AGTA Announces The 2017 AGTA Spectrum & Cutting Edge Awards™ Winners

From a Press Release - “Images property of AGTA; Photos taken by Brian Moghadam Photography.

AGTA Announces The 2017 AGTA 

Spectrum Awards™ Winners 

The American Gem Trade Association is pleased to announce the winners of the prestigious 2017 AGTA Spectrum AwardsTM. The competition was held in New York on August 5th and 6th and is regarded as the world's preeminent colored gemstone and cultured pearl design competition. 

The prestigious judges for the competition this year were the following: Arun Bohra, Arunashi; Cathy Calhoun, Calhoun Jewelers; Sherris Cottier Shank, Gemscapes; Alishan Halebian, Alishan; Holly Wesche, Wesche Jewelers. 

“The entire staff was immediately impressed as the entries started coming in; it seemed that the quality and artistry of the pieces has ascended to a new level. The number of entries increased and clearly, the caliber of entries was exceptional,” said Douglas K. Hucker, AGTA CEO. “It is evident that the entrants take this competition very seriously and that the AGTA Spectrum Awards™ and the AGTA Cutting Edge Awards™ continue to be the premier design competition in the world. Of course, this also makes the work of the judges demonstratively more difficult. We were blessed with an outstanding group of judges that were consummate professionals, that demonstrated an amazing level of synergy, and this is apparent in the selections that they made.” 

Winners of the 2017 AGTA Spectrum AwardsTM are: 

Best of….. 

Best of Show 

Mikola Kukharuk, Nomad's – Pair of neon blue Tourmalines (53.56 ctw.). 

Best Use of Color 

Naomi Sarna, Naomi Sarna Designs – 18K and 24K yellow and 18K white gold maple leaf earrings featuring multicolored Diamonds, Sapphires and Garnets. 

Best Use of Pearls 

Naomi Sarna, Naomi Sarna Designs – Freshwater cultured Pearls strung with Sunstone beads with an 18K yellow gold and black rhodium clasp set with white, pink and green Diamonds. 

Best Use of Platinum and Color 

Eddie Sakamoto, Somewhere in the Rainbow – Platinum "Dancing Waves" neck collar featuring a 57.0 ct. Aquamarine accented with Diamonds (8.0 ctw.). 

Fashion Forward  

Ardeshir Dabestani, Asha Gallery, Ltd. – 18K white and yellow gold "Solar Flare" back-drop necklace featuring a 436.0 ct. Citrine accented with Aquamarines (44.50 ctw.), yellow Beryls (87.30 ctw.) and Diamonds (23.54 ctw.).  

AGTA Spectrum Awards™ Bridal Wear 

Bridal Wear - 1st Place Ricardo Basta, E. Eichberg, Inc. – 18K white gold and rhodium "Double the Love" ring featuring a 12.62 ct. heart-shaped blue Zircon accented with a .75 ct. heart-shaped Diamond and Diamond pave (1.53 ctw.). 

Bridal Wear – 2nd Place Bridal Wear and WJA Gem DIVA™ Award Lindsay Jane, Lindsay Jane Designs - Platinum "Butterfly" earrings featuring detachable drops of boulder Opal (39.92 ctw.) accented with Zoisites (2.10 ctw.), Diamonds (1.02 ctw.) and Paraiba Tourmalines (.10 ctw.). 

Bridal Wear – 3rd Place Judy Evans, Oliver and Espig Gallery of Fine Arts - Platinum and 18K yellow gold ring featuring a 15.3mm South Sea golden cultured Pearl accented with white Diamonds (1.17 ctw.) and yellow Diamonds (1.12 ctw.). 

Bridal Wear – Honorable Mention Zoltan David, Somewhere in the Rainbow - Knight steel, 18K and 24K yellow gold, platinum "Falling Waters" necklace featuring 1mm - 3.20mm keshi cultured Pearls accented with Diamonds (1.70 ctw.). 

Bridal Wear – Manufacturing Honors Randy Coffin, Coffin & Trout Fine Jewellers - Platinum ring featuring a 4.42 ct. oval red Spinel accented with round red Spinels (1.41 ctw.) and Diamonds (1.27 ctw.). 

Bridal Wear – Entry Platinum Innovation Leon Mege, Leon Mege, Inc. - Platinum "Bellflower" ring featuring a 3.28 ct. blue Sapphire cabochon accented with Diamonds (.80 ctw.) and a blue Sapphire (.03 ctw.). 

Bridal Wear – Platinum Honors Craig Slavens, Studio 247 Fine Jewelry - Platinum ring featuring a 4.15 ct. Paraiba Tourmaline accented with Diamonds (1.25 ctw.). 

AGTA Spectrum Awards™ Business/Day Wear 

Business/Day Wear - 1st Place Adam Neeley, Adam Neeley Fine Art Jewelry – 18K rose and 14K rose and white gold "Cosmos" pendant featuring a 24.06 ct. specialty-cut Morganite accented with Diamonds (3.14 ctw.). 

Business/Day Wear – 2nd Place Llyn Strong, llyn strong fine art jewelry – Lapis Lazuli necklace (155.0 ctw.) featuring an 18K yellow gold clasp and a 30.90 ct. boulder Opal accented with black Diamonds (.75 ctw.), tsavorite Garnets (.20 ctw.), Rubies (.12 ctw.) and Sapphires (.07 ctw.). 

Business/Day Wear – 3rd Place Mimi Favre, Mimi Favre Studio – Platinum "Waterdrop" earrings featuring detachable Tanzanite drops (25.50 ctw.) on Sapphire studs (1.75 ctw.) with white Sapphires (.58 ctw.). 

Business/Day Wear – Honorable Mention Leon Mege, Leon Mege, Inc. – Platinum "La Petite" bracelet with nine ring charms featuring Rubies, Aquamarines, Garnets, Amethysts, Sapphires, Tourmalines and Spinels. 

Business/Day Wear – Honorable Mention Omi Prive, Somewhere in The Rainbow – 18K rose gold "Le 'Elegance'" ring featuring a red Tourmaline accented with Diamonds and tsavorite Garnets. 

Business/Day Wear – Manufacturing Honors Gregore Morin, Gregore & Jennifer-Rabe Jewelers – 18K white gold and aluminum earrings featuring freshwater cultured Pearls (32.10 ctw.) accented with purple Garnets (12.98 ctw.). 

Business/Day Wear – Platinum Honors John Ford, Lightning Ridge Collection by John Ford – Platinum bracelet featuring black Opals (24.02 ctw.) accented with Diamonds (1.72 ctw.). 

Business/Day Wear – Entry Platinum Innovation Leon Mege, Leon Mege, Inc. – Platinum "La Petite" bracelet with nine ring charms featuring Rubies, Aquamarines, Garnets, Amethysts, Sapphires, Tourmalines and Spinels. 

Business/Day Wear – WJA Gem DIVA™ Award Pam Harris, Lost Bird Designs – 14K pink gold bracelet featuring an 8x15mm peach Moonstone, oval and marquise-cut Coral, Turquoise and black Diamonds. 

AGTA Spectrum Awards™ Classical 

Classical - 1st Place Allen Kleiman, A. Kleiman & Co. – Platinum and 18K pink gold earrings featuring unheated oval pink Sapphires (36.65 ctw.) accented with Diamonds (5.09 ctw.). 

Classical – 2nd Place Niveet Nagpal, Omi Prive – Platinum and black rhodium ring featuring a 20.03 ct. cushion-cut blue Sapphire accented with blue Sapphires (.76 ctw.), baguette Diamonds (1.07 ctw.) and round Diamonds (.63 ctw.). 

Classical – 3rd Place Oscar Heyman, Oscar Heyman – Platinum ring featuring a 32.30 ct. Cat's-Eye Chrysoberyl. 

Classical – Honorable Mention Varouj Tabakian, Jewellery by Varouj – 18K tricolored gold and platinum "Northern Lights" pendant featuring a 3.79 ct. specialty-cut rubellite Tourmaline accented with baguette Diamonds (.68 ctw.) and round Diamonds (1.61 ctw.). 

Classical – Honorable Mention Oscar Heyman, Oscar Heyman – Platinum ring featuring a 19.40 ct. bicolored Tourmaline accented with Diamonds. 

Classical – Manufacturing Honors Ricardo Basta, E. Eichberg, Inc. – 18K yellow and rhodium "Blue Lagoon" ring featuring a 13.99 ct. cushion-cut blue Zircon accented with Diamond melee (1.32 ctw.). 

Classical – Platinum Honors Michael Endlich, Pave Fine Jewelry – Platinum "Deep Lagoon" ring featuring an 8.33 ct. Tourmaline accented with Diamonds (.46 ctw.). 

Classical – Entry Platinum Innovation Robert Pelliccia, J.R. Dunn Jewelers – Platinum and 18K rose gold "Queen of Sheba" ring featuring a 2.59 ct. red Spinel accented with multi-cut Diamonds (1.57 ctw.). 

Classical – WJA Gem DIVA™ Award Beatrix Laura Jessner, B & W Jewels – 18K yellow gold ring featuring a 13.60 ct. Mandarin Garnet accented with square and baguette Diamonds (1.82 ctw.). 

AGTA Spectrum Awards™ Evening Wear 

Evening Wear – 1st Place and Best Use of Platinum and Color Eddie Sakamoto, Somewhere in the Rainbow – Platinum "Dancing Waves" neck collar featuring a 57.0 ct. Aquamarine accented with Diamonds (8.0 ctw.). 

Evening Wear – 2nd Place and Best Use of Color Naomi Sarna, Naomi Sarna Designs – 18K and 24K yellow and 18K white gold maple leaf earrings featuring multicolored Diamonds, Sapphires and Garnets. 

Evening Wear – 3rd Place Caroline Chartouni, Caroline C – Platinum ring featuring an 8.09 ct. oval pink Sapphire accented with round and pear pink Sapphires (9.84 ctw.) and Diamonds (8.67 ctw.). 

Evening Wear – Honorable Mention Victoria Tse, VTse, Inc. – 18K white gold ring featuring a 33.41 ct. harlequin Australian black Opal accented with baguette Diamond pave (6.54 ctw.) and Diamond melee (2.11 ctw.). 

Evening Wear – Honorable Mention Erica Courtney, Erica Courtney, Inc. – 18K yellow gold "Genie" earrings featuring a pair of mint grossular Garnets (5.22 ctw.) accented with Diamonds (5.69 ctw.) and mint grossular Garnets (1.90 ctw.). 

Evening Wear – Honorable Mention Zoltan David, Somewhere in the Rainbow – 24K yellow gold, palladium, purple steel and 18K yellow gold "Star Flower" necklace featuring a 28.14 ct. Tourmaline accented with gray Sapphires (.58 ctw.) and colorchange Garnets (.73 ctw.). 

Evening Wear – Platinum Honors John Ford, Lightning Ridge Collection by John Ford – Platinum earrings featuring oval black Opals (11.70 ctw.) accented with Diamonds (2.0 ctw.). 

Evening Wear – WJA Gem DIVA™ Award Dallas Prince, Dallas Prince Designs – 14K white gold "Pink Peony" ring featuring multi-shades of pink Spinels (12.93 ctw.) accented with Diamonds (1.45 ctw.). 

AGTA Spectrum Awards™ Men's Wear 

Men's Wear – 1st Place Ricardo Basta, E. Eichberg, Inc. – 18K yellow gold with black rhodium "Estrella" ring featuring a 7.50 ct. starburst trapiche Sapphire accented with black Diamonds (.64 ctw.) and yellow Sapphire melee (.52 ctw.). 

Men's Wear – 2nd Place Peter Schmid, French Designer Jeweler – 18K rose gold and platinum ring featuring a 15.74 ct. Garnet accented with a pink Diamond, green Diamond and white Diamonds (.04 ctw.). 

Men's Wear – 3rd Place Dawn Muscio, D. Muscio Designs – 18K yellow gold and stainless steel ring featuring a 4.39 ct. emerald-cut green Tourmaline accented with Amethysts (.06 ctw.) and Diamonds (.05 ctw.). 

Men's Wear – Honorable Mention Llyn L. Strelau, Jewels by Design – 18K yellow and 19K white gold "Man Cave" cufflinks featuring Octahedrite Meteorite carvings accented with blue Sapphires (1.55 ctw.), yellow Sapphires (1.46 ctw.) and yellow Diamonds (.75 ctw.). 

Men's Wear – Honorable Mention and Platinum Honors Randy Coffin, Coffin & Trout Fine Jewellers - Platinum ring featuring an 8.52 ct. cushion-cut violet Spinel accented with red Spinels (1.48 ctw.) and Diamonds (.27 ctw.) and inlaid with Gibeon Meteorite. 

Men's Wear – Manufacturing Honors Niveet Nagpal, Omi Prive – 18K white gold with black rhodium ring featuring a 1.07 ct. emerald-cut Alexandrite accented with Diamonds (.60 ctw.) and Alexandrites (.08 ctw.). 

AGTA Cutting Edge™ Awards All Other Faceted 

All Other Faceted – 1st Place Brett Kosnar, Beija Flor Wholesale - 24.26 ct. round, Portuguese-cut Rhodochrosite. 

All Other Faceted – 2nd Place Ruben Bindra, B & B Fine Gems – 6.49 ct. square East African natural tsavorite Garnet. 

All Other Faceted – 3rd Place Hemant Phophaliya, A G Color, Inc. – 22.15 ct. fancy-shaped Tanzanite, "Superman." 

All Other Faceted – Honorable Mention Ruben Bindra, B & B Fine Gems – 5.06 ct. triangular-cut natural Benitoite. 

AGTA Cutting Edge™ Awards Carving 

Carving – 1st Place Meg Berry, Pala International – 625.0 ct. Chyrsocolla with druzy Quartz carving, titled "Metamorphosis." 

Carving – 2nd Place Dalan Hargrave, GemStarz Jewelry – Freestyle carved Sunstone chameleon named "Henry." 

Carving – 3rd Place John Dyer, John Dyer & Co. – 115.71 ct. Morganite carving, titled "Joyful Morganite." 

Carving – Honorable Mention Bernie Benavidez, Master Jewelers – Opal freeform carving (72.07 ctw.), titled "Aussie Crystal Anenome." 

Carving - Honorable Mention Larry Woods, Jewels From The Woods – 17.60 ct. black Opal carving. 

AGTA Cutting Edge™ Awards Classic Gemstone 

Classic Gemstone – 1st Place David Nassi, 100% Natural, Ltd. – 15.30 ct. unheated Ceylon pink Sapphire. 

Classic Gemstone – 2nd Place Allen Kleiman, A. Kleiman & Co. – 38.48 ct. unheated oval Madagascan blue Sapphire. 

Classic Gemstone – 3rd Place Joseph Ambalu, Amba Gem Corp. – 5.80 ct. untreated Colombian step-cut Emerald. 

Classic Gemstone – Honorable Mention Joseph Ambalu, Amba Gem Corp. – 12.56 ct. unheated Ceylon oval Padparadscha Sapphire. 

AGTA Cutting Edge™ Awards Innovative Faceting 

Innovative Faceting – 1st Place Christopher Wolfsberg, Chris Wolfsberg – 32.75 ct. specialty-cut Quartz with Chrysoprase and Opal. 

Innovative Faceting – 2nd Place John Dyer, John Dyer & Co. – 21.58 ct. red Spinel hexagon. 

Innovative Faceting – 3rd Place John Dyer, John Dyer & Co. – 63.86 ct. specialty-cut Tourmaline. 

Innovative Faceting - Honorable Mention Dalan Hargrave, Jewels From The Woods - 32.98 ct. specialty-cut Kunzite. 

AGTA Cutting Edge™ Awards Objects of Art 

Objects of Art – 1st Place Derek Katzenbach, Katzenbach Designs –"Colors of Maine" kaleidoscope featuring multicolored Maine Tourmalines (71.74 ctw.) and Maine Quartz lenses (24.92 ctw.) set in 18K yellow and white gold. 

Objects of Art – 2nd Place Susan Helmich, Somewhere in the Rainbow – “Straight on to Neverland" pendulum and brooch featuring a 14.01 ct. rubellite Tourmaline, an 8.94 ct. rubellite Tourmaline, a 4.08 ct. indicolite Tourmaline, a 13.8mm golden cultured Pearl and Diamonds (5.24 ctw.) on a carved frosted Quartz base. 

Objects of Art – 3rd Place Liam Powers, Liam Powers Jewelry, LLC – Sterling silver and multi-karat gold chalice featuring Diamonds, Alexandrites, Sapphires, Moldavites and Phenakites. 

AGTA Cutting Edge™ Awards Pairs & Suites 

Pairs & Suites – 1st Place and Best of Show Mikola Kukharuk, Nomad's – Pair of neon blue Tourmalines (53.56 ctw.). 

Pairs & Suites – 2nd Place Hemant Phophaliya, A G Color, Inc. – Pair of fancy pear-shaped Tanzanites (49.38 ctw.). 

Pairs & Suites – 3rd Place Robyn Dufty, DuftyWeis Opals, Inc. – Pair of black Opals (17.61 ctw.), titled "Tears of the Gods." 

Pairs & Suites – Honorable Mention Joseph Ambalu, Amba Gem Corp. – Pair of unheated Pigeon Blood Burmese oval Rubies (4.08 ctw.). 

Pairs & Suites – Honorable Mention Phillip Youngman, Phillip Youngman – Suite of 36 specialty-cut Zircons (140.27 ctw.). 

AGTA Cutting Edge™ Awards Phenomenal 

Phenomenal – 1st Place Joel Price, Joel Price – 100.66 ct. harlequin pattern black Opal. 

Phenomenal – 2nd Place Joseph Ambalu, Amba Gem Corp. – 7.31 ct. emerald-cut Brazilian Alexandrite. 

Phenomenal – 3rd Place Robert Shapiro, Robert Shapiro – 7.60 ct. boulder Opal. 

Phenomenal – Honorable Mention Ruben Bindra, B & B Fine Gems - 16.08 ct. round Sri Lankan unheated Cat's Eye Chrysoberyl. 

Phenomenal – Honorable Mention David Nassi, 100% Natural, Ltd. – 21.56 ct. oval Opal. 16 

This year's AGTA Spectrum AwardsTM will be presented during the 2018 AGTA GemFairTM Tucson to be held January 30 – February 4 at the Tucson Convention Center in Tucson, Arizona. Tickets for the gala are $100 and cocktail attire is encouraged. 

Winning entries will be displayed during the show and the 2017 AGTA Spectrum AwardsTM recipients will be recognized during the 2017 AGTA Spectrum AwardsTM Gala, on Saturday, February 3. 

AGTA Spectrum AwardsTM entries were judged on the basis of overall beauty and wearability, innovative design, effective use of materials, quality of gemstones, quality of workmanship, broad‐based consumer appeal and potential to generate positive publicity for natural colored gemstones. AGTA Cutting Edge AwardsTM 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 - The Knot sponsored the Bridal Wear division of the AGTA Spectrum Awards™ for the fifth year. As the #1 wedding network in the U.S., reaching 80% of brides, The Knot represents an opportunity for unprecedented exposure for Spectrum entrants. 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 should be considered. 

Platinum Honors™, sponsored by Platinum Guild International, recognizes the outstanding use of platinum in colored gemstone and/or pearl jewelry in the five Spectrum Awards categories and for the Best Use of Color and Platinum. Platinum Honors™ Entry Platinum Honors – Bridal Wear under $2,500 (semi-mount only), Platinum Honors Innovation – Classical under $3,500 and Platinum Honors Innovation – Day Wear under $2,000. 

WJA Gem DIVA TM Awards celebrated its sixth year of association with the competition. WJA GEM DIVATM Awards were presented in the Bridal Wear, Evening Wear, Classical and Business/Day Wear categories. All women who entered the AGTA Spectrum AwardsTM competition were eligible for this category. 

Manufacturing Honors recognizes the 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. 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 AwardsTM competition automatically qualified for Fashion Forward Honors judging. 

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.