from a press release
AGTA Announces 2016 AGTA
Spectrum Award™ Winners
* only a few photos of the winning pieces were available at publication time,
the balance will be filled in as they become available
The American Gem Trade Association is delighted to announce the winners of the prestigious AGTA Spectrum Awards™.
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Deirdre Featherstone of @featherstonedesign and Stephen Avery of Stephen M. Avery
hard at work for #AGTASpectrum16 via AGTA Facebook |
The 32nd annual event was held in New York on October 24th and 25th and is regarded as the world's preeminent colored gemstone and cultured pearl design competition.
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Aron Suna of @sunabros and Ron Arends of @aires_jewelers have some
hard decisions to make in the Cutting Edge division of #AGTASpectrum16
via AGTA Facebook |
Adjudicating the competition this year were the following: Ronald W. Arends, of Aires Jewelers; Stephen M. Avery, of Stephen M. Avery, Inc.; Deirdre Featherstone, of Featherstone Design; Lauren Kulchinksy-Levison, of MayFair Rocks; and Aron Suna, of Suna Bros.
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| The judging goes down to the wire....via AGTA Facebook |
Chief Executive Office, Douglas K. Hucker stated, “It is very rewarding to see the continued growth in enthusiasm for our AGTA Spectrum Awards™. This year we had 492 entries; among the largest number ever. Clearly, the level of sophistication amongst the design community, with respect to color, is constantly evolving and the willingness of our designers to push boundaries was evident in this competition. We had a virtual whirlwind of inspiring colors, color combinations, shapes, and textures. Kudos to our hardworking and incredibly capable team of judges who truly make this competition what it is!”
Winners of the 2016 AGTA Spectrum Awards™ are:
Allen Kleiman,
A. Kleiman & Co.
Suite of Paraiba Tourmalines (58.07 ctw.)
Nautilus shell carvings.
Best Use of Color:
Bella Campbell,
Campbellian
18K yellow gold earrings featuring blue-green Tourmalines (17.05 ctw.) accented with Emeralds (4.14 ctw.).
Naomi Sarna Designs
Strand of freshwater baroque cultured Pearls with 18K white gold and Diamonds and a freshwater baroque cultured Pearl pendant.
Best Use of Platinum and Color:
Andrew Costen,
Costen Catbalue
Platinum "Symphony of Colour" bracelet featuring a 3.85 ct. green Tourmaline, a 4.88 ct. yellow Zircon, a 4.68 ct. indicolite Tourmaline and a 3.52 ct. rubellite Tourmaline accented with Diamonds (.70 ctw.).
Best Use of Silver and Color:
William Travis Kukovich,
William Travis Jewelry
Oxidized silver and mixed gold pendant featuring a 4.74 ct. brown Diamond accented with rose cut Diamonds (.40 ctw.).
Fashion Forward:
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| Wheel of Light by Brian Cook of Nature's Geometry |
Brian explains the technique to his "Wheels of Light" collection in the following video:
Brian Cook,
Nature's Geometry
24K yellow gold "Wheel of Light" numinous pendant featuring an 825 ct. Quartz, Paraiba Tourmaline, Hauyn, Ruby, spessartite Garnet, golden rutilated Quartz and fire Agate beads.
BRIDAL WEAR
Bridal Wear - 1st Place
Tony Nemyer,
Grimball Jewelers
Platinum and 18K yellow gold ring featuring a 3.55 ct. round purple Spinel accented with Diamonds (.86 ctw.).
Bridal Wear - 2nd Place
Laurence Bruyninckx,
Laurence Bruyninckx
18K white gold earrings featuring blue Topaz, mint Tourmaline and Diamond tops with interchangeable dangles with Diamonds or mint Tourmalines, blue Topaz and Diamonds.
Bridal Wear - 3rd Place
Caroline Chartouni,
Caroline C
18K white gold earrings featuring Paraiba Tourmalines (12.07 ctw.) accented with Diamonds (10.62 ctw.).
Bridal Wear - Entry
Michael Endlich,
Pave Fine Jewelry
Platinum "Sweetness" ring featuring a 1.65 ct. lavender oval Sapphire accented with Diamonds (.06 ctw.).
Gem Diva Award
Bridal Wear
Erica Courtney,
Erica Courtney, Inc.
Platinum "Champagne Bubble" wedding ring set featuring a 5.54 ct. blue Sapphire cabochon accented with round blue Sapphires (1.0 ctw.) and Diamonds (2.58 ctw.).
Manufacturing Honors
Bridal Wear
Michael Jakubowski,
Gem Fanatic
14K white and rose gold ring featuring a 2.58 ct. unheated pink Sapphire accented with white and pink Diamonds (.81 ctw.).
Platinum Honors
Bridal Wear
Kathy Kinev,
Jewel Creations, Inc.
Platinum "Chartres" ring featuring a 4.65 ct. blue Zircon accented with Diamonds (0.73 ctw.).
Savor Silver Award
Bridal Wear
Hisano Shepherd,
little h
Sterling silver cufflinks featuring sliced 12 x 13mm Tahitian baroque Pearls accented with black Diamonds (2.0 ctw.).
Business/Day Wear - 1st Place
Ricardo Basta,
E. Eichberg, Inc.
18K yellow gold "Enchanted Frog" ring featuring Carnelian, tsavorite Garnets and Diamonds (.18 ctw.).
Business/Day Wear - 2nd Place
Heath London,
Heath London Jewelry
18K white gold earrings featuring rock crystal Quartz (31.18 ctw.) and rubellite Tourmalines (11.34 ctw.) accented with Diamonds (.91 ctw.).
Business/Day Wear - 3rd Place
Kim Hurlbert-Sarosi,
Sarosi by Timeless Gems
18K yellow gold ring featuring a 16.10 ct. Imperial Topaz accented with Diamonds (.56 ctw.).
Entry Platinum Innovation
Business/Day Wear
Heena Chheda-Shah,
VALANI
Platinum "Rival" ring featuring two pear-shaped blue Sapphires (1.10 ctw.) accented with Diamonds (.27 ctw.).
Gem Diva Award
Business/Day Wear
Gurmit Kaur Campbell,
SRW
18K yellow gold "Betwixt and Between" ring featuring a South Sea cultured Pearl accented with Diamonds.
Business/Day Wear - Honorable Mention
Heath London,
Heath London Jewelry
18K yellow gold "Rajasthani Dreams" earrings featuring Paraiba Tourmalines (24.51 ctw.) and pink Tourmalines (16.20 ctw.) accented with Diamonds (.34 ctw.).
Business/Day Wear
Stuller, Inc.
Stuller, Inc.
Platinum ring featuring an 18mm pear-shaped Topaz.
Business/Day Wear
Michael Endlich,
Pave Fine Jewelry
Platinum "Moon Beam" ring featuring a 3.58 ct. Moonstone cabochon accented with Diamonds (.30 ctw.).
Business/Day Wear
Elizabeth Garvin,
Elizabeth Garvin Fine
Oxidized sterling silver and 18K yellow gold "Cyclone" cuff featuring Aquamarine and Heliodor (52.0 ctw.) in asymmetrical mirror cuts.
CLASSICAL
Classical - 1st Place
Brent Malgarin,
Elegant Gems, Ltd.
Platinum necklace featuring a 12.63mm natural Pearl and a 15.22mm natural Pearl accented with a 4.64 ct. blue Zircon accented with Diamonds (1.05 ctw.).
Classical - 2nd Place
Lindsay Jane,
Ambassador Gems
Platinum ring featuring a 6.26 ct. Padparadscha Sapphire accented with orange and pink Sapphires (.31 ctw.) and Diamonds (1.01 ctw.).
Classical - 3rd Place
Gil , Gil Int'l
Platinum ring featuring a 3.24 ct. Alexandrite accented with Diamonds (1.11 ctw.).
Platinum Innovation
Classical - Entry
Lorenzo Chavez,
Geogem-USA
Platinum and 18K yellow gold "Big Sky" pendant featuring carved black Jade and a 5.63 ct. freeform faceted Sapphire accented with Diamonds (1.06 ctw.).
Gem Diva Award
Classical
Naomi Sarna,
Naomi Sarna Designs
18K white gold petal brooch featuring white, yellow, pink, brown and green Diamonds accented with Amethysts and multicolored Sapphires.
Classical - Honorable Mention
Josette Patterson,
Mark Patterson
18K white gold "Aura" earrings featuring pear-shaped rubellite Tourmalines (12.69 ctw.) accented with Diamonds (.86 ctw.).
Platinum Honors
Classical
Wick & Greene Jewelers,
Wick & Greene Jewelers
Platinum fleur de lis pendant/pin featuring an unheated 2.66 ct. oval blue Sapphire.
Savor Silver Award
Classical
William Travis Kukovich,
William Travis Jewelry
Oxidized silver and 18K yellow gold ring featuring a 14.36 ct. Prehnite cabochon.
EVENING WEAR
Evening Wear - 1st Place
Claudia Kretchmer,
Somewhere in the Rainbow
Platinum and 24K crystallized gold "RockStar2" pendant featuring a 37.31 ct. color-shift blue Zircon accented with Diamonds (1.95 ctw.).
Evening Wear - 2nd Place
Ricardo Basta,
E. Eichberg, Inc.
18K rose gold ring featuring a 10.41 ct. rubellite Tourmaline accented with Diamonds (.23 ctw.) and Ruby melee (.05 ctw.).
Evening Wear - 3rd Place
Randy Coffin,
Somewhere in the Rainbow
Platinum ring featuring a 17.76 ct. bicolor Tourmaline accented with pink Sapphires (.38 ctw.), Paraiba Tourmalines (.29 ctw.) and Diamonds (.13 ctw.).
Gem Diva Award
Evening Wear
Lisa Linhardt,
Linhardt Design
Oxidized sterling silver "Tempest" sculptural duster ring featuring yellow Sapphires.
Evening Wear - Honorable Mention
Alexia Connellan,
Alexia Connellan, LLC
18K rose gold "Victoria" bracelet featuring a 16.06 ct. purple-pink Tourmaline accented with Diamonds and purple Tourmalines.
Manufacturing Honors
Evening Wear
Troels D. Larsen,
Troels D. Larsen Jewelry
18K yellow and white gold necklace featuring a 10.75 ct. trillion-cut Tanzanite and 23 round Tanzanites (27.80 ctw.) accented with Diamonds (2.75 ctw.).
Platinum Honors
Evening Wear
Eddie Sakamoto,
Somewhere in the Rainbow
Platinum "Ice-Ice Baby" bracelet featuring a 24.15 ct. Tanzanite accented with Diamonds (6.50 ctw.).
Savor Silver Award
Evening Wear
Priyanka Murthy,
ARYA ESHA
Sterling silver ring featuring a 16.6 ct. blue Topaz accented with Diamonds (.70 ctw.).
Men's Wear - 1st Place
Mark Schneider,
Mark Schneider Design
Platinum and 18K yellow gold ring featuring a 5.42 ct. Peridot and a pair of spessartite Garnets (3.66 ctw.) accented with tsavorite Garnets (.75 ctw.), white Diamonds (.38 ctw.) and a .16 ct. yellow Diamond.
Men's Wear - 2nd Place
Llyn L. Strelau,
Jewels by Design
18K yellow and 19K white gold "Paddle Your Own Canoe" reversible cufflinks featuring carved black Onyx and rock Crystal accented with black and white South Sea keshi Pearls and Diamonds (.24 ctw.).
Men's Wear - 3rd Place
Mark Schneider,
Mark Schneider Design
Sterling silver men's ring featuring a 7.98 ct. freeform fire Opal accented with tsavorite Garnets (.66 ctw.), colored Diamonds (.14 ctw.) and white Diamonds (.06 ctw.).
Men's Wear - Manufacturing Honors
Craig Slavens,
Studio 247 Fine jewelry
18K yellow gold and platinum ring featuring a 7.29 ct. unheated Sri Lankan color-change violet-blue Sapphire accented with Diamonds (.93 ctw.).
Platinum Honors
Men's Wear
David Hines,
Nvit Blanche
Platinum with 18K white gold "Cobra" ring featuring Alexandrites (.25 ctw.).
Savor Silver Award
Men's Wear
William Travis Kukovich,
William Travis Jewelry
Oxidized silver and 18K yellow and rose gold ring featuring a 20.98 ct. golden sheen Sapphire.
CUTTING EDGE
All Other Faceted:
All Other Faceted - 1st Place
John Dyer,
John Dyer & Co.
21.96 ct. multi-faceted cushion-cut Imperial Topaz.
All Other Faceted - 2nd Place
Hemant Phophaliya,
A G Color, Inc.
40.58 ct. round checkerboard Tanzanite.
All Other Faceted - 3rd Place
Darrell Jang,
Darrell Jang
42.39 ct. cut-corner octagon Tourmaline.
Carving:
Allen Kleiman,
A. Kleiman & Co.
Suite of Paraiba Tourmalines (58.07 ctw.) Nautilus shell carvings.
Carving - 2nd Place
Glenn Lehrer,
Lehrer Designs, Inc.
48.86 ct. "Soul Angel" Opal carving.
Carving - 3rd Place
Rodney Rahmani,
Brilliant Stars
67.11 ct. carved unheated Burmese Sapphire.
Carving - Honorable Mention
Glenn Lehrer,
Lehrer Designs, Inc.
53.57 ct. "Georgia's Dream" transparent gem silica Chrysocolla carving.
Classic Gemstone:
Classic Gemstone - 1st Place
Joseph Ambalu,
Amba Gem Corp.
8.06 ct. unheated Burmese Sapphire.
Classic Gemstone - 2nd Place
David Nassi,
100% Natural, Ltd.
22.73 ct. unheated yellow Sapphire from Sri Lanka.
Classic Gemstone - 3rd Place
Sailesh Lakhi,
Sparkles and Colors USA, Inc.
13.28 ct. unheated Burmese royal blue Sapphire.
Innovative Faceting:
Innovative Faceting - 1st Place
Dalan Hargrave,
Sunstone Butte Mining
63.63 ct. "Celestial City" Sunstone carving.
Innovative Faceting - 2nd Place
Dalan Hargrave,
B. Harju
22.45 ct. herringbone cut Tourmaline.
Innovative Faceting - 3rd Place
John Dyer,
John Dyer & Co.
120.98 ct. "New Era" Tanzanite, cut with inverse facets.
Objects of Art:
Objects of Art - 1st Place
Ziad H. Noshie,
Almaza Jewelers
The "Hanging Panda" featuring Mother-of-Pearl with 18K rose gold. The panda is made of 18K white gold with black and white Diamonds (3.69 ctw.). The bamboo is made of white Diamonds (.20 ctw.) and tsavorite Garnets (.28 ctw.). It sits on a silver stand.
Objects of Art - 2nd Place
Ralph Wobito,
Wobito Gems, Ltd.
Perfume bottle featuring colorless Topaz (109.61 ctw.) and Diaspore (36.78 ctw).
Pairs & Suites:
Pairs & Suites - 1st Place
Allen Kleiman,
A. Kleiman & Co.
Pair of unheated oval Morganites from Madagascar.
Pairs & Suites - 2nd Place
Mikola Kukharuk,
Nomad's
Suite of vintage pear-cut grossular mint Garnets (50.26 ctw.).
Pairs & Suites - 3rd Place
Ajay Bansal,
Best In Gems
Pair of matched pear-shaped cabochon Opals (84.63 ctw.).
Phenomenal:
Phenomenal - 1st Place
Robert Shapiro,
Robert Shapiro
Pair of black Opals (33.40 ctw.).
Phenomenal - 2nd Place
Sailesh Lakhi,
Sparkles and Colors USA, Inc.
14.93 ct. Moonstone.
Phenomenal - 3rd Place
Steve Wallner,
Westview Gems
5.29 ct. green-blue color-shift Sapphire.
This year's AGTA Spectrum Awards™ will be presented during the 2016 AGTA GemFair™ Tucson to be held February 2 ‐ 7 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 Spectrum Awards™ Gala, on Saturday, February 6. Tickets for the gala are $100 and cocktail attire is encouraged. AGTA Spectrum Awards™ entries were judged on the basis of 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.
AGTA Cutting Edge Awards™ honor excellence and creativity in lapidary arts, including natural colored gemstones and cultured pearls, carvings and other gem materials.
Bridal Wear Sponsored by The Knot ‐ Whether gracing the bridesmaids or donning the bride, herself, this category captures all looks coming down the aisle. Engagement rings, wedding bands, necklaces, earrings, bracelets and tiaras were considered.
Platinum Honors were once again awarded with the support of Platinum Guild International. All entries whose primary metal was platinum were eligible in this category.
WJA Gem Diva Awards celebrates its fourth year of association with the competition, with the support of WJA. WJA Gem Diva Awards were presented in the Bridal Wear, Evening Wear, Classical and Business/Day Wear categories. All women who entered the AGTA Spectrum Awards™ competition were eligible for this category simply by marking the check‐box for Gem Diva on their entry form.
Savor Silver Awards is a new category this year with the support of Silver Service Promotion. All entries were primarily silver honoring this distinctive metal.
All designs that qualified for the AGTA Spectrum Awards™ competition were considered for Manufacturing Honors. This award celebrates outstanding use of colored gemstones and cultured pearls in jewelry appropriate to be manufactured in production quantities.
Fashion Forward Honors recognizes the outstanding use of colored gemstone and/or cultured pearl in artful, trend‐setting jewelry. All necklaces, earrings, bracelets or other jewelry that qualified for judging in the AGTA Spectrum Awards™ competition automatically qualified for Fashion Forward Honors judging.
* - Photos from AGTA and various designers
For further information regarding the 2016 AGTA GemFair™ Tucson or the AGTA Spectrum Awards™ Gala, please call (800) 972‐1162 or visit the 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.
