6th Annual Halstead Grant - Winner Announced!

Halstead Bead, Inc. announces the winner of the 6th Annual Halstead Grant for Jewelry Business Entrepreneurs. 

Philadelphia-area designer Layne Freedline of Layne Designs is the winner of the 2011 Halstead Grant for jewelry entrepreneurs. The prestigious award includes a $5,000 small business grant as well as $1,000 of jewelry supplies from the grant sponsor Halstead Bead Inc.

Layne Designs jewelry features unusual gems set in handcrafted sterling silver settings. Her line showcases stones such as jasper, druzy and labradorite with paisley inspired silver accents. Freedline plans to use the grant funds to expand her website and exhibit at a national industry trade show.

In response to winning the award Freedline said, “I am very grateful for Halstead Bead Inc., for the encouragement that this grant offers. The handmade marketplace is blossoming from this kind of motivation toward strong business practices.”

The grant is awarded to a new jeweler each year in recognition of design aptitude and business strategy. Qualified candidates must submit lengthy applications including their portfolios of original jewelry and business plan details.

“Layne submitted one of the best business plans we have seen in our six years of judging this competition. We were blown away.” said judge, Hilary Scott. “She is a talented metalsmith with an infectious passion for her craft.”

Freedline received her jewelry arts training at the Tyler School of Art at Temple University. She is continuing her education by pursuing a Graduate Gemologist degree from the Gemological Institute of America. In addition to running her own studio, she also teaches jewelry classes at the Main Line Art Center in Haverford, PA.

Layne Designs is dedicated to fine quality craftsmanship so that each piece may be treasured as an heirloom. Founder, Layne Freedline has a passion for the beauty of hand-wrought metal objects. She brings to the craft a sleek, modern style with ties to the natural and cosmic.A fascination with the earth's gems and fossils has peppered her high fashion collection with unusual gems from around the world."There is nothing like holding a gem in your hand, a sparkling treasure from the earth, and honoring it with a beautiful setting for the joy of a beautiful woman."

Layne Designs joins a distinguished roster of Halstead Grant recipients since the program began six years ago. For more information and applications for the 2012 Halstead Grant check the Grant website later this year.

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

AGTA's 2011 Spectrum Awards™ Winners Announced!

The Spectrum Awards™ competition is a 27 year tradition hosted by the American Gem Trade Association.

In a conversation reported by Jennifer Heebner for JCK, AGTA President Doug Hucker said that the response this year was up from last year and there were 35 new artist submissions for the 2011 event. "Trends among entries this year included blackened metals, black diamonds, diamond slices, and fewer moonstones than last year. “The overall quality of entries was up, and pieces in the men’s division were also a lot nicer,” he told JCK."

The competition was held October 23-24, in New York, NY at a penthouse studio in

Greenwich Village.

Judges for the 2011 competition included Tanya Dukes of Elite Traveler magazine, Jennifer Gandia of Greenwich Jewelers, Glenn Lehrer of Lehrer Designs, Mallary Marks of Mallary Marks, Inc., and Robin Rotenier of Rotenier, Ltd.

The annual AGTA Spectrum Awards™ Media Day was held October 25 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.

(The photo of the Editors Event yesterday is from Cindy Edelstein's brilliant blog! ...as usual Cindy was on the scene.)

The complete list of winners follows - for more photos keep an eye on my AFlyOnTheWall Posterous!

SPECTRUM AWARDS

BEST OF CATEGORY Winners:

Best of Show:

Todd Reed, Todd Reed, Inc.

Palladium cuff bracelet featuring a 22.40 ct. Aquamarine accented with grey Diamonds (6.90 ctw.) and white

Diamonds (2.20 ctw.)

Best Use of Color:

Martin Key, Martin Key Co.

22K yellow gold "Frame" ring featuring a 1.50 ct. blue Tourmaline accented with four Mexican fire Opal baguettes (1.82 ctw.)

Best Use of Platinum and Color:

Judy Evans, Omi Gems, Inc.

Platinum "Princess of Ratnapura" bracelet featuring nine round Sapphires (14.0 ctw.) and round Diamonds

(8.48 ctw.)

Best Use of Pearls:

Llyn L. Strelau, Jewels by Design

Sculpture titled "Who Are You" featuring Two-Tone Gold and Silver with Freshwater Baroque Pearls, South Sea Keshi Pearls, Akoya Seed Pearls, Demantoid Garnets (.25 ctw.), .20 ct. Ruby and Cognac Diamonds (.03 ctw.) on a Crystal Quartz base (242 ctw.)

Fashion Forward:

Gregore Morin, Gregore Joailliers

18K white and yellow gold earrings featuring lemon Chrysoprase (22.0 ctw.) accented with Garnets (2.38 ctw.)

Editor’s Choice:

Katey Brunini, K. Brunini Jewels

18K rose gold and silver ring featuring white Opal accented with blue Sapphires (3.26 ctw.), Diamonds (.13 ctw.) and Rubies (.06 ctw.)

Bridal Wear:

Bridal Wear - 1st Place

Niveet Nagpal, Omi Gems, Inc.: Platinum and 18K yellow gold ring featuring a 5.55 ct. oval tsavorite Garnet accented with fancy yellow Diamonds (.71 ctw.)

Bridal Wear - 2nd Place

Guilherme Ferreira, Vielle Jewelers, LLC: 18K yellow gold, palladium and titanium ring featuring a 3.14 ct. yellow Tourmaline accented with fancy-colored Diamonds (.74 ctw.)

Bridal Wear - 3rd Place

Michael Endlich, Pave Fine Jewelry: Platinum ring featuring a 10.08 ct. cushion-cut Spinel accented with Diamond baguettes (1.09 ctw.)

Bridal Wear - Honorable Mention

Ryan Roberts, Ryan Roberts, Ltd.; 18K white gold ring featuring a 3.02 ct. pink diamond, white diamonds (29.5 ctw.) and pink and brown diamonds (24.5 ctw.)

Bridal Wear - Platinum Honors

Yehouda Saketkhou, Yael Designs: Platinum "Triad" ring featuring a 6.34 ct. unheated blue Sapphire accented with white Diamonds (1.03 ctw.)

Bridal Wear - Entry Platinum Honors

Robert Pelliccia, J.R. Dunn Jewelers: Platinum ring featuring a 1.37 ct. round blue Sapphire accented with Diamonds (.46 ctw.) and blue Sapphires (.28 ctw.)

Bridal Wear - Manufacturing Honors

Neda Benham, Diamonds For A Cure: 18K rose gold ring with a 3.80 ct. emerald-shaped, rough-cut pink Diamond and round Diamonds (0.88 ctw.)

Business/Day Wear:

Business/Day Wear - 1st Place and Best of Show

Todd Reed, Todd Reed, Inc.: Palladium cuff bracelet featuring a 22.40 ct. Aquamarine accented with grey Diamonds (6.90 ctw.) and white Diamonds (2.20 ctw.).

Business/Day Wear - 2nd Place and Fashion Forward

Gregore Morin, Gregore Joailliers: 18K white and yellow gold earrings featuring lemon Chrysoprase (22.0 ctw.) accented with Garnets (2.38 ctw.)

Business/Day Wear - 3rd Place and Best Use of Color

Martin Key, Martin Key Co.: 22K yellow gold "Frame" ring featuring a 1.50 ct. blue Tourmaline accented with four Mexican fire Opal baguettes (1.82 ctw.).

Business/Day Wear - Honorable Mention

Eva Cheng, Elite Import: 18K rose gold pendant/brooch featuring a freeform rose Quartz set with a .70 ct. round Diamond and accented with 178 Diamonds (1.20 ctw.).

Business/Day Wear - Platinum Honors

Maria Canale, Richard Krementz Gemstones: Platinum "Wave" pendant featuring a 2.18 ct. Paraiba Tourmaline accented with Diamonds (3.72 ctw.).

Business/Day Wear - Platinum Honors

Ron Lodholz, Stonehaven Jewelry Gallery: Platinum ring featuring a 1.41 ct. Aquamarine accented with Diamonds (.06 ctw.).

Business/Day Wear - Manufacturing Honors

Alan Friedman, Alan Friedman: 14K white and rose gold ring featuring a 12.59 ct. emerald-cut Aquamarine.

Classical:

Classical - 1st Place

Samuel Getz, Samuel Getz Designs: Platinum and 18K yellow gold necklace featuring yellow Sapphires (68.77 ctw.), blue Sapphires (24.34 ctw.), red Spinels (24.20 ctw.) and Diamonds (22.38 ctw.).

Classical - 2nd Place

Sean Ryan, Schmitt Jewelers: 18K white and rose gold "Just Peachy" ring featuring a 4.50 ct. oval padparadscha Sapphire accented with white micropave Diamonds (1.13 ctw.).

Classical - 3rd Place

Patricia Van Wagoner, Beija Flor: 22K yellow gold necklace featuring a 17.17 ct. Rhodochrosite briolette and a 3.58 ct. Rhodochrosite kite accented with Paraiba Tourmalines (.45 ctw.).

Classical - Honorable Mention

Frederic Sage, Frederic Sage: 18K white gold "Modern Deco" cufflinks featuring seafoam green

Tourmalines (4.48 ctw.) and Diamonds (.56 ctw.).

Classical - Platinum Honors

Christopher Olson, Molina Fine Jewelers: Platinum "Temple of the Sacred Heart" ring featuring a 10.05 ct. oval untreated Ruby accented with white Diamonds (7.18 ctw.) and Rubies (.22 ctw.).

Classical - Manufacturing Honors

Christopher Duquet, Christopher Duquet Fine Jewelry Design : 14K white gold ring featuring a 12.5mm South Sea black Pearl.

Evening Wear:

Evening Wear - 1st Place

Cynthia Renee Zava, Cynthia Renee, Inc.: Palladium necklace featuring a suite of green Tourmalines (75.89 ctw.).

Evening Wear - 2nd Place

Evelyn Clothier, Evelyn Clothier Jewelry: 18K yellow gold earrings featuring Aquamarine briolettes (50.95 ctw.) accented with Diamonds (9.29 ctw.).

Evening Wear - 3rd Place

Samuel Getz, Samuel Getz Designs: 18K white gold ring featuring a 43.05 ct. spherical black Opal accented with tsavorite Garnets (2.70 ctw.), blue Sapphires (2.51 ctw.), Iolites (1.53 ctw.), Paraiba Tourmalines (.71 ctw.) and Diamonds (.63 ctw.).

Evening Wear - Honorable Mention

Erica Courtney, Erica Courtney: 18K yellow gold earrings featuring Tanzanites (77.99 ctw.) and Diamonds (3.38 ctw.).

Evening Wear - Platinum Honors

Ralph Wobito, Zultanite Gems, LLC: Platinum earrings featuring Zultanite (Diaspore) briolettes (25.15 ctw.) accented with white Diamonds (0.95 ctw.).

Evening Wear - Manufacturing Honors

Laura Jackowski-Dickson, LJD Designs: 18K white gold cuff featuring two South Sea cultured Pearls (14.8mm and 11.3mm) and four freshwater pink cultured Pearls accented with Diamonds.

Men's Wear:

Men's Wear - 1st Place

Mark Lauer, Mark Michael Designs: 18K yellow gold cufflinks featuring Jasper Agate and Lapis Lazuli composite accented with 2mm spessartite Garnets and Sapphires.

Men's Wear – 2nd Place

Eddie Sakamoto, Schmitt Jewelers: Platinum "Suspense" ring featuring a 14.49 ct. blue star Sapphire accented with Diamond baguettes (3.60 ctw.).

Men's Wear - 3rd Place

Ron Lodholz, Stonehaven Jewelry Gallery: 18K yellow and rose gold cufflinks featuring cone-cut Garnets (10.96 ctw.) with platinum suspensions.

Men's Wear - Honorable Mention

Michael Endlich, Pave Fine Jewelry: 22K yellow gold ring featuring an 8.01 ct. purple star Sapphire cabochon.

Men's Wear - Platinum Honors

Alan Friedman, Alan Friedman: Platinum ring with a cushion-cut purple Spinel (6.62 ct.).

Men's Wear - Manufacturing Honors

Oliver Smith, Oliver Smith Jeweler: Sterling silver and rose gold ring featuring Madagascar Ocean Jasper.

...the "Cutting Edge Awards" were also announced - I will be posting as soon as I get my photos together.