamonds (.55 ctw.).

Best Use of Pearls:  
Anil Maloo, Baggins, Inc.
18K white gold and black rhodium plated earrings encrusted with light cognac Diamonds (8.16 ctw.) and
13.3mm cultured South Sea Pearls.

Best Use of Color:
Deirdre Featherstone, Featherstone Design
Platinum earrings featuring removable Opal enhancers (15.64 ctw.) accented with blue Zircons (3.27 ctw.),
Tanzanites (3.53 ctw.), Paraiba Tourmalines (.40 ctw.) and Diamonds (5.79 ctw.).

Best Use of Platinum and Color: 
Michael Endlich, Pave Fine Jewelry
Platinum ring featuring a 19.05 ct. cushion-cut Aquamarine with pave-set Diamonds (.41 ctw.).

Best Use of Palladium and Color  
Dennis de Jonghe - Dennis de Jonghe
Palladium pendant featuring a 16.39 ct. Aquamarine accented with a 2.09 ct. Moonstone, Diamonds (.26
ctw.) and Pearls.

Photos from AGTA Spectrum Awards Facebook Page and JCK Magazine

2012 Spectrum Awards - Now Accepting Entries

The American Gem Trade Association has announced that they are now accepting entries to the AGTA Spectrum Awards.  Some of the most respected awards in the Gem & Jewelry Industry, the Spectrum Awards have three distinct divisions.

The Spectrum Awards have 5 categories that range from Daywear to Men's to Bridal.  The Platinum Honors division is sponsored by the Platinum Guild International and consists of five categories. And, this being an awards program from the premier Colored Gemstone Association, there is also a "Cutting Edge" division.

All entries also qualify for two "Honors" categories and "Best of Show".

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 qualifies for judging in the AGTA Spectrum Awards™ competition will automatically be qualified for Fashion Forward Honors judging.

Manufacturing Honors recognizes outstanding use of colored gemstones and cultured pearls in jewelry appropriate to be manufactured in production quantities. All designs that qualify for judging in the AGTA Spectrum Awards™ competition will also automatically be qualified for Manufacturing Honors judging.

"The judging panel changes each year and consists of experts from different disciplines within the jewelry industry. Entries are judged on a solid criterion which includes 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. Each piece is examined by hand with an eye for craftsmanship and quality of the materials used."

So - why should you enter the 2012 AGTA Spectrum Awards?  the video gives you some really important reasons...exposure...placement...




Download the entry form at:  2012 AGTA Spectrum Awards Entry Form

Deadline for entry is Friday, September 23, 2011.  No exceptions will be made. Photos and Award descriptions from the AGTA Spectrum Award website